Veggie patch promises

I am disappointed in my veggie patch. I set out with such high hopes, such grand intentions.

I selected the site and then, one day when a bobcat was here doing some other work, I asked the driver to scrape the kikuyu grass away from my future veg patch. It became a circle of bare red loam in a sea of green grass. A promise.

I carefully marked the beds, opting for eight pie wedges radiating from a small central circle. I placed my sundial in the centre of the circle. I added loads of compost, worm castings and lime to the beds and planted herbs in the central circle. I planted garlic, onions, leeks, potatoes, silver beet, beetroot, peas, carrots, leafy lettuces and brassicas. Dozens of brassicas – cauliflowers, cabbages, kale, broccoli – expecting abundance.