I came to love my rows, my beans, though so many more than I wanted. They attached me to the earth, and so I got strength like Antaeus.~ Henry David ThoreauJust as the Farmer’s Almanac called it, this autumn has been on the milder side. It’s not to say we haven’t experienced our first light frost – that happened the weekend of October 17th and 18th and again the other night. Having Mother Nature remind you of the impending change of the season during a warm autumn can shock crops – depending upon what’s still in the garden and what you have done to prepare for extending the season and fighting a little frost.
Peppers ripening on the counter |
f the plant.
We’ve known this about tomatoes but not peppers – this good
info. Of course, pulling any fruit off the plant before fully ripened results
in lower nutritional content and they aren’t as sweet as their fully ripened
counterparts, but I think anything from your own garden is way better than from
anywhere else. Plus I usually only do this at the end of the season when I am
worried about impending frost.
Peppers ripening in a bag with tomatoes |
Cold frame is up |
Yesterday during a break
from the computer, I went out and pulled the entire bed of remaining bean,
cucumber and morning glory vines. All of which will be dumped in the woods since I worry about the morning
glory seeds taking over. In a few
days I’ll harvest some more herbs – the mint, rosemary, sage and thyme should
be trimmed back – as should the oregano.
I will leave some long and wild for the birds and bees to continue to
enjoy.
There won't be too many days left where
the weather will allow me to be outside and to me there is nothing
better than working out in the garden.
3.5 inches of much needed rain |
Asparagus ferns |
Our Brussels sprouts are still coming along - its our first year growing them so there is a learning curve. We had some pests eat away at the leaves at one point during the summer but we planted enough that we only really only lost one to the pests - the rest now have started to sprout their little sprouts which it fun to see. The end of the season list continues with dumping the new compost into the the 12 foot bed we had to empty thanks to the morning glory infestation. We need to throw down some new compost in a few containers as well before putting the straw/hay mulch down.
It's a bittersweet time of year for us. We have worked in our garden as well as in our clients' gardens all season. Preparing soil, seeding, planting, staking and supporting, watering, feeding, weeding, waiting, watching nature do what she does so well - grow, thrive, produce, feed. It's the most satisfying feeling in the world, helping people grow their own food. But alas, all seasons must come to an end and our business, Homegrown Harvest is coming to the end of our third growing season. We were thrilled the other day to receive photos from one of client's boasting about their garden. It's the best feeling in the world when you have one of your clients send you pictures of her garden thriving or her standing there with a Cheshire cat grin holding a huge platter of homegrown vegetables. We are truly blessed!
As the season winds down we can take solace knowing that the garden may be still but underneath the soil, wonderful things are taking shape to fill our palates next season.
It's a bittersweet time of year for us. We have worked in our garden as well as in our clients' gardens all season. Preparing soil, seeding, planting, staking and supporting, watering, feeding, weeding, waiting, watching nature do what she does so well - grow, thrive, produce, feed. It's the most satisfying feeling in the world, helping people grow their own food. But alas, all seasons must come to an end and our business, Homegrown Harvest is coming to the end of our third growing season. We were thrilled the other day to receive photos from one of client's boasting about their garden. It's the best feeling in the world when you have one of your clients send you pictures of her garden thriving or her standing there with a Cheshire cat grin holding a huge platter of homegrown vegetables. We are truly blessed!
As the season winds down we can take solace knowing that the garden may be still but underneath the soil, wonderful things are taking shape to fill our palates next season.
The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul. ~Alfred Austin
If the day and the night are such that you greet them with joy, and life emits a fragrance like flowers and sweet-scented herbs, is more elastic, more starry, more immortal - that is your success. All nature is your congratulations, and you have cause momentarily to bless yourself. ~ Henry David Thoreau