Hello Thursday, you’re looking lovely so far. The sunflowers are blooming like mad and the fuzzy bumble bees are HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY! I hope they give the people out on a walk a big smile.
The hanging basket is still hanging in there… I haven’t fertilized it at all this summer, just watering it like mad as the basket portion seems to dry out pretty quick if I don’t stay on top of things.
Here’s the latest aerial photo of our garden plot the HH took with his drone.
With the cooler evening temps lately, it definitely feels like things are beginning to wind down in the garden.
The tomatoes though… they’re still going strong. We had BLT’s yesterday with one of our giant beefsteaks. It was awesome.
Have you grown ancho peppers before? Does this look like it’s ready to pick?
The hot peppers…. I harvested those yesterday.
And just look at those baby brussels sprouts… only a few more weeks to go.
The cabbage is getting close too.
But the thing I’m most excited for are the pumpkins and winter squash. This green one above will turn into one of those super warty orange pumpkins. 🙂
We have over a dozen butternuts growing in the back right now.
And a few baby boo pumpkins as well. Those will go on the front porch as soon as they turn orange. I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to decorating my front porch for fall. Hopefully I’ll be able to find some purple and orange pansies at the garden center soon. Last time the HH checked, all they had was mums.
Things are changing pretty quick around here, and I’m pretty pumped about it.
And last but not least… zinnias! Their colors are so vibrant. I love them, I’ll have to remember to grow them again next year as they really do add a nice pop of color this time of year.
How is YOUR garden doing these days? Are things winding down? How much longer do you think you have until it’s time to harvest your winter squash? Curious minds want to know.
Have a wonderful day everyone, LIFE IS GOOD.
~Mavis
Mel says
We have never been able to grow butternut squash, but our chickens apparently missed a seed for one in the spring, and it sprouted. We let it grow just to see what would happen, and it has taken over about 25% of our lawn. I was out there yesterday, and I counted 20 squash!
Having never grown it, I’m not sure when to harvest. Some sites say to wait until the vine starts dying back, and others say just when they have turned fully tan and have tough skins. The former may not happen for two more months, but we have a couple that may be at the latter stage now. When does everyone pick their butternuts? Also, should I start pruning additional baby squash that form, or will the plant be able to ripen them by November?
Mrs. C. says
If you are in zone 7 or above, prune new squash, they will not mature in time. When to pick butternut?
1. The skin should be tan and MATTE, not glossy
2. Take your thumbnail and gently push against the skin. Does it go in easily? If yes, it is not ripe. It should be a little hard to make a dent in the skin.
3. The stem should be brown, not green. When you cut any winter squash, try to leave at least two inches of stem, more if you can. It will help keep it from rotting in storage.
4. if you follow the vine from the squash, there is a little tendril that comes off at the first branch of the vine. If it is brown and shriveled, that is additional evidence that the squash is ready to pick.
5. Squashes and sweet potatoes have to cure, meaning that you store them for a few weeks and their sugars develop, making them tastier (instead of eating them right away).
6. Winter squashes prefer warmer temperatures for winter storage, so it is best to store them in the house at 70 degrees F or above, instead of a cold root cellar.
Mrs. C. says
I meant zone 7 or BELOW, as in zones 6,5, 4, etc. I am not too familiar with zone 8 and higher fall gardening.
Mrs. C. says
I should add, what if the stem breaks off and you have no stem left? Eat those squashes first. If the fruit is intact, they should store just fine for a month or two, depending on the variety.
Mel says
Thanks! That’s very helpful. We’re in Zone 7B, but the weather has been more like Zone 8, so we’re right on the edge. I guess I’ll prune any new squash that form but leave the ones that are 4-5 inches long or larger.
Christie says
My garden is looking a little rough, although still productive. My tomatoes are still coming in strong but the basil has downy mildew. Anyone know how to get rid of that? The squash and pumpkins are looking good for harvest in a few weeks. I’ve always had trouble with the squash vine borer but tried a new metallic sheeting this year and it worked! Yippee!
Misty says
Christie, what metallic sheeting did you use? I have battled vine borers for a few years now and feel like giving up on squash completely.
Diane says
I’ve seen gardening articles saying to wrap the stems in aluminum foil.
Christie says
It’s called “Silver Mulch” from Burpee. Not all that visually appealing in the garden but it works like a charm!
Jaynie says
The green pepper is a Poblano while green, if you let it fully ripen to the red stage then dry it, that is an Ancho.
They are good green, that is what chile rellenos are made out of.
Katie says
Poblano peppers are one of my favorites. So if you pick it Mavis, it will be yummy! I love to sautee them and put them in quesadillas with bacon.
Mavis Butterfield says
Hey that sounds like a good lunch idea. Totally stealing that!
Diana says
Agree about the vibrant zinnia colors. This is my second year to grow zinnias, and I don’t know why I never wanted them before. They are in my life to stay! Harvesting the seeds for next year is a breeze, too.
suzanne says
Agreed! Both about the seed harvesting and zinnias in my life to stay.
Tamara says
Great pepper and butternut info. Thanks! Mavis, your efforts are really paying off! That petunia hanging basket looks just as great as when you first put it up – beautiful!
Terri says
I absolutely love zinnias and think they don’t get the respect they deserve. I just wish I had more sun for my small flower patch. My zinnias get a little lanky but are still so colorful. For the most “oomph” plant all one color.
A says
Growing pumpkins for the first time. We have about 40 coming along. Have heard different methods for keeping the part next to the ground from rotting. What do you do for yours?
Than you so much!
Mavis Butterfield says
I don’t do anything… and as long as that area pretty much stays dry {because you are only watering at the base of the plant} you should be okay. I think Mrs. HB puts cardboard under hers though.
A says
I have heard straw is used for this as well. We haven’t watered much of late, but have had an unusual amount of rain this summer.
Thank you.
A
Margo says
I live in zone 10. We are now in the hottest part of the year, so I’ll be waiting a few more weeks before I plant most of my winter garden. Starting broccoli inside, still growing lots of herbs, and have eggplant really coming on. Just a few tomatoes left, and after a promising start, my sugar pie pumpkins fizzled during a recent heat wave. Only one little pumpkin is still growing. Supposed be in the low 100’s this weekend, so we will see if that one survives. Might plant some more green beans later today, still plenty of time for that.
Jamie says
Just let some of the zinnias dry out and save the seeds for next year! They are so easy to save and reseed yourself. And they are my favorite, especially this time of year!
Annette says
Oh man, that BLT!! If I had a tomato like that I wouldn’t even need bacon on mine.
Leslie Moss says
An awesome recipe to use with jalapeno or other peppers…..go to http://www.pinchofyum.com and search for jalapeno ranch dressing. I tried this with a store bought jalapeno and a garden jalapeno. What difference! The first was sort of not exciting. But the real jalapeno was so exciting, I’ve made this recipe weekly for a month. Also, use Siggi’s plain yogurt and it’s fantastic! Enjoy!
Elle says
My garden is mostly sad this year. We had 2 weeks of 95F + and every flower on my tomatoes and peppers dropped. I just got my first tomato 2 weeks ago. I managed 17 pints of salsa this week. My peppers are all gone just from that and I had to supplement from our CSA delivery! 6 plants 🙁 I’ll get a few more tomatoes but with that tremendous loss of flowering, not my usual 100s of pounds-last year first frost was Oct 10.
I have a gopher who has taken out 6 of my 8 zucchini. Before it did, I managed to harvest 32 pounds which I diced, roasted and froze for winter use.
Eggplant? Also dismal. I’ve harvested 1 🙁 There a dozen or so tiny ones and they just aren’t coming along.
Lemon cucumbers are doing well. They are in shade by noon and I think that allowed the flowers to survive. Picking about 20/week now for 2 weeks!
And so goes the life of a farmer! 🙂
Cheers!!!!
Elle says
I forgot: I made 20 half-pints of jam from our Blackberry patch. I have a dozen or so spaghetti squash underway and 5 butternuts . I have broken off all the vines 6″ past the last squash so that the energy goes into those rather than a bunch more that will never make it.
MEM says
My Baby Boo pumpkins are white and coming along nicely. Already picked a few. I think I’ll pull up the tomato plants this weekend – the larger tomatoes are rotting on the vine – never had that happen before. The cherry, grape and teardrop tomatoes are about done. My daughter and her boyfriend are growing spaghetti squash but there seems to have been some cross-pollination going on as they are now round like pumpkins and not getting any larger. I wish I had grown zinnias this year – I did last year and really enjoyed them. I hear you Mavis about the purple and orange pansies. I found them one year only – here in the Greater Boston area. Haven’t seen them since but will keep looking. Do you need to stake those sunflowers? I tried growing them this year but a bird, bunny or other critter pulled up the seedlings.
Mel says
I’ve also had some larger tomatoes rot on the vine this year, and I can’t say I’ve had that happen before. I think some of it is the heavy rain we’ve had, but I’ve also found some type of worm hole on some of the fruits (not hornworms though), so that might be the cause. Whatever it is, the most recent fruits were unaffected, so I hope it’s stopped. I’ve also already had 3-4 plants just up and die for no reason this year, and that’s also never happened. The rest are healthy, so no idea what is happening there.
Sue R. says
Willamette Valley of Oregon–LOTS of tomatoes!! Apples/pears/blackberries (about done)/peppers/second crop of raspberries./cukes/zucchini/still picking kale….. The kitchen is hot right now while roasting tomatoes for sauce and filling the dehydrator with more. Delicious (and I must admit, a bit tiring!)!