Drought

Still no rain since September 5. On top of that, record breaking hot temperatures (upper 90s!) predicted in the coming week. The lawn is crunchy. The garden requires daily watering to encourage continued production of end-of-summer veggies AND prevent tiny seedlings with shallow roots from drying up altogether.

Caterpillars have attacked the curly parsley. Aphids have munched a few of the kohlrabi plants into oblivion. But the lettuce and spinach have germinated, and everything else looks great. Time for a rain dance?

Have my seeds sprouted yet?

Yes! Baby plants have already popped out of the ground!

It's hard to believe how quickly some plants germinate. This morning, I see that tatsoi, mustard, arugula, and kale have erupted - tiny little leaves pushing up through the soil - and some have been above ground for a couple of days already. These seeds were planted on September 22. Four days ago!

The spinach and lettuce have not yet shown themselves. Stay tuned...

Peppers

Plenty of peppers to come. These are the beauties I can't wait to stuff ... Poblanos!

Color on the last tomatoes ...

In addition to these traditional tomatoes, I continue to pick a handful of cherry tomatoes every day. But it's clear ... those days are numbered.

Hibiscus Sabdariffa - Take 2

The race is on!

These plants begin to bloom as days shorten. Will there be time between now and the first hard frost for the flowers to mature into the calyces used for making tea?? Last year's attempt was a FAIL. Keeping my fingers crossed!

See more about this plant here .

Anticipation

Around here, if you want to eat fresh deliciousness from the backyard in the winter, NOW is the time to act. It takes a little work to fill out the future menu. The failing summer crops and associated detritus must be cleared away. The exciting decisions around what to plant must be made. Seeds and starts must be purchased, then situated in the ground.

Mother Nature has cooperated very nicely this past week. Temperatures have been pleasant, making it easy to spend time in the garden. Although I'm sad the end of the summer garden is upon us, it's so very satisfying to watch the hope of the next season take shape.

The seeds are sown. The starts are settled. Let the growing begin!

Starts*
planted September 21

• Collards - Vates, Georgia, Morris Heading
• Broccoli
• Pak Choi
• Kohlrabi
• Fennel
• Parsley - Italian Flat Leaf, Curled

Seeds*
planted September 22

• Tat Soi Asian Green
• Kale - Red Russian, Dwarf Blue Curled Scotch, Lacinato
• Spinach - Noble Giant, Hybrid
• Mustard Spinach - Tendergreen Salad
• Mustard - Southern Giant Curled
• Arugula
• Lettuce - Black Seeded Simpson, Buttercrunch, Romaine

* purchased from our local feed and seed store: Country Farm and Home

Autumnal Equinox

It is the summer's great last heat.
It is the fall's first chill. 
They meet.  ~ Sarah Morgan Bryan Piatt

The official astronomical beginning of autumn is today. It's hard to ignore the signs in the garden. Plants are withering as sunlight decreases. Leaves are dropping. The okra is getting a little warty. We've had a taste of cooler days and nights... and I'm already anticipating the last taste of a fresh tomato.

We've had a very hot, dry stretch here. Hurricane Dorian brought only 1/2" rain to our neighborhood. Those drops fell on September 5... and no more since.

Despite the dry conditions, the garden has continued to provide us with plenty of okra, green beans, and cherry tomatoes. The success of this year's pepper crop has yet to reveal itself. I have already roasted an oven full of sweet peppers, ultimately transformed into a fantastic pasta sauce. There will be a few more sweet peppers and a pan or two of Anaheim peppers to roast. The poblanos are looking promising, with lots of maturing fruits and blooms. Bonus .... we have at least a half dozen butternut squash growing in the compost pile!

The intensity of the summer garden is over. Now, we look forward to the winter garden, where there are few weeds ... and fewer bugs!

Prolific Okra

Time for gumbo! Oh my goodness. It is summertime in a bowl!

Follow this link to find my recipe... serve over rice :-)
https://sueisinthegarden.blogspot.com/2018/08/okra-gumbo.html