Ask any New Englander around these parts how their garden was this summer and you’ll be “setting by the side of the road quite awhile”. So I start my Horticultural column this month by asking you “how was your garden this summa?”.
“Nice of you to ask, I say.” But I ain’t done with it yet!
This is the way my neighbor-ly conversations usually start. Somehow I feel that whenever I talk about vegetables or growing vegetables, I need to put on a little of that New England Yankee accent. I think it gives me an aire of knowing what I’m doing. That I know how to dig in the dirt. That I can make “free stuff” come out of the ground. It’s fun to exaggerate a little too, like telling a fish story.
So…..it’s the end of September and the raised beds look pretty droopy and sad. Without exception, however, the tomatoes (Sun Gold and Better Boy) proved to be outstanding this year!!. Never a crack or a split in the bunch!! The Sun Gold’s are still cranking out blossoms and fruit, but enough is enough, got to pull the plug sometime because I have other plans for that space.
The common Bush Beans gave me 5 pickings!! Wow. They were delicious and plentiful. I was surprised that they were “yellow” however, because the packet said “green beans.” Oh well, they were yummy and I hate to lose them but the Kentucky Wonder pole beans are rapidly coming along after a slow start. These will last well past Columbus Day to give me some added food for the fall.
The Red Bell Peppers are not red yet but I will keep waiting as long as I can for those. The Banana Peppers are a new plant for me this year. They are interesting to look at and sweet to eat. I expect that all my picking will be done by the end of September, and Columbus Day will be the bitter end.
So…Now what?
Well…ROUND TWO to be exact!! How about a late fall crop??
QUICK-QUICK-QUICK put your “hearty” vegetable seeds that you have been soaking in water for several days into the ground where you once had those tomatoes. Look locally for “HEARTY’ seeds, or go to johnnyseeds.com and look for their “winter harvest” seed selection. They offer “Cold Hardy” varieties of lettuce, kale, radishes, carrots, arugula and spinach. Throw in some more Bush Beans while you’re at it, they will take the cold weather too. With a maturity of 45 days you may get beans before the heavy frost hits. The johnnyseed.com web site is very informative and has devoted a lot of their time developing all types of seeds for all growing zones, especially areas with short growing seasons like ours. They are based in Winslow and Albion Maine.
So,…. like that “wise old farma” said “It ain’t done yet”.
Cheers,
(September 2020 Horticultural Newsletter)
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