N&C Midwest: October 2018

Well, Fall is here, and a warm-up is on the way!  Maybe my few stragglers of tomatoes will get a chance to finish off on the vine.  Still some peppers, and I saw one eggplant on there.  Lettuces are good, and one square of radishes still going!

I am going to look at a cold frame design over the winter, I think I would like to have one.  I have a little room on my south side of the house.

Can you believe it is October already?  I wasn't done with August yet!   

We're still picking tomatoes every day, but they are slowing down. Lots of peppers, lettuce, kale, and Mizuna.  Our first frost date is around Oct 15th, so won't have much longer on the tomatoes and peppers.

I know! I said the same thing this morning.

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OhioGardener wrote:Can you believe it is October already?  I wasn't done with August yet!   

We're still picking tomatoes every day, but they are slowing down. Lots of peppers, lettuce, kale, and Mizuna.  Our first frost date is around Oct 15th, so won't have much longer on the tomatoes and peppers.

Same, as far as veggies, but I have never grown mizuna.  Just need to keep our eyes on the weather forecast.  Will cover lettuces and see....but pull the peps and maters.  Last fall was warm late though...you never know!

dstack wrote:I know! I said the same thing this morning.

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It is crazy—my house payment is due!  

Suddenly, there are little signs of Fall out here in CA. First rain in 6 months, all 0.3" of it.

Tops of the maple trees are starting to turn colors.  We have had so uch rain, I am still mowing my emerald green grass weekly 


Cooler today, but warmer over the next few days I hear.  Will do some additional clean-up this weekend.

Lots of green tomatoes that are not going to ripen before the first frost, so it is time to make some Green Tomato Relish. It will delicious this winter on the roast pork. 

I posted the recipe we use in the recipe board.

Only have 1 square (4 plants) of Swiss Chard, and 4 squares (4 plants) of Red Russian Kale, but they are producing a lot more than we can eat. Might plant half as many next year....

I will have to try your green tomato recipe too.  Although, it is HOT here today!  Max ripening is happening, but the days are shortening....

I have gotten in trouble with chard too.  It really produces well, especially now and spring.  But what to do with it???  I have tried to like kale, but I don’t, not sure why, love cabbage, all brassicas, really.  I really have tried.  And it grows like a weed here!

Scorpio Rising wrote: I have tried to like kale, but I don’t, not sure why, love cabbage, all brassicas, really.  I really have tried.  And it grows like a weed here!

I used to have the same problem, SR, until I discovered Red Russian Kale.  It is sweet, and I can eat it right out of the garden while I am working around it. It isn't bitter like store purchased Kale normally is.  We make Sauteed Kale on a regular basis, and it is most delicious!  We've even gotten several neighbors hooked on it.

Sauteed Kale

    1 1⁄2 lbs kale, stems and leaves coarsely chopped
    2 tablespoons olive oil
    crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
    2 garlic cloves, finely sliced
    1⁄2 cup water
    salt and pepper to tasted
    2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Heat olive oil in non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
Add crushed red pepper flakes and let them sizzle a bit in the oil.
Add garlic and cook until soft, but not colored.
Raise heat to high, add the water and kale and toss to combine.
Cover and cook for 5 minutes.
Remove cover and continue to cook, stirring until the liquid has evaporated.
Season with salt and pepper to taste and add vinegar.

The only kind I have grown is dwarf Blue Vates, which I thought was supposed to be milder!  I will give the Red Russian a try.  Do you plant it early?

Unseasonably warm here today, and for the foreseeable future, at least mid-week.  Getting ready to head out and see what’s going on!

Scorpio Rising wrote:The only kind I have grown is dwarf Blue Vates, which I thought was supposed to be milder!  I will give the Red Russian a try.  Do you plant it early?

Unseasonably warm here today, and for the foreseeable future, at least mid-week.  Getting ready to head out and see what’s going on!

I start it indoors at the end of February or beginning of March, and then I transplant it outdoors in mid-April for the spring to early summer crop, and then I direct sow some outdoors in mid- to late-August for the fall crop.

It was 90° here today, and supposed to be in the high 80's until the end of the week. Feels more like July than it does October. The Brussels Sprouts are not doing anything right now - they have been waiting for cool weather, and they haven't gotten it yet.

OhioGardener wrote:

Scorpio Rising wrote:The only kind I have grown is dwarf Blue Vates, which I thought was supposed to be milder!  I will give the Red Russian a try.  Do you plant it early?

Unseasonably warm here today, and for the foreseeable future, at least mid-week.  Getting ready to head out and see what’s going on!

I start it indoors at the end of February or beginning of March, and then I transplant it outdoors in mid-April for the spring to early summer crop, and then I direct sow some outdoors in mid- to late-August for the fall crop.

It was 90° here today, and supposed to be in the high 80's until the end of the week. Feels more like July than it does October. The Brussels Sprouts are not doing anything right now - they have been waiting for cool weather, and they haven't gotten it yet.

I will try it, OG!  

Today, I waded into my backyard.  Picked peppers, and the remaining maters.  

One eggplant.  Will make eggplant parmy, but need a couple smaller containers.  All the tomato plants are done.  

Wet, like i have honestly never seen in my lifetime, and i grew up at this house.

Wading??

sanderson wrote:Wading??

Yes, ma’am.  Literally standing water in the back half of my backyard.  Unbelievable.  I should have taken pictures.  Never have I seen the likes of what is happening with our weather.  I bet we had 3 inches.  And my clay soil just holds on...

Today I am harvesting carrots. The Cosmic Purple did better than the Danvers. The seeds for these were planted the end of July, so they had about 2 1/2 months of growth.  We'll be having Carrot & Apple Salad for dinner....

After the carrots were harvested, the only thing that will be left in that bed will be the leaf lettuce, so it will soon be time to prepare that bed for the winter.

I dug one of my half barrels of sweet tarters yesterday and wasn't impressed.
They did fair I guess but was expecting a bigger harvest. I LOVE'S my sweet taters.


Getting ready.....




Red and yellow peppers still going.



Tomato's still doing good also.

OG—Those purple carrots are huge!  Are they sweet?  I planted a Kaleidoscope mix a couple years ago, and didn’t care for some of the different colored ones...they were pretty though!

Mr. B—I think that is a pretty good haul of sweet taters!  When did you plant them?  Your maters look more vigorous than mine.

Scorpio Rising wrote:OG—Those purple carrots are huge!  Are they sweet? 

Yes, they are very sweet and tender. They were colorful and tasty in our Carrot & Apple Salad last evening, too!  They are fast growers. I got the seed from Baker Creek Heirloom:

Purple Cosmic Carrot Seed

OhioGardener wrote:

Scorpio Rising wrote:OG—Those purple carrots are huge!  Are they sweet? 

Yes, they are very sweet and tender. They were colorful and tasty in our Carrot & Apple Salad last evening, too!  They are fast growers. I got the seed from Baker Creek Heirloom:

Purple Cosmic Carrot Seed

Maybe it was a matter of. Pigment...I might need to give them a try!

Scorpio Rising wrote:OG—Those purple carrots are huge!  Are they sweet?  I planted a Kaleidoscope mix a couple years ago, and didn’t care for some of the different colored ones...they were pretty though!

Mr. B—I think that is a pretty good haul of sweet taters!  When did you plant them?  Your maters look more vigorous than mine.

I planted the sweet taters around the first of May. I'll be digging the other barrel in a few weeks. Our first frost date is around the 15th.

To Mr. B and OG

Scorpio Rising wrote:

OhioGardener wrote:

Scorpio Rising wrote:OG—Those purple carrots are huge!  Are they sweet? 

Yes, they are very sweet and tender. They were colorful and tasty in our Carrot & Apple Salad last evening, too!  They are fast growers. I got the seed from Baker Creek Heirloom:

Purple Cosmic Carrot Seed

Maybe it was a matter of. Pigment...I might need to give them a try!

My wife says that the Cosmic Purple carrots are out of this world! 

MrBooker wrote:

Scorpio Rising wrote:OG—Those purple carrots are huge!  Are they sweet?  I planted a Kaleidoscope mix a couple years ago, and didn’t care for some of the different colored ones...they were pretty though!

Mr. B—I think that is a pretty good haul of sweet taters!  When did you plant them?  Your maters look more vigorous than mine.

I planted the sweet taters around the first of May. I'll be digging the other barrel in a few weeks. Our first frost date is around the 15th.

I love sweet potatoes too, but thought our season was too short...inspiration!