Passionfruit Panama Pandora

In January 2009, we got two passionfruit vines from the market. These were planted against the lower side of the new concrete tank and have done well until the past year. The yellow one near the compost bins provided the earlier crops and then the purple one at the base of the overflow took over for a couple of years. We made a trellis for it, but in 2012, it breathed its last. The yellow one still survives beneath the olive tree but has not produced fruit in the past two years, so we have now planted a 'new and improved premium passionfruit' from Bunnings on our trellis below the orange tree.
Passionfruit Panama Pandora, Passiflora flavicarpa hybrid,  is a premium new release offering sweeter, larger fruit than other Panama varieties. Fertilise in spring and summer, remove dead foliage and cut back any side shoots that touch the ground. See www.taravalley.com for a fact sheet.

Basil

In 2011-2012 I have 2 basil plants, both volunteers. One is beside the path under the bean trellis at the end of the house and the other is in the top RH bed of the tank garden with the tomatoes.

Garlic chives

I now have garlic chives in various places, flowering and looking messy. In 2011 I planted a row along the edge of the path at the end of the house to deter ants in the pavers. I plan to remove them from the rest of the garden in 2012.

Spring onions

I got some spring onion bulbils from Kath's garden at Moonah in about 2007. In 2011 I grew them on the edge of the garden at the end of the house and they have done well.
I also got some from Rosalie about 3 years ago and they grew in the top bed of the tank garden for a couple of years, then I put them in the bed at the end of the house in 2011.

Leeks

In 2011, I planted leeks along the edge of the bed at the end of the house. They have done well.
Before 2011, I grew leeks on the lower edge of the top bank which is not so fertile, but they persisted well for about 3 years. Before that they were at the southern end of this bed.

Choko

My choko plant grew well against the tank on the north side, producing fruit from September 2011, before most people. By early 2012 it was rampant on the tank and I suspect it harboured rats, so I cut it back to the base in February before we went away. I must have given away more than 100 fruit last summer. By April it is again becoming rampant and will have to be cut back again.

Pumpkins

I grew Windsor Grey pumpkins from seed I got from Rosalie. I sowed 3 clumps on the lower bank for the summer of 2011-2012 and have harvested 2 large and 2 smaller pumpkins so far.
I don't think I grew any last year, but probably did the previous year.

Jerusalem Artichokes

The 2011-2012 crop of 3 plants above the bottle tree is now dying off and ready to dig. The top plant has wilted and does not appear to have any tubers.
There are also 3-4 plants among the sweet potato and pumpkin on the lower bank, which were planted out later.

Broad beans

Today I planted my 2012 broad bean crop in bay 2 on the north side of the tank.
In 2011, the crop was in bay 5 adjacent to the bottle tree.
In 2010, the crop was in bay 4 adjacent to the tap.
In 2009, I think the crop was in bay 3.

Sugar snap peas

This year the sugar snap peas are sown below the tank outlet.
In 2011, they were sown just above the tank outlet, and below the orange tree.
In 2010, 2009, 2008, they were sown on the edge of the top bank near the laundry.