Early Autumn Report

Our temperatures have begun to range between about 50 and 70 degrees F and we have had a couple good soaking rains over the past two weeks. I finally got the seedlings in the basement all planted outside last night (they could have been planted out two weeks ago). Most of the things that I planted have a 30-40 day maturation, but that will be lengthened because the days are short and the nights are cool.

I had to take out the marigolds that were growing very large, the zucchinis which were not producing much anyway and a few kale plants that overwintered last year but were still producing. I also took out the cucumbers and green beans which were shading the rear frame.

This morning, I replanted most of the radishes more deeply because it seemed that a good portion of the root was above ground.

I harvested apples last weekend. They taste very good, but I only harvested one armload. I decided it wasn't worth the effort to get to the higher branches because there were so few apples.

Harvest photos follow, from most recent to earlier in the month. The raspberry harvest of about 1 cup over two days was the largest of the season, though I have probably picked and eaten another two cups during the course of the season.

9/26 The last two cukes of the year

9/24 Harvest

9/24 Seedlings being set out
(lettuce, carrots, parsley, cilantro, tatsoi, choi)

9/24 Near frame after clearing (left a couple
of chard and pepper plants with fruit)

9/24 Snap peas being set out

9/21 Largest single raspberry harvest this year (1/2 cup)

9/21 Tomato harvest

9/24 Apple harvest
(not sure if the squirrels or tenants got the rest)

9/15 Harvest (basil and tomatoes)

9/16 Hot pepper with stress marks

9/15 Banana peppers and basil

9/14 Harvest

9/12 Harvest (beans, beans, beans...)

9/10 Small frame with celery, kale and peppers

9/10 New snap peas and radishes

9/10 Seedlings (snap peas, lettuce, parsley,
cilantro, arugula, mizuna, tatsoi, choi)

First of September Report

I was surprised to find several snap peas already maturing this weekend (started 7/13), so I decided to get some more planted (~80). I managed to get the last packet of snap peas that were available at the Coop. They were already taken down from display and someone had to search for them in the back. I also planted some radishes directly in the garden and am planning to start some carrots inside, though they will probably not fully mature before winter.

We have harvested an amazing number of green beans from just eight plants started in mid-June. The peak production appears to have happened this weekend though many of the pods should have been picked a little earlier.

The zucchinis are suffering from powdery mildew. According to a quick web search, the following natural remedies may work: rinsing the leaves in the morning when they will have a chance to dry quickly; vinegar solution 2-3 TBSP per gallon of water; milk, one part milk to two parts water, applied once a week.

I took out two tomato plants recently that were turning yellow/purple and blighted. I may not have fertilized as much as I should have since the tomatoes in the next frame are looking very healthy.

The largest harvest of green beans this year 

(planted mid-June)

Black Swallowtail Caterpillar on Parsley

Harvest

Cucumber, green beans, yellow zucchini

Morning glory climbing the front stairs

Harvest and seeds started

Green beans, chard, kale, and pepper

Seeds started: lettuce (6 varieties), parsley, arugula,
cilantro, kale, mizuna

Harvest and other things

Basil, green beans, zucchini and tomatoes

Perennial garden work in progress

Powdery mildew on zucchini leaves

Daylilies that refuse to stop blooming

Mid-August Report

Alas, I have not yet planted anything for the fall/winter except for about 200 snap peas and the kale and celery from this spring that appear that they will not mature until the fall. I must get some carrots, lettuce and other hardy greens planted soon or I will miss another opportunity to see how much gardening I can really do in the darkest depths of winter in Buffalo, NY.

We were away for more than a week, but my daughter made sure everything was watered. I was amazed at how much things grew. Apart from a lack of fresh lettuce, the garden is supplying plenty of fresh produce for the kitchen and we are ready for another cutting of basil to make pesto.

Cherokee purple (?) tomatoes

There are only four green bean plants
per frame but they are dominating

Green beans, cucumber, kale, etc.

Sweet peppers in the foreground

Squirrel deterrent cages

Sun Golds, Yellow Pear Tomatoes, Blue Lake Beans

Gadzukes and Cukes!

End of July Report

I have been staying ahead of the tomato blight by pulling leaves as they turn yellow, but I also purchased some copper spray from Home Depot to see if that will help to slow it down. It looks like we will have a great tomato harvest this year if I can put up the fencing before the squirrels start to work on them.

I have been picking a handful of raspberries every day. We have picked three zucchinis now and three cucumbers.

Yesterday, I moved the containers to be near the garden to get more sunshine and to ease the setup of the automatic watering system.

Saturday Harvest

It took half of the day to process all of these veggies. There is another large bowl not pictured.

Morning Glories Almost Blooming and our First Zucchini of the Year

The zucchini got away from me after a single day of not paying attention

Cutting Branches/Early Blight

This morning I finally got around to cutting branches that were shading the garden. However, I noted that the green beans in partial shade were growing more vigorously than those in full sun. Salad greens also do well in partial shade. I may have to suspend burlap shade cloth in the future in choice locations to make up for the lack of branches.

The new snap pea starts will be planted in the next day or two. The zucchini are almost picking size. There are lots of small cucumbers developing, lots of cherry and regular tomatoes. Green beans are flowering.

I will be proactively wrapping all of the tomatoes in chicken wire to deter the squirrels. Blight is appearing on the lower leaves of the tomatoes. This is being encouraged by the rain that we have been receiving. I read yesterday that there is a copper spray that can help to control the blight.

Branches before

Branches after

Zucchinis almost ready

Early blight on tomatoes

Second Basil Harvest

I made five cups of pesto this evening from the second basil harvest.

Basil after harvesting (12 plants)

Near garden with cucumbers and green beans climbing

Harvest

Kale, Chard and Carrots

I also made a second harvest of mint this weekend. A few of the mint were beginning to flower.

New frame

I needed a new frame to move some things out of the tomato frame. It finally arrived.

Fall peas started

Peas soaked and planted for fall crop. I planted about 210 Cascadia peas in soil blocks in the basement today. The photo is from the future (7/25).

Pea seedlings two weeks later