Fall Garden Notes

Somewhere in July I stop weeding, and let the garden go wild. It is a disgraceful mess, to say the least. However, there are plenty of vibrant moments throughout the garden. The onions have all laid over and are protected from direct sun with a layer of weeds. They are monsters, and have been wonderful in Kerri's salsa. The peppers are relatively easy to get to. Kerri sends me out to get peppers, so I get to choose the mix. This year it is about 1/2 jalapeno and 1/2 Cayenne, Serano, and Catarina, and a couple of Bells.

My flower gardens are mostly annuals, and were designed as a temporary garden until I get my final irrigation system in. I have loved it. The Nicotiana is extremely fragrant in the evenings, and the Amaranthus glows in the evening light. I am making slow progress, but progress on my irrigation system. Although I don't expect to make green lawn this fall, I can see lawn getting planted first thing in the spring. 

Fall is a time of reflection. How can I improve my garden for next year? I've already been reading spring catalogs. Thompson and Morgan had a summer 99cent sale on flower seed. Their normal rate is $3-5 a packet, so I couldn't pass it up. I picked up about 25 packs of flower seed for next spring.

The potatoes have been a hit. We've been digging and eating fresh potatoes since the first baby reds came off. I've not even dug 1/4 of them. The carrots have continually gotten sweeter. I love the Rainbow mix as they have matured. Kerri loved the Purple Dragons in her slaw. The Autumn King carrots are beautiful and sweet. The jury is still out on the Belgium White carrots. Red Acre Cabbage, Dutch Flat, and Jersey Wakefield are a must. I would like to add a Savoy Cabbage next year. Probably don't need Kale, Chard, or Brussels Sprouts next year. I'm going to do a little taste test with the tomatoes. The only noticeable points of interest is Better Boy is an amazing producer, Pink Belgium has an old fashioned, classic, acidic flavor, Striped Roman has beautiful color and is flavorful in Kerri's Summer Salad,  Taxi is beautiful, firm, and tasty. For the most part my cherry tomatoes and pear tomatoes were a disappointment. I've got to look up the name of a little orange cherry I bought late from Manson Bay Market. It is the sweetest little thing. 

Other notes:

I grew some tomatoes on stakes, and not in baskets - don't work very well

Tomato baskets must be staked and wired down with T-post or they will fall over

Grow cantaloup on cattle panels

Try Tomatoes between two cattle panels

I'd rather grow melons and squash than raspberries and blackberries.

Grow more of what we will use - less waste - although the geese have had a good year

Grow 1/2 as much cabbage

Grow 1/2 as many beets

Don't bother growing picklers, I can't get a good "do" on pickles anyway

Why grow any other cuke than Orient Express II?

Re-think Okra - Plastic Tunnel?

Grow lettuce to eat not just to look at

We've been eating sweet corn from my last stand of corn. It has been really tender and sweet. It don't get much better than buttered sweet corn, fresh sliced tomatoes, sliced cukes, and a little grilled meat. We have enjoyed the garden so much this year.