Lots of Cold Early This Year

We have a couple nice little freezes last week, and over the last two nights we've been down into the upper 20s. The fall garden is officially frozen and done.  Winter garden is not showing near the vigor of the fall garden.  Pretty much same soil, same prep, the weather hasn't been quite as friendly as the fall weather, which was darn near perfect as far as gardening goes.  I have to admit, I am tempted to just harvest out the rest of the winter garden crops, till it all up, cover and wait for spring.  I am just not sure that what I will harvest of what is still growing is worth the effort as opposed to being really ahead of the game in spring.  I'll wait till the first of the year to make a final decision, but sure am leaning to the early start for spring.

Last of the Mohicans, err, I Mean Last of the Bell Peppers

This was the last Bell Pepper harvest before winter finally did them in.  We stuffed and froze them.  Hopefully, there are enough of them to make it till spring.   I've always thought of stuffed Bell Peppers as kind of a winter food anyway.  I am funny that way.

I Showed Up at the Front Door with a Bouquet of Lettuce?

Ain't I just a romantic?

Got Sick, and Winter Arrived

I got sick right after Thanksgiving.  Something flu like, but it kept me in bed for nearly a week.  And after than, in the first week of December winter slipped through the back door with a series of freezes and heavy frost.  Most of the grasses are now a nice warm brown, the bananas and elephant ears are melted, and the deciduous trees are losing leaves fast.  The fall veggie garden is toast, quite literally.

I Am Not a One Trick Pony. I Can Be Mr. Cauliflower Head, Too

The fall garden was on steroids.  What can I say? 

And these were not isolated incidents.   Pretty much all of the Cauliflower and Broccoli were that big.  And I have enough Georgia Southern Collard Greens to feed a small army as well.

My Friends Call Me Broccoli Head

And I haven't a clue why.

Jailbreak, Sound the Alarm

I'm not certain, but I think these Mirliton may be planning a jailbreak.  And I am going to let them.  Into the pots they go, for planting in the spring.

Can't Quite Put My Finger On It

It really didn't seem like I did anything all that different, other than making rows, but this year's fall garden has been nothing short of incredible.   This head of Broccoli is nearly twice the size of a basket ball, and it is the second one.  On the first, we ate fresh Broccoli, made Broccoli Soup, and froze 3 pints of blanched Broccoli.  And that was all from one head of Broccoli.  This is the second one, even bigger than the first, with several more on the way.  Beats everything I have ever grown, or even seen.

Everything is Burning

My pepper are fully dehydrated, to the point of having just a slight roasted taste. In spite of the fact that I had 1 tray of Bell Pepper (no heat), 3 trays of Banana Peppers (no heat), and only a half tray of my little Tabascos, this stuff will kill ya. As I was pouring the powder into my recycled shaker can through a funnel, I could taste the heat on my tongue from the airborne dust.  My nose started to burn next.  Wowza, this stuff is blazing.  

Another Super Wet Winter, I Hope Not

I got my rain gauge mounted last week, just in time to measure 3.5 inches of rain.  I had hoped for little rain on my newly tilled and planted rows.  After 3.5 inches I only hoped the seeds might still be in the near vicinity of where they were planted.   It was tough on them for sure, and on the new rows as well.

Last night, today, and tonight I suspect we will be well over 2 inches, many more.

I sure hope this is not the beginning of another year like last year, when over the 3 months we call winter, we got as much rain as an average whole year total.

Oh, our nomadic skunk was back.  Smelled so strong when I opened the front door, I feared he might be under the front porch.  Needless to say, I didn't stick my head under to look.  Anyway, I call it nomadic because I only smell it every 2 or 3 months.  Then its gone again.

Mixed Palette Today Signaled the Season End

Today was a mixed bag of activities.  I put out the last batch of compost tea for the season.  Temps are getting too cool for the stuff to cook effectively.  I'll wash it all up in the next few days and it'll go into storage till March.

I dehydrated some Bell Pepper, Banana Pepper, and Tabasco Peppers till they had a lightly roasted smell, and ground them up into a rough powder, and added a tad of salt.  I haven't done this in years, and may even get around to making a bit of hot sauce this year as well.  Its been nearly a decade since I've done that.

Also, used my Cajun Tipsy Cooker today.  Got a nice Smart Chicken at the grocery store, too.   The chicken was awesome.   Then I took the stock that the chicken produced and used that along with the last of the Yellow Squash of the season to make a new soup.   Assuming you like the taste of squash, that too, was awesome.

First frost should be showing up any week now, and that will bring big changes in the garden, opening up nearly a third for replanting when the melons, peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes come out.

Mixed Results/Mixed Emotions in the Garden

We narrowly missed an early frost in the garden last week, then as abruptly as that cold front swept
through, the heat returned.  To say that this is caused a bit of confusion with the plants in the garden, and the plants in the landscape as well, is a bit of an understated.

On the good side, the Tomatoes, Bell Pepper, Banana Pepper, Hot Peppers, Eggplant, Melons, etc. are still with us and still producing.   It sure is nice to run out to the garden to grab a fresh pepper when preparing a meal.  And to still taste a fresh tomato is great, cause when ther're gone it will be nearly 6 months before they return.

On the other hand bugs are taking their toll on the winter crops that are growing, and the ones that are just starting are hesitating.  The spinach is coming along OK, but the carrots and beets are sitting in a holding pattern. 

I think everything wish the weather would just go one way or the other.  I guess that is the norm for every spring and fall here in Louisiana, and some winters as well.

Is This The End, The End of the Fall Garden, That Is.

Its a nice cool crisp evening out there.  It dropped into the 40s pretty early on.  I've been sitting out on the back patio with my brother-in-law just soaking it in.  Its heading for a low of 33, according the weather service, but I sure hope they're wrong.  I fired up the bbq to a little extra warmth, and cooked some Sweet Potatoes while we were at it.  And there's no wind, so frost is likely, too.  I'm already mourning the loss of the fall garden.  I did throw some old blankets over the Tomatoes, but is about all I could do.  I will miss walking out during meal prep and just grabbing peppers, squash, etc. whenever needed.

A Little Spaghetti Anyone, Spaghetti Squash That Is?

Just prepared my first Spaghetti Squash. They are some cool to deal with, so I've got to grow some next year. Of course, I saved the seeds from these.  That means, except for a little labor, that will be a free effort next year.  Now, I'll have to get some seeds from a reputable seed source, too, as these may be hybridized, so who knows what may come out.  Seeds are a minimal expense anyway, so one way or the other, or both, I'll be raising some Spaghetti Squash next year.

Pumpkin Ain't That Scary, But It Is Delicious

I "put up" the Halloween Pumpkin today, in the freezer, that is. Well, at least I did the large one. I still have 3 more to do, but all together they are not as big as the big daddy.

Now, on to find some Pumpkin Soup, Pumpkin Pie, etc, recipes for a future nice cold day in January.

Canteloupe, mmmmm

Breakfast fresh off of the vine. Only a couple left out there, then its bye bye Canteloupe till spring.

Tomatoes are Falling, No Wait They're Not Falling, But It Is Fall Tomato Time

Almost forgot to mention, its fall tomato time.  I havested 3 yesterday and 2 today.  Haven't had any for months, so I can't wait to see if they have that awesome taste of spring tomatoes.   Maybe a tomato and egg sandwich for breakfast tomorrow morning?

My Back Hurts

It was a busy day in the garden today.  I pulled out the last of the Sun Jewel Melons and Yellow Crookneck Squash.  I then tilled and rehilled those areas, some unplanted areas, and some areas where I was trying old seeds.  In all it was probably around 150 of row that was reworked and planted.  On the carrot side I put down Carrot Nantes Coreless, Chateney, Danvers, and Imperator.   On the beet side, I planted Detroit Dark Red, Detroit Red, and Early Wonder.  I also planted some Red Creole Onion seed.  First time I have tried onions from seed.  I planted about 20 Onion sets also, some yellow, and a few reds that I found in the wheelbarrow from last year.  Last, and most certainly least, I planted some radish from that old 2003 seedlot named 'Easter Egg II Blend.'

So, now I am tired and my back hurts, but it hurts good.

Oh, I left the Mexican Melon and Canteloupe.  Yeah, there pretty much done, but there is so much fruit left on the vines, I have to give them just a little longer.  I am not sure I could have gone any longer, anyway.

Country Boy Simple Fun

Had a little simple country fun just now. I was just cleaning up in the garden, so everytime I found a melon that was a little over ripe, bugs in it even better, I threw it straight up in the air high as I could, watched it come down and explode, then watched the chickens come a running to devour.

Judging by the remains, I think the chickens really liked this Mexican Melon.

Something's Bugging Me

Actually something is bugging my garden.   First came the moths, then came the little green worms who are devouring everything in sight.  They started with the melons, the Cucumber, Mexican Mellon, and Sun Jewel Melon, and that was OK, cause they were about done anyway.  Then they headed to the Yellow Crookneck Squash, skelotonizing every leaf in sight.  And that was OK, too, cause I was about done with them.  And that was all in the space of a couple of weeks.  But now they must be stopped before they set their sights on the Cabbage, Mustard Greens, Kale, etc.  Fortunately a cool front arrives tonight which should slow them down.  Next, I'll move in with an organic insecticide, like BT, to finish them off.  One thing for sure is you can't take your eyes off of a southern garden for long, or the insects will pick it up and carry it away.  Kind of reminds my of a Borg episode on Star Trek.