CSA Pick up Sept 29

Fall is definitely upon us. The shorter days and longer nights, all the rain, and the cooler days. This changes the garden quite a bit. Everything slows down in growing and maturing. The warm weather plants - Tomatoes, peppers, Eggplant are slowing down. It is a different story for the cool weather plants. The Chard looks gorgeous, the Kale is coming into its own. The Brussels Sprouts are finally making their little appearance on the stem. I sure hope they continue to grow so I can share them with you by the end of October.
I have been busy weeding all the crab grass out of the beds and planting Oats, buckwheat and field peas in the beds among the vegetables. This will give a blanket to protect the soil over the winter.
The second crop of pole beans are up to the top of the netting and looking good. The cucumbers on the other hand are really struggling with Downy Mildew. I am trying to keep them alive but only time will tell.
The Bees are busy getting ready for winter also, I have been feeding them sugar syrup and they have been devouring 2 quarts of syrup every 5 days. The North hive is small and needs lots of help or they may not make it. The South hive is strong. They should not have any trouble making it through the winter.
Looking forward to seeing you this week.

Nancy

CSA Pick up Sept 22

CSA Pick up Sept 15th

Sorry this post is late. It is for the pick up that occured on Thursday Sept 15th. Lately I seem to be behind in everything. I would like to blame it on the weather or something besides me but don't think that is quite the case. Any way here it is it any of you need to refer to it.

The weather has been quite cool. It is like fall here so of course all the hot plants like tomatoes, peppers, Eggplant have slowed down considerably. There are still fruit on them but they are taking their time ripening. Now the Greens and lettuce have perked up and the pole bean second planting has decided to make some beans. The garden still looks good except for the cucumbers that are struggling with Downy Mildew. They don't like the cool damp weather. I hope they can hold on and make some cucumbers. I sprayed them with a Organic fungal herbal mixture and I hope they like it. We will keep our fingers crossed.

It is time to start cover croping the garden also. I have 3 50ft. rows planted. Now for the tedious part of planting between the vegetables. I am excited to see the Oats and Barley come up so fast. It makes a nice cover for the soil and helps it get through the winter.

I will try to have my post up on time this week.

Rain Rain Go Away!!! Come again in a week or two. The garden has slowed down. With all the rain and cool weather and the days getting shorter the plants are not growing as fast as they want to. A little sun and warmth would solve the problem but I don't see it in the forecast.

The Summer Squash succumbed to the Squash Beetle and Downy Mildew. The Squash did great this year but it was still difficult for me to pull the plants out. The two rows are now cover cropped with Oats and covered with Remay (white protective cloth) so the birds won't feast on the seed. The Oats will grow and in October I will plant Garlic in the 2 beds amidst the Oats. Over the winter the oats will die back and provide a nice mulched covering for the Garlic to grow up between in the Spring. Yes, I said Spring!! When it gets to be this time of year part of the thinking and planning for the garden is getting ready for Spring.

As for the pick up this week it is pretty much the same as last week. I am hoping the rain will slow up some so i am not up to my neck in slushy water.

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.

nancy