Smokeycastle – Smokeycastle's Blog

Gardening update 19/09/2026 (spring blooms)

I Mostly enjoy growing them, I have only really had the smaller pots for two years, the first year the potting mix I used was insufficient to get much of anything to grow, I actually swapped it around with some of the potting mix that I had been growing broadbeans in and this year have had a lot more success, I have two types of parsley growing, some borage, oregano, okra, coriander, mint, and catmint all growing successfully this year. It is a lot of watering for sure but it gives me something to do and is fun to do. I am actually thinking of maybe trying to grow a vanilla bean plant indoors but as of yet have not made that purchase.

in the larger pots I have Broad beans growing as well as an already 1 year old established gooseberry plant, some more catnip and a sapling from what I think is hopefully a lanternfruit plant that I put the seeds in there for last year. if its not the lanternfruit plant I am not sure what sapling it is. I also have a nice collection of cumquat seeds that I am trying to germinate on the pots in the lower levels of the herb garden.

Tomatillo’s and seeds for next season

Harvested the last of the tomatillos and some of the gooseberries and storing the seeds on a napkin for next season.

The tomatillos were quite tasty if a little small.

the gooseberries never ripened up without my marsupial friend eating them…

Gardening disaster!

So I have a nighttime visiting furry friend of the rodent variety. They came in over a period of 3 days and ate all the growing gooseberries, ate or nibbled most of the herb sprouts and squashed the tomatillo stems by trying to climb all over them, also pooped all over the floor…

Not sure what to do here, at least until the rodent is gone I wont be able to grow fruiting foods and even then now they know there is food here they will probably make it part of a visiting routine.

There are some rat traps that have been put up by housing downstairs but the rodents have either eaten all the bait out of them or have become wise to them… For now I may have to rethink the garden, Maybe grow medicinal plants or plants that rodents are not likely to eat or want…

More garden updates!

Gooseberrys coming in, Tomatillos starting to show promise.

Sadly the bottle gourds leaves got eaten and now the bottle gourd vine is dying. African horned melon still holding on there but also getting eaten by I assume slugs…

Gardening – Lanternfruit and more!

Lanternfruit are coming in, as well as bottle gourd! Had a week vacation sadly non of the smaller potted plants/herbs survived…

Gourds gourds and more gourds

Current state of gourds. going okay. 5 days into summer here.

Gardening yupdate

Tomato plant took transplanting really well and is growing. really surprised by this as tried growing tomatos before and had no luck.

Kalabash and bottle gourds look to be going well. also possibility of the lantern fruits growing. I think I also have a horned melon plant growing too!

Herbs are going well, coriander especially.

Had a strange seedling sprout and gave away on facebook.

Also had some wild millet sprout heres hoping!

Cactus seems to be doing well also!

Broadbean harvest

Harvested the broadbeans all up I reckon around 750gm of dry broadbeans or around 100+ beans.

Macerated the remaining leafy and put back into pots and then covered with extra soil. then planted Lanternfruit from america with some louffa gourd seeds and bottle gourd seeds and horned melon seeds, also some eggplant seeds.

Herbs are going good, most have sprouted though the okra that has sprouted sprouted yellow, not sure why… replanted the pots that did not sprout. oregano growing the best followed by coriander but the coriander not leafing out rather bolting to flower and seed, same with the nasturtiums.

Vine going really well.

Cactuses have settled well into their new pots no complaints as yet, aloe growing well though edges of the leaves are drying and browning in the sun.

beans will take approx 30 days on rack to dry heres hoping no mold develops. also pic of fishtank with spiny eels, java fern, and catfishes and milky quartz rock substrate.

So yeah good summer so far really enjoying it!

Springs here and seeds are a sprouting!

Lots of seeds starting to sprout, lanternfruit, and parsely so far I think, maybe chives. planted a heap of okra seeds as well as some horned melon seeds.