There were a surprising number of them hiding under the wilted and sad looking leaves.
Then I harvested the last of the green peppers. Pulled out those plants, too. What am I going to do with all these peppers? I have ample stuffed green peppers for a year and more chopped and frozen for recipes than I need. I've foisted as many as I can on others. A bountiful harvest is a
Yesterday I dug the first of the red potatoes to make a big pot of mashed potatoes. As large as the white potatoes have been, disappointment reigned supreme when digging under three plants to find only these which are mostly piddling little in size. Also, they have some kind of a scab on the skins which I'm not happy about.
We're waiting for our root cellar to cool down in temp before digging all the potatoes. Same with the carrots although I've been stealing some of them regularly for about a month now. So happy to see that this year the carrots are back up to normal, big size compared to the pencil thin carrots I got last year. Still can't figure out why that happened. Never saw anything like it before.
I did my last cutting and dehydration of mint for the year today. The pantry now has one gallon of dried mint for Papa Pea's tea supply. It will be interesting to see just how long it lasts.
This is my pumpkin harvest. Despite some of them that are still green, we have plenty of nice jack o' lantern sized ones with which to decorate. I took this pic after I had taken away the small ones that I use in our window boxes.
I hated to pull the summer begonias out as they were still looking good, but figured I'd have to go right to Christmas decorations in the boxes if I didn't get the fall ones in there soon.
Another big butchering day is set for this Sunday. Twenty-two ducks and three geese. I'm thinking seriously of running away from home before then.
19 comments:
Oh Mama Pea...that is a BIG butchering day for you. I'll run away with you. How about we hit a spa, sit in the hot tub and sip on champagne while the boys do all the dirty work? I'm totally up for that!!! :)
Your pumpkins are gorgeous!!! That is a nice harvest! Nice cukes too. What do you do with them all? We got all cuked out with only a dozen of them over the summer!
We don't normally eat peppers because our digestions can't handle them, but I'll buy a few once in a while to put in spaghetti sauce, chili or on pizzas. We just put them in for the flavour then take them off and don't eat them. In those cases, I just cut them up and freeze them, no blanching or anything. They are a little wimpy when they are defrosted, but serve their purpose!
Keep talking; I need more garden inspiration!
I love seeing harvest photos and yours are really nice. Still so much good food! We've finally gotten down in the mid-40s at night, so I reckon I'd better harvest my sweet potatoes and clean up a few beds myself.
Our red potatoes were much smaller this year. Not sure why either. Our sweet potatoes did very well, and I'm still digging those.
You (and Rain) are my heroes! You have a fabulous harvest this year and I cannot wait to see how long it takes to use up the mint for tea! You may have to find alternative recipes....mint chocolate chip cookies perhaps!?! :) Our potato harvest for our reds was not great, our whites were much better. Pumpkins were the champs in our yard this year. A whopping 11.
Pack your bag, kiddo - my guest room is waiting! Lordy, you will be set for months - years! The upside is that daily poultry chores will be a lot easier. Your garden really did well. My red potatoes were smaller and of a less number as well. Interesting that that seems to be the case with a lot of people.
Mama Pea,
If you're running away can we come too??
Lovely harvest of cukes, and peppers. You'd be surprised how many peppers you'll find under those leaves!!!
What type of red potatoes were those you planted?
How cool, all that dried mint for tea....I'm sure your husband will use it all up before your next planting.
Butchering days....there no fun but have to be done to stalk up the freezer for winter meals. Just think about how much less work you'll have to do with winter feedings :-)
Hugs and love to you and yours,
Sandy
Rain - I know butchering day will come . . . and be over with before we know it. It has taught us to NEVER let so many ducks hatch out so many eggs ever again!
We eat copious quantities of whatever is fresh from the garden so lots of cuke salads, cukes in tossed salads, cukes on sandwiches, etc. are the norm. But I use up tons of them making enough kimchi (with other fresh ingredients) to supply us with probiotics for many months of the winter.
Chicken Mama can't eat green peppers either and I know they bother a lot of people. I do the same as you . . . cut them up and freeze them without blanching. They're one of the few veggies you can do that way. I sat down yesterday (felt good!) and went through my recipe file and listed all the dishes calling for green peppers. Many of them can be made ahead and frozen (hey, convenience food!) so I'm going to work toward that end. (Wish me luck!) ;o}
Michelle - Garden inspiration . . . heck, I need garden HELP! ;o}
Thanks so much, Leigh. Our temps at night have been fluctuating between the mid-50s (way too warm . . . no wonder we can't get our root cellar cooled down!) and mid-40s. No killing frost yet, just a couple of light ones.
Oh, to be able to grow sweet potatoes! Just proves the grass is always greener on the other side, eh?
Kristina - Ya know, I never tried growing sweet potatoes when we lived in Illinois. Why? Sure wish I had when I could!
Susan at e-i-e-i-omg says her red taters were small this year, too. Hrumpf.
MrsDM - Oh, if only I were worthy of being anyone's hero!!
The reason I'm feeling shaking (already) about having just the gallon of mint leaves stashed away is because according to my recording keeping from when I first harvested some of the mint on July 2nd, he's already gone through 7 cups!! I may have to start rationing it out! So I'm not thinking I'll have any excess. Dang.
Yay for your pumpkins! Boo on all our red taters being not so great. Wonder why?
Susan - Yes, yes, yes! We are eager to not have to feed out so much to the over-abundance of poultry, clean so much poop, and haul so much water! I don't know how we could keep going all winter (without them having any grass pasture upon which to graze) with this too big number of them.
Do you suppose "someone" has put some kind of a hex on all of our red potatoes?
Sandy - There are some days when running away from it all (so why did we work so hard to get where we are now?) seems like the only option, doesn't it? Especially considering what you've been through on your new little homestead. Arrrgh.
The red potatoes were Red Chieftan. I should have planted another red variety to compare and see if another variety would have done better. Maybe next year.
I hope you will have help with that butchering project! Would you believe we have never eaten duck or goose.
Glenda - There are 5 of us scheduled for the butchering fun (not) on Sunday. :o\
You've never eaten duck or goose?? I'm sending you 12 ducks and 3 geese.
Just think, this Winter you and Papa Pea won't have to go out for anything. You have your produce and meat all tucked away. Can I run away to your house this Winter?
Theresa - Yes, we will be A-OK in the food department, that's for sure. The only thing we'll have to go "out" for is for daily chores and to snow plow and shovel. You're welcome to run away to here. Just be sure to bring your snow shovel. ;o]
What beautiful harvest pictures! Love those pumpkins!! You are always such an inspiration. :)
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