Our first real frost was on October 26. It got down to around 30 degrees, killing much of the non-hardy plants in the garden. I was expecting it, but there is always a bit of drama about the first frost. It truly does represent the end of another gardening season...although I always try to stretch things just a bit further.
Some mornings, like this one on
October 24, I just go out with the goal of picking a salad for lunch. Arugula, lettuce, carrot, cherry tomatoes, and a banana pepper fit the bill that day.
Here are some more serious harvest pictures from right after the frost hit. These winter squash are either butternut squash or crookneck pumpkins. Since they grew out of the compost pile, I'm not entirely sure. I'm hoping that they are butternuts, which I find much tastier than pumpkin. We'll know soon!
Also from that day are these unripe tomatoes, mostly Black Krim and Cherokee Purple. These guys are sitting on a windowsill in the house right now, slowing ripening up.
Sweet peppers, banana and bell, and some green cherry tomatoes.
This was from Saturday, November 2...Peas, last of the pepper, last of the green beans, more ripe and unripe tomatoes, and some chubby stubby carrots.
The garden still have life left in it. Carrots, Parsnips, Lettuce, Arugula, Swiss Chard, Mustard, and Rutabaga are all still doing fine. There may be a second small crop of peas. We'll see what pops up.
Nice job on extending the growing season. Our chard is still going to town even though the temps have been regularly in the teens. The deer have found it and are keeping it trimmed too. Will you have any crops that winter over?
ReplyDeleteWith our mild winters, most of what I mentioned in the post has a good chance of surviving till spring. Not the peas...they'll be done soon. Last year, chard, red leaf lettuce, celeriac, collards, and brussel sprout plants all successfully overwintered. This year I also have garlic, potatoes, and shallots in the ground. They should pop up once spring arrives.
ReplyDeleteBe careful tilling potatoes in the spring. They end up everywhere!
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