Wednesday Morning
October 16, 2013
It's bittersweet. It was a day last week when my husband and I finally admitted that the summer garden had pooped out completely and was time to think about the fall garden. I made one last zinnia bouquet and made my last batch of roasted tomato sauce. For dinner that night we had a motley casserole of carrots, tomatoes, onions, leeks, bell peppers, basil, a lumpy bumpy squash and a cucumber even, sliced them up with salt and pepper, a bit of olive oil and water, then baked for an hour covered. What happened next surprised us both, kinda delicious!
There's no time to spare if we want to put in our cool weather crops. Fall gardening is very possible in my corner of California known as climate zone 9. Fall's garden is not as prolific as summer's garden, slower growing for sure and much less reliable. Still, it's a fine time to garden. In years past I have taken a garden break in fall and winter, but now with my husband helping out so much I have a renewed interest in year 'round gardening.
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| I'll have roses to pick until December. |
Red Onion and California Garlic, both set out as "sets"
The rest are reliable cool season crops we grow from seeds:
Early Gigantea Mixed Colors and Royal White Sweet Pea
Mikado, a Japanese baby white turnip
Chard, Pot of Gold
Radish, Cherry Belle, Watermelon Heirloom and Sparkler
Scallions, white and red varieties
Kohlrabi, Crispy Colors Duo from Renee's Garden (new for me)
Bulbing Fennel, Romanesco (new for me)
German Leeks, Striesen
Tricolor Carrots, a mix from Renee's Garden
Lettuce, Parris Island Cos, Paris Market Mesclun Mix from Renee's Garden
Beets, Red Baron, Baby Ball and Jewel Toned Mix from Renee's Garden
Dill, I usually let these volunteer, but I was given a seed pack as a party favor so planted two rows.
Perhaps it's unusual that in October I'll be on the lookout for tiny seedlings. Dear California, you are so good to the gardener.
I've got quite a few knits that need to be photographed,
a stack of blue
scarves and two sweaters knit in Angora Haze (I couldn't stop at one!)
Thank you for reading and I hope you participate in the Rowan Magazine giveaway!
I may change it up a bit and rather than drag it out over the month,
I might just pick 3 winners this Friday. I don't know why I didn't think of that before!
You still have a good chance to win!
I may change it up a bit and rather than drag it out over the month,
I might just pick 3 winners this Friday. I don't know why I didn't think of that before!
You still have a good chance to win!
7 Comments
Your garden is delightful...even with beds awaiting new crops. Inspiring!
ReplyDeleteAdmire your garden. How do you keep squirrels out?
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see how it grows. I'm hoping, in the next couple of years, to have year-round gardening in a greenhouse... We'll see... (gotta get the husband excited about building it...) Here in Nebraska we've already had several hard freezes - no fall gardening with garden protection. Keep us posted. Love watching your gardens!!
ReplyDeleteYou need to start publishing a magazine.
ReplyDeleteCarole
Your blog entries generate serious garden and knitting envy in me. I've got to come to terms with my reactions. Seriously, thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is so beautiful Kristen! Inspirational :)
ReplyDeleteLove your blog that I have just discovered, your Zinnia bouquet is beautiful, my Zinnias continue to be hit and miss. Its getting cold here in England and the gardens are winding down. I shall carry on reading your blog now!
ReplyDeleteYou make my day when you make a comment!