It’s raining and cool, a good day to write. The carrots, spinach, lettuce, pak choy, and swiss chard are happily growing in the shelter of the greenhouse (a gift from my marvelous fiancé). The weather is perfect for them with cool night temperatures in the low 50’s and daytime temperatures in the mid 60’s. I plan to start the next planting of leeks in a few weeks. I love greenhouse gardening. I used to get depressed around this time of year because I knew my growing season was coming to a close. Now autumn is a happy time because I have a whole new growing season to begin that will extend well into the winter.
There is still enough warm weather left to continue outdoor gardening too. The brussell’s sprouts are getting larger and the second round of kohlrabi are developing nicely. The broccoli plants are just beginning to develop heads which seems pretty late to me, but the stalks are almost as tall as I am. I guess I will just have to wait and see how they turn out. I might need a shorter season variety for next year. I have started a fall crop of broccolini, which might work out a little better for me. It’s a good lesson to learn for next spring.
The tomatoes are still coming in. I have more paste tomatoes growing than I have all season. I hope they have time to ripen before the weather gets too cool. I like to be able to make some sauce for winter. I am no longer allowing them to set flowers. I want them to put their energy into the tomatoes that are already there. I check almost daily and pinch back any new flower buds.
The pretty Tete Noir cabbages have reached their full size and have been picked. I love red cabbage and look forward to sautéing them in butter or shredding and tossing them in a salad.
The raspberry plants were getting out of control, so I made a new trellis from heavy duty garden stakes and chicken wire. After I had all the stalks neatly trellised, I cut about a dozen volunteers that had found their way back to the dirt and set roots from the tips. I think I may know a few people who will be interested in giving them a good home.
While one part of gardening season is ending, the next is just beginning and there is so much to look forward to!
Be sure to visit my photobucket page to check out all my garden images:
http://s1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc457/PittsburghGardener/
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