Sunday, September 27, 2009

The Fall Garden So Far.

So far my fall garden has been hard hit by heat ( what is up with 100s in late september?), hard hit by snails and birds, and kept at bay by the summer vegetables still hanging on. The lettuce I planted a few weeks ago has been hard hit by the heat. Most of the seeds in the ground did not sprout and those that did were attacked by snails. I did have some success with the ones I planted in my old wheelbarrow. The kale sprouted but was hit hard by snails also. I've been busy with a flashlight after dark hand picking and diposing of those slimy guys. My carrots have also been hit hard by the heat. The broccolli, cauliflower and potatoes have started wonderfully. My tomatoes are still going strong with many tomatoes ripening as well as many green ones still there. The eggplant is still doing well also though they have stopped flowering so this should be the last crop. Peppers flowered like crazy weeks ago and many peppers in various stages of ripening. I planted a second crop of radishes today as the first crop is nearing maturity. I also am hoping the weather is truly going to cool as I planted more lettuce today.

The potatoes mulched with alfalfa.
potatoes

Radishes, carrots and kale.
root veg

Broccolli, cauliflower, and cabbage mulched with alfalfa. Trellisses for newly planted sugar snap peas in background.
Fall Garden

Peppers going strong.
peppers 9/27

Tomatoes
tomatoes 9/27

If anyone is interested I have a box of miracle grow for tomatoes and some compost bins I want to give away.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Life Gets in the Way

The transition of the garden from summer to fall is in full swing and about half accomplished. The radishes are growing like weeds, the kale is coming up great, and the potatoes are doing tremendous. On the other hand the lettuce succumbed to the heat, snails and mourning doves. The broccolli and cauliflower I started from seed grew to tall and skinny searching for sunlight from inside the house. I abandoned them and purchased some started plants from Green Acres. I have 12 broccolli, 12 cauliflower, and 4 red cabbage growing quite well now. I still have Walla Walla onions to get in the ground, a huge mess of Banana Squash vines to pull , and snap peas to be planted in their place. It's almost fall and time for my favorite activities. I've been busy getting all the honey dos done such as a new kitchen floor and a new kitchen range installed. I did sneak off for a mountain quail/ grouse hunt saturday but only ended up with 3 mountain quail. I'll add some pictures tomorrow. One more major project to go ( redo the hallway)and then a nice break over winter before redoing 3 bedrooms in late spring.