I took pictures of the garden yesterday to do the comparison with the pictures of June 1st, July 1st and August 1st of this year.
It's indeed been a "different" gardening year. Because of the slow start this season, I think the garden looks better (less done-in and on-the-way-out) than it usually does this time of year.
The Raised Beds
The raised beds on June 1st.
The raised beds on July 1st.
The raised beds on August 1st.
The raised beds on September 1st.
The Field Garden
The field garden on June 1st.
The field garden on July 1st.
The field garden on August 1st.
The field garden on September 1st.
The Pumpkin Patch
The pumpkin patch on June 1st.
The pumpkin patch on July 1st.
The pumpkin patch on August 1st.
The pumpkin patch on September 1st.
Still lots of life in the garden and lots to be harvested and processed for the coming winter months. Some crops such as the winter squash and pumpkins aren't going to make it this year. Remarkably enough, the corn is looking good and some ears are almost ready for eating. The majority of it will be left to mature for use as cornmeal and feed for the poultry.
The sweet pepper plants that have never grown to what I consider full sized are loaded with big fruit. I don't think they'll have time to turn red this year, but I'll use them as sweet green peppers with no problem.
Onions are still in the ground and although most of the tops have fallen over, they aren't brown or withered yet. There's still more growing time for the bulbs.
The last heads of broccoli went into the freezer two days ago, Brussel sprouts are forming as well as cabbage heads. The carrots are a really nice size and the beets are ready for processing. I just have to get to it!
Slicing cucumbers are producing faster than we can eat them. Organic ones at our co-op in town are still selling for $2.29 EACH so I'm pickled tink to have the bonanza in our garden.
For all of us with gardens, this is a time of year when finding time to do all that needs to be done is (puff-puff) a challenge. Also, trying to fit wood working with Papa Pea into my day has made me less than a good blogger lately.
But the push now should make for a comfy, easy winter with full bellies and toasty toes . . . and more time for blogging. I can hardly wait!