The Cut Flower and Vegetable Garden

The flower and vegetable garden at Lambley is quite large by modern standards. The produce is used to feed the whole four generations of the family. I water the vegetable garden with bore water.

Many varieties of vegetables are trialled to see which grow the best in the central highlands of Victoria where the last frost occurs in mid November and the Autumn comes in quickly with April bringing the first frosts.

Melons, pumpkins, okra, capsicums and egg plants all have to be short season varieties, i.e. they have to grow, fruit and ripen during the four hottest months or we don’t get a crop. Many old varieties don’t produce ripe crops so I’m continually trying new varieties bred for climates like ours.

Traditional flower bedding is less and less seen in our parks and public gardens. I love to see such plants as Zinnias mass planted and those who visited the nursery this last Summer and Autumn enjoyed the brilliant colours of this now sadly neglected annual. I also grew Amaranthus and Sunflowers in the vegetable garden this year.

Beds of Tulips and Ranunculus are planted for spring effect. Calendula, Poppies, Wallflowers and Sweet Peas also have their season.

Visitors are most welcome to enjoy the gardens at Lambley. Open every day from 9 to 5. Admission is free. Groups by appointment (charges apply).