Self Planted

It should come as no surprise that most of the plants growing in any garden are there as a result of no action by the gardener.  Feeding birds spill as many seeds as they eat.  Wind shakes free countless seeds.  Most of these self planted seeds produce weeds but sometimes genuine beauty is the result.  Foxgloves are widespread in our gardens but we planted none of them recently.  Location dictates that some are weeded out while others are treasured.  These are of an unusual color that was not accurately captured by the camera.  Growing on the edge of a stone path adjacent to a rich planting bed, these plants have found everything they need to flourish.

Recently we cleared a bed that had lain fallow for two years.  We needed a place to plant pie pumpkins and butternut squash.  These sunflowers were found here as a result of no action on our part and they will remain.  Years ago Becky operated a pet store that sold tons of a high quality bird seed purchased from Apple's Aviary.  Plants like these first appeared under our bird feeder.  They are robust and tall with many flowers on each plant.  We find them to be an excellent garden flower and allow them to grow if their presence will not interfere with chosen garden subjects.  More plants than needed hold this area and we will leave them mostly alone.  We did bring in chopped leaves to both smother new weeds and keep the soil rich and moist.  When the squash and pumpkin plants take over this area, the height of the sunflowers should allow them to grow and flower.

These pinks make seed by the millions.  They are allowed to grow largely unchecked in this bed in front of the house.  We are considering introducing them down by the road.  Seed heads will be cut at the appropriate time and simply placed on the ground.  This riot of color will follow the next year and every year after that.

A close up picture reveals both the flower's form and intense color.  Not bad for a pernicious weed.

September First Frost

Just to be clear, this post title refers both to the first frost of the season and the fact that it occurred on the first day of September.  Located in the Southern Tier of New York, we are accustomed to seeing the aftermath of a late September frost some years but never this early in the month.  The weather service did not speak of possible frost last night but mentions it for tonight.  Last night's forecasted low was in the mid forties.  We have been here long enough to know the likelihood of frost in our location when the weather station expects numbers in the forties.  It came as no surprise when we looked out this morning and saw wilted leaves on the squash.

The pattern of the damage raises more questions than answers about the actual movement of the cold air that caused the damage.  Long after we placed our garden we observed the pattern of frost on the grass.  Cold pours down from the high ridge behind the ridge that we can see from here and its path is defined by our low notch.  That river of cold follows the contour of the lower ground and finds an exit toward the west.  Unfortunately for us, a wide bend in that river washes over much of our garden.  The basil is planted on slightly higher ground and escaped any damage last night.  We hope that it remains undamaged come morning.

When I first came to this area little more than one half of a century ago, the old timers spoke of the year without summer.  They had heard stories from men much older than themselves of a year when frost formed every month of the year.  Only July and August are usually free of freezes but there are old tales of frost then. If the frost formed before midnight last night, then we just experienced frost in August.  So in this youngster's memory, frost eleven months out of the year is possible but rare.  A July frost seems highly unlikely but who is going to argue with tales from the collective memory of old timers.

This is just a little good news.  Ingaborg gave us these plants many years ago and we refer to them as Inga's mallow.  They self seed and reappear in many places in the garden.  They can be transplanted if the move is completed early since they grow from a taproot.  These beautiful flowers never fail to spark fond memories of a true master gardener.

This is the season of mums in front of many stores.  We prefer to grow our own but the plants prefer a warmer location.  This Mammoth Pink has held its location near the south facing house wall for the past two years.  It is self shaped since we never get around to that task.  These flowers should be fine tomorrow since our frost river flows far away from this spot.

Just A Light Kiss

Last evening had all of the indicators for an overnight frost.  After sunset the temperature plummeted and the clear darkened skies were filled with stars.  All of the tender plants that we intend to save were in pots in the basement.  We awoke this morning to find the air densely filled with fog.  River valley fog drops copious quantities of liquid moisture on every exposed surface.  If any frost had developed it was soon washed away.   An early walk through the garden near the house revealed no frost damage.  Basil leaves were free of black slime.  We have some doubt about the moon flower buds but rarely do they open here.

The garden by the woods told a slightly different story.  Only a few squash and pumpkin leaves were blackened by frost.  This garden is at a higher elevation and at a greater distance from the river.  River valley fog is less dense here and the damaged leaves were close to the ground.  Where the vines had climbed the fence all of the leaves escaped damage.  Only a few of the leaves closer to the ground were blackened by frost.  How one leaf dies while those nearby escape damage remains a mystery.

River valley fog is both a curse and a blessing.  Most September nights here had fog form.  Wet foliage is prone to develop powdery mildew and the low sun allows moisture to remain on some leaves into the afternoon..  The leaf in to picture shows only mildew spots but many nearby are totally spotted and dead.  These leaves had died at the hands of the fog while last night the fog saved nearly everything from frost.  With any luck we may see several frost free nights here.  Pesto season lives on.

The garlic bed is ready to plant.  This area supported only growth from missed potatoes this year.  Corn was scheduled to be planted here but the dryness of May told us not to bother.  We did weed the potatoes and harvested a respectable crop.  A measure of compost was raked in several weeks ago and the ground was allowed to rest nearly free of weeds.  Today well aged compost from the lower garden was mixed with Miracle-Gro potting soil.  We have never used potting soil in planting beds but our dear friend Helen does.  Her gift of garlic performed better here than anything else we planted.  Sixty planted cloves produced sixty healthy plants.  Not willing to argue with success and wanting to use her idea here, we parted with the big bucks.  The first layer of the compost mix was turned into the soil.  The second layer was left undisturbed at the surface.  When the cloves are planted in mid October we hope to find the soil lose enough to plant without another session with the potato hook.  It we need to do that it will bring new weed seeds to the surface.  When the garlic cloves are returned to the soil, we feel that next year's garden is actually underway.

Pumpkin Procrastinator

We grew a plethora of pumpkins this year.  We gave some away.  We put many green and damaged pumpkins in the compost.  We left more back by the woods for the critters.  We also stored pumpkins in the basement.  Many of them are still lurking down there waiting.  Today Ed and I  took care of three pumpkins.  We do these together.  Ed doesn't like to see me with a large knife in my hand and he definitely doesn't like to make trips to the emergency room, so he cuts the pumpkins in half for me.  He also scrapes out the innards using an old gravy ladle.  I then place them cut half down surrounded by one half an inch of water and bake them in a 350 degree oven.  It takes about an hour, sometimes more depending on their size.  When the house smells like pumpkin and the shells cave in when touched, they are ready.

They look like this when they come out of the oven.  I give them some time to cool off so that I can handle them comfortably.

When they are cool you can scoop the pumpkin out leaving the intact skin to go in the compost.  After that I freeze the pumpkin in containers that contain enough pumpkin for six pumpkin custards or a pie.

We could have done this sooner so now for the procrastinator part.  The first pumpkin Ed cut was disgusting inside.  The pumpkin looked fine, but a close inspection revealed a small hole in the bottom.  Some insect had burrowed in through the blossom scar while the pumpkins were growing in the field.  Had this pumpkin been processed promptly, it would have been fine.  Our wait allowed rot to take hold so now it went directly to the compost.  Today's next two chosen pumpkins were fine.  Since we have waited so long some of the pumpkins have nasty surprises.  The worst are the ones that have developed soft spots.  When you pick up a pumpkin and your thumb sinks into a soft smelly spot, you know you have put things off too long.  Mithren, our cat, seems captivated by the smell.  I can't think why since when he licks that yucky pumpkin juice he always seems to throw up.

So we are multitasking.  We are warming the kitchen, cleaning up the basement, freezing pumpkin for later use and keeping the cat from throwing up all at the same time.  Oh right, did I tell you we had a huge bumper crop of Butternut squash?  They are processed in a similar manner.

General Frost

As expected, we woke up to find the ground heavily coated with frost.  Our lettuce plants should have been covered but we were unable to do that.  Some leaves are damaged and they will be pinched off.  We hope that new growth will continue to put fall lettuce on the dinner table.

Becky ventured out early to wash the frost off of the lettuce leaves before the sun hit them. Stepping on frost hardened brittle leaves results in blacken footprints.  Following the trail, you can trace her path to the hydrant and then to the lettuce plants.  Today we covered the plants and moved the two trays of lettuce into the basement.  We will see what tomorrow brings.  The chance of frost should disappear for awhile after tonight.

This bed still had some basil plants growing in it this morning.  Growing is hardly an accurate term but now they are gone.  Hardwood leaves served as mulch here and they functioned well.  Weed growth was nearly nonexistent.  Removing the mulch and the frost burned basil leaves together was a pleasant task.  The soil has been turned and will be left bare.  Exposed to the harshness of the coming season, we hope some weed seeds, insects and disease will be lessened.  A goal is to have the entire garden in that condition but the frost blackened buckwheat in the next bed clearly shows that we have much work to do.

The garden near the woods included one hill of butternut squash and one hill of pie pumpkins.  Each hill was seasoned with aged alpaca manure.  The soil nearby was covered with grass clippings.  Those preparations are typical while this harvest is exceptional.  That difference must be the result of generous rain that fell here this summer.  We cannot begin to eat all of this produce.  Squash, pumpkins and potatoes will be delivered to a nearby food bank.

We usually get hit with frost in late September.  This killer was a little late but not unexpected.  If we are lucky, the frost was severe enough to end some of the biting insects.  We expect to have six more weeks of workable soil in front of us.  If the bugs are indeed gone, these will be some of the best work days of the year.

First Frost 2014

Local weather forecasts warned of frost last night.  We found that hard to believe since the evening was both warm and overcast.  Early this morning our thermometer registered 38 degrees F so  assumptions were made that we had escaped again the first fall frost.  This afternoon a trip to the back garden revealed that frost had lightly visited during the night.  Some of the butternut squash leaves showed the signs of just a little frost.  Part of this leaf is dead while some of it continues to perform life functions.  Butternut squash needs cold nights to set its sugars and last night surely moved that process along.  Many huge squash remain in the field improving their flavor in response to the cold.

Nearby, this leaf shows a frost curled edge.  Try as we might, no progress has been made in gaining insight or understanding about the actual workings of frost.  Cold sinks toward the ground and is moved about by air currents.  Plants nearest the woods displayed no frost damage while those at greater distance from the trees were hit.  Cold air slides down the nearby ridge and swirls about hitting some spots and missing others.

Our wake up temperature was 38 causing me to believe that we had missed a frost.  Later my error was discovered since there is no reason to believe that the lowest overnight temperature is reached just before dawn.  Air masses are constantly moving about so the coldest air could have visited here during the night.  Lack of visible morning frost does not mean that frost was absent.

Here the higher younger leaf is undamaged while the lower leaf is lightly burned.  Conventional wisdom says that frost settles downward from the sky so one would expect the higher leaves to burn first.  The outline of the upper leaf can be seen marking the edge of the burn on the lower leaf.  How did this happen?
 

Our lower garden near the house appeared undamaged at first look.  Two frost burned heliotropes were discovered inside of the stone square adjacent to stone paths.  We have previously seen the protective effect of heat stored in stones but on this night cold swept in the opening in the wall and moved across these two low plants.  We could find no other damage inside of the walled square.

Cleaning up frost destroyed plants is a horrible task.  Foul odors, slippery leaves and the mass destruction combine to make the cleanup difficult.  Our preference is to move tender plants to the compost pile while they are still green.  All of the peppers and some of the basil were composted yesterday afternoon.  The remaining basil was covered and stands ready to supply one more pesto dinner.

Working outside now is nearly perfect.  Clear blue skies warm the surface air quickly.  As more planting beds are cleared of weeds, the garden is beginning to look like it is ready for the next crop.  Early afternoon finds the tiny flying biting insects feeding voraciously since the cold nights signal an end to their season.  Those insect bites have us looking forward to the first hard killing frost.  It will end many of the plants but it will also end the annoying bugs.

Squash And Pumpkins Anyone?

Last year we had a bumper crop of pumpkins and butternut squash in the wilderness garden.  I still have quite a lot all processed and in the freezer to enjoy.  Ed planted butternut  squash and pie pumpkins in the back again this year.  We never thinned the plants or paid a lot of attention to them.  We could see that the plants were lush and saw some fruit along the edges and hanging from the fence. Today when Ed went to the back, the leaves of the squash plants and some of the pumpkin plants were dead.  We were amazed by the number of squash and pumpkins sitting there.

Many of the pumpkins were orange and the squash looked healthy, so Ed picked them and loaded them in his wagon.

I counted 13 pumpkins.  I don't even know how many squash there were.  Ed put three of each in the basement and left  the rest down by the road.  If you drive by here, please help yourself.

The really spooky part is that this huge pumpkin vine that grew on a compost pile is still going strong.  There are even more larger pumpkins lurking beneath its leaves.  Self planted from the seed of a pumpkin left behind last fall, this plant lagged behind the seeds that we planted.  It has now outgrown all that we planted with a span that exceeds forty feet.  The core of the plant has powdery mildew but the outer leaves are still clear.  We believe that powdery mildew ended the plants inside of the fence.  If we miss the predicted frost tonight, one more meal featuring squash blossoms could happen tomorrow.

These pumpkins are much bigger than the others and right now they are still growing.  This vine still has blossoms.  Who knows how many more pumpkins there will be?  Ed will need a bigger tool to  harvest these.  With a garden sometimes it's not about what you need, it's about what you get!

Abundant Harvest

Frost is appearing in local weather forecasts.  We decided to gather up the orange colored pumpkins if they passed the fingernail test.  Ripe pumpkins are described as having a hard skin that will resist puncture from a fingernail.  Orange pumpkins passed the test green ones did not.  Finding this nearly eaten pumpkin inside the fenced area closed the decision to harvest now.

We planted one hill of pie pumpkins.  Frequent water runs were made during the drought to try and save the melons that were planted near the pumpkins.  That water saved both the pumpkins and the squash.  All of the pumpkins have scabs where they healed wounds that may have resulted from rodent bites.  We will soon open two pumpkins to see if the flesh is edible despite their outward appearance.

A glimpse of a rodent in with the plants was made once.  The only impression from that encounter was that the rodent had some size.  A dozen strawberry plants are near the squash but we got no ripe berries.  The mystery rodent took all of them.  It also ate several of the watermelons.  We call this our wilderness garden because of its remote location.  We expect to share on a limited basis with the critters that live here but if the pumpkins are not edible traps will be set.

The butternut squash did not pass the fingernail test but we decided to take the tan colored ones now.  Becky found two sources that claimed that squash will ripen if they are placed in the sun.  The farmer at the local stand says that once squash are picked their development ends.  We will find out how this variety responds to harvest now.  Some appear fully ripe while others still show some green on the skins.

This is our partial harvest from one hill of squash and one hill of pumpkins.  Nearly as many green ones are still in the field.  We have never before had plants that produced like these did.  Vines measure more than twenty-four feet in length.  Blossoms and baby fruit are still appearing on these vines.  Carried water, clay soil and abundant sunshine combined to produce a record harvest.

My Squash Runneth Over

For the first time since the drought ended, we have had some generous regular rain.  I drove the tractor to the back to take a look at Ed's  wilderness garden.  Since there is more clay in the soil in the back, with the help of Ed's watering the vines were doing pretty well.  But since the rains have arrived, the butternut squash, pumpkin and watermelon vines have exploded with growth.

No longer willing to be confined,  the vines climbed right over the top of the four foot fence.  I find this kind of rapid growth amazing.  Ed tried to train the vines to grow around the inside edge of the fence but they would have none of that.

Pumpkins and squash hang from the fence beneath dense vines with huge green  leaves.

You might think the vines would stop there, but they did not. Some went up and over the fence like a green waterfall.  Others simply grew through the fence.  Now pumpkins, squash and melons grow outside the fence.   Who knows what fate will befall these now "free range" fruits.  We try to keep them inside a cage for a reason.  We have wild neighbors back here.  In past years we have found squash bearing coyote teeth marks scattered about in the grass.

This is what our "free range" watermelon looks like right now.  I know I have to wait to pick it when it is ripe.  The seed package told me that much, but how do I know when it is ripe?  Will it still be there when that time comes?  Perhaps the scariest question of all is will it stay warm enough for all this bounty to ripen before we get a frost?