Sadly, I have not gotten any pumpkins this year out of Ye Olde Pumpkin Patch. I think the main problem was that I did not fertilize the patch early enough. By July they still had not grown very far out of the patch, once I did fertilize, they went insane with growth, but a new enemy reared its head: Slug Sappers. I pretty much took care of the Bambi Brigade, and the Squirrel Squadron wasn't bad at all (took 2 cornstalks but that was about it) but the slugs were just insane. I even found one in my dining room! Anyway, the explosive growth that came about due to the organic fertilizer was basically like ringing the dinner bell for the slugs. The pumpkin vines were just eaten to the stems from these little sinister slimy assailants. So no pumpkins. I have purchased some slug repellent for next year, we'll see how it does.
Similarly, the corn stalks and bell peppers didn't make it either. I assumed the bells wouldn't make it as I only planted them in the Front Garden (which did eventually get tomatoes), that only had English Ivy in it before. The corn, which had grown super fast, basically stopped in mid July. It was a combination of dry weather and lack of fertilizer. A few dried ears (which I have pics of) then they just wilted away. I fertilized in mid August, and everything that was left went INSANE!!! I had to cut back the tomatoes, and the Jalapeno and 'Chinese Chilies' grew through the deer fence. Its a thing of beauty.
What have I learned?
- Fertilize when you prepare the ground.
- Fertilize at least a month later, then do it again. (so that's at least 3 times)
- Don't let the corn dry out, ever.
Carrots! It seems that you need to leave them in the ground for a while and THEN they get big. ;) As you can see, they are as big as my hand, and I have some pretty large meat-hooks. There are still a bunch in the ground that I will take out occasionally until the first frost. They are very sweet tasting. This was taken 2 days ago.
These potatoes were harvested from the potato bins in the back of Ye Olde Pumpkin Patch. I think they did fairly well. They aren't huge by any means, but they tasted very good. I harvested around the first week of August. The plants had yellowed and fallen over by then, so I didn't think I was going to get any new tubers out of it.
Here are mashed potatoes that I made. Very tasty, the skins left a sweetness to them. Wish I had more. :)
Ahh, tomatoes. Now these worked with no problem! Started getting tomatoes around the 1st of august and have been getting them ever since. I'm not a fan of raw ones so I can't tell you how those tasted, but cooked into spaghetti sauce they are great! You can taste the freshness. I know its a cliche, but you can.
Sauce made with the tomatoes, the chunks are turkey meat, tomato chunks, and chilies. :) Good stuff, The Wife loves it!
Chilies, chilies and more chilies! Good friends of mine identified what I refer to as 'Chinese Chillies' (this top photo) since I got them from my mother in law. I know they aren't Chinese, in fact, they are Mexican. I just can't remember the name. Serrano maybe? If anyone knows, please educate me. There are a slew of pics of them. BTW Spicy!!!! and I like spicy chilies, and these are really are. I have yet to see a red one on the plant, drying though, they turn orange-red.
Jalapeno from the top down. This plant is still producing red and green ones. Very hot, not really spicy though. NOTE: don't test the Scoville rating by popping one of these guys in your mouth fresh off the vine. Thought I was gonna choke to death.
Chinese Chili plant, this pic was before I fertilized, the plant is poking though all the holes now. More chilies than I know what to do with. I'm going to harvest and tie them together an dry them in a batch.
More of them, that plant is sooo small compared to what it is now.
The one ear of corn that I managed to get. It was already dried like that on the stalk and was the only ear on that stalk. More fertilizer and water.
Here's one of the sunflowers that I eventually brought into work. These guys were crazy! Even without fertilizer they grew to at least 8-9 feet. The Bees, and the birds LOVED THEM!! The heads are all empty and brown now. The seeds were very good, but too small to be worth harvesting. Next year, I plan to plant these again, but as a natural fence. I will also plant the yellow, single head variety which has better seeds.That's it for the sofar update. I have other pics that I will add to this as well. The requiem will be next. Also my Mason Bee nest, the new mower, and the plans for next season.
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