Although we had had morning lows in the 30's for 4-5 days, when I looked out the kitchen window last night I saw tomatoes that were ripe and semi-ripe. So, I went out and picked what was there. Not a haul by any means, but for mid-October the list wasn't bad: 11 tomatoes (3 of which went into last night's dinner), 2 handfuls of green beans, 3 green peppers and 4 mini squash.
The mini squash was a volunteer that probably came here with the manure that WS brought in last spring. It grew up in the tomatoes. The squash is about 3 inches in diameter and is a flattened globe shape. It is green with white stripes and is very cute. I will use them as ornamentals for a while, then open them up to see if they contain anything besides rind and seeds. If they don't contain any flesh, it's not a big deal since they cost me absolutely no work (except to bend over and pick them off the withered vine) and they can go straight into the mulch pile. Who knows, I may dry a few seeds and see if they germinate next year.
I left a lot of green tomatoes and tiny green peppers out there. The next several nights are supposed to stay in the 50's, so I figure they have more time to develop/ripen. The green pepper plants are even flowering again. I couldn't believe that they set flowers with the cold mornings we have had, but apparently they aren't as warm blooded as the hot peppers are.
I plan on slowly dismantling the garden this weekend. I'll take down the teepees the peas had for climbing, the grow-thru supports for the green bean plants, the roll-out wooden walkways and the weed barrier fabric. I'll also take down some of the tomato supports, but leave the supports to the plants that are still producing. The corn stalks need to be ripped up to and then WS can rototil, if he has time.
In signing off, I will leave you a tip:if you got too much garlic to plant, and are a true garlic lover (or know someone who is), here is a way to use it up.
fabulous bogie :-) love the garlic jelly idea too.
Posted by: bod | October 20, 2007 at 02:34 AM
I need to be out in my gardens RIGHT NOW! I hate having to trim back the gardens and get the lawn ready for winter, but it's time to start. I expect to get about fours hours in today before family activities pull me away.
One of the chores is using the brush-hogger. I've asked Dear Husband to take the chain saw to the rugosa rose. I learned from you that it's good to cut them back. Since it's at the bend in the drive, I plan to put markers in on either side of it, so that DH won't be tempted to rip it out with the snow plow this winter. Once I can get into that garden, I plan to cut all the volunteer shrubs out.
I guess I better quit typing and go work! Have a great weekend!
Posted by: buffy | October 20, 2007 at 09:20 AM
Ah, Bogie, you are so much like my mother in being a happy farmer. She would have been pleased to have lived on the farm for life! You do a wonderful job.
Posted by: Cop Car | October 21, 2007 at 12:33 PM