End of Summer Garden Update

September is ALWAYS the hottest month here and this was no exception. L.A., as you may have heard, even broke a record. Luckily there was a lot of overcast and even some rain this last week. I had the pleasure of sitting on the balcony and watching the lightening towards the mountains. Cheap thrills, as Janice says.

Because of that I have hesitated to plant for fall. Didn't want to plant too soon and have things bolt from the heat. I do have more room in the garden now, so I will be adding more plantings monthly.

Overview

Looking a little ragged. Note the green bean teepee that is leaning at a pretty sharp angle. I have repeatedly tried to right it but this is what it wants.

The Old

This sad looking pepper is still producing and I don't need the space so I will see how it goes.

The Anaheim pepper is still kicking out a pepper or two also. The tent you see is to protect it from this last week or so of intense heat. It is filled with new plantings and I did not want them to dry out.

I thought this zucchini was done a month ago, but it is still kicking out fruit.

Beans - yellow bush and green pole beans. I am frankly tired of beans.

Eggplant, on the other hand, is something I am really looking forward to. I will be picking this in a day or so. And I belive that will be the end of this plant. I never thought I would see this much.

The same bed - the last of the ratty looking tomatoes.

Most of the flowers are done but the zinnias keep coming. I can see why mom loved them.

I cleared and planted this box except for the Anaheim pepper. So far they have been ok, but it still has some new ones growing and I can't bear to pull it out.

The sweet potatoes are getting HUGE. I have no idea how I will know when these are done other than digging my hand into the soil and feeling. I am guessing an internet search will give me some clues.

A lone butternut squash. I picked the other one - slightly prematurely - and used it to make a curried soup. It was wonderful. Recipe follows this post.

The New

An eggplant I planted a couple of months after the other one. Just flowering now. There is another one in the same bed, planted at the same time from the same seed packet that is 1/3 the size of this one.

Celery sprouts - they have been like this for weeks and took about a month to sprout at all. Not your fast growers.

Peas! I love peas! These are the regular pod peas. Next I will plant the edible podded peas which are also great.

This is old and new. The basil is holding its own and the dill and cilantro have self-seeded as I had hoped and are sprouting now. May get some more before frost - assuming we have one. Always a chance of a warm winter.

The winter harvest should include: celery, carrots, beets, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, onions, garlic and potatoes. And I would grow Brussell sprouts if I liked them but I don't. They make a very attractive plant though.

The Uninvited

Uninvited, but always welcome. I never disturb spiders since they are meat eaters and anyone who will help with bug control is a friend of mine. Until I get bit and then I will wipe them all out.

Leaf miners. I am hoping it will not be a problem. We shall see.

Garden marker Experiment Completed

Did a little experiment with paints on my markers. The left is spray painted with a plastic spray paint. The middle one is artist's acrylic and the right is I-don't-remember (which underlines why I will never be a scientist). The winner is the spray paint. I will be converting all my markers to spray paint.

So, now you know everything there is to know about me as of Oct. 1, 2010. Sad, but true. ;>