Things are starting to Grow

So I am not sure whether it is the heat, but the herbs I brought from the UK are not doing that well over here, I will have to keep experimenting with location in my garden to adjust the shade/sunshine ratio.

Papaya and Ginger Plant

Oregano

Capsicum Seeds

Date Palms

Borage

Spring onions and Chives

Avocado

Ginger with  beer trap

Lemon Tree with Pineapple

Chilli Plant

Beasties and Things not doing so well

So after coming back after a week away, I was worried about some of my plants being slightly frazzled, but it seems that beasties are still causing me most of my problems. The first couple of pictures are just some oddities, we do not expect to see crabs 1km away from the sea, up a hill, so can only guess he was someone's dinner that escaped. I also loved the very well camouflaged praying mantis, that looks very much like a stick, he did not want to be photographed, so this was the best I could do.

Some things are dying, I still have yet to have much luck with Mangos, as they always seem to become infested by white mites, but I will keep trying.

I am also having a problem with hundreds of very tiny snails, they seem to like leaf litter, but once that is gone, they seem to love seeds and new sprouts much to my disappointment, so their extermination will have to begin.

I am having a losing battle with aphids and mealy bugs at this stage, and very tempted to cull the plants that are not yielding fruit, but will see what I decide...

Unexpected Crab

Very Well Camouflaged Praying Mantis

Mango Starting to Die

Papaya Tree

Snails eating Everything

Lemon/Lime Tree with Pineapple doing well in the Background

Beasties attacking the Aubergines/Eggplants

Beasties Attacking the Tomatoes

French Marigolds all Died except one

Oregano

New Potting - Date Palms

Spring Onions and Garlic Chives

Mango dying, and Borage trying to grow

Papaya well watered and looking happier

Chilli Plant

Preparation for a week away

Preparation for a week away

I took these pictures before I went away for a week, not sure what the weather would hold, as it is the hot season, I was lucky that it rained a few days before, and rain was forecast for when I was away. I gave every thing a very good water before I went away, and tried my best to remove pests to give the plants a good chance. We shall see what becomes of them?

Papaya Tree

Borage

Mustard Cress

Ginger and Nasturtium

French Marigold and Basil

Aubergine/Eggplant

Ginger and Tomato

Sun is Shining and things are Growing

Sun is Shining and things are Growing

Happy that some of the new additions are doing so well, including the Basil and French Marigolds. Forgot to harvest the Mustard Cress when it was at Cress stage, but then decided it would be fun to see what they would grow into. The crazy amount of chillis on the chilli bush are ripening slowly just to keep me tantilised.

Basil

French Marigolds

Mustard Cress

Mixed Herbs

Chilli Plant

Papaya Tree

Things are a Ripening!

So finally have a bit of ripening with the tomatoes and chillies, also getting some good growth from some of the new additions such as the Basil and French Marigolds, unfortunately many of the new additions don't seem to like the current heat and long time expats have suggested waiting till October when the temperature cools slightly. Hopefully I'll be able to get some European herbs to grow soon!

Ripe Tomato

Basil

Mantis devouring a wasp

Chilli Plant

Ripening Chillis

French Marigolds

Hot Season starts to take its toll...

So the cracking heat is leaving some of my plants in a shameful state, the ginger is wilting away and many of the seed are not even growing - I have been experimenting moving stuff around to see if a shadier or cooler location would help - failing that will just have to try again when monsoon hits and the temperature drops and the rains begin....

Mustard Cress Seedlings

Borage and Nasturtium Seedlings 

Tomato before it ripens

Chilli Plant

Mixed Herbs Wilting in the heat

French Marigolds

Basil Seedlings

Aubergine/Eggplant

Papaya Tree

Avocado Plant