It's October! Are you doing a fall garden? Update here!

So, I see lots of folk in the colder climates packing it in or preparing to. I figure those of us down south need to band together and get chatting about our fall/winter gardens. I know in my case things pretty much shut down through the summer and now it's exciting to get back outside as it's starting to cool off (ok, so we had a brief spell of mid-80s before getting back up to the low 90s, but it's down to the mid-60s at night!).

So, how's your fall garden? Have you planted yet? I know I'm still waiting for cooler weather for some things, but I've gotten a lot in the past couple of weeks.

Tomatoes: 3 suckers from spring crop that I rooted in pots indoors back in June (or was it early July?) that are now back in the garden. The biggest one just started setting fruit again a few days ago, woohoo! One cherry tomato plant I couldn't resist from a big box store. And I have 2 Brandywine starts indoors in self-watering pots that I will acclimate to the outdoors and transplant next week. I started these from seed (a first for me!) and am very happy with their progress.

Bush beans: One patch of 6 squares that have been through absolute torture this summer between the heat, neglect (planted in late July and could hardly stand to get out there long enough to dump water on them), iron problems, pests, and...are surviving and have a bunch of 1-2 inch beans growing on them. Today I have had the great fun of watching my most recent planting (3 squares each of green, wax, and dragon bush beans) sprout as I've watched throughout the day.

Peas: Miserable germination so far. Don't know if it's because I planted a bit earlier than I should have. Will probably be replanting this week.

Cucumbers: Planted 2 in one square and one thrived while the other died in the last hot spell (around 100). Replanted the one that died and the big one got attacked by cabbage worms. Finally got those under control, but that plant isn't recovering well. Also planted 2 Poona Keera in a square and probably should have just done 1 to a square as their leaves are much larger and both plants are thriving and I think they are going to be crowded. Will plant 1 more square this week.

Squash: 1 out of 2 plants that I started indoors has survived. Lots of male blossoms right now, waiting for the first female one. Will be ready to hand pollinate when it does. Direct seeded a few more a week or so ago and they are coming along nicely.

Radishes: Planted a square on impulse even though we don't really like them.

Lettuce: Like the peas, planted too early and miserable germination so far. 1 square of Black Seeded Simpson is coming along despite the heat, however. Will wait a couple of weeks to plant more.

Wonderberry (Sunberry): After reading that these reseed readily I decided to plant these in the ground. I had to move one box from an area that wasn't level enough and I took advantage of the cleared space to create a little bed for them. 4 plants outside and have been shading them from the sun. Today is their first day without shade and they seem ok. 1 left inside (forgot about it) so I guess I'll be doing that all over again this week.

3 pepper plants indoors that I intend to grow in pots on the porch so I can bring them in if/when we get a freeze over the winter.

Wow! It seems like a lot when I type it all up like that!

I planted peas again, and like before, they came up to about 8" really fast. Still waiting to see if these keep going, unlike the summer crop that gave out there. I also planted lettuce, which is growing like gangbusters, and beets, which are supposed to be an early variety, but so far are teeny-tiny. Oh, and spinach, also growing well.

I haven't planted anything specifically for Fall, even though I've been day dreaming about this for a few weeks. I am guessing (judging the unusually cool weather today), it might be too late to plant.
However, I started my garden late this year, so we are still enjoying quite a bit of cucumbers (on their last fumes, I think), and a ton of summer squash.
Poor squash was badly damaged by vine borer, then by pickle worm twice, and several times by squash bugs, and after all the nasty carnage it came back from dead and hit us with mighty crop. I pick a squash a day consistently, and considering pickling them now - there are just too many. It's not a zucchini, it's my native town Odessa (Ukraine) squash. So we still have plenty of it, just from one plant.
I have 3 watermelons waiting to be picked, basil is still standing.
I also have ton of tomatoes ripening on the vine.
I think I'll be planting some "ready-to-go" mums or some other fall flowers, just for color.

I pulled up most of my tomatos after they were decimated by some kind of disease and 2 mammoth hornworms. I had 2 vines that still showed some life so I left those and they have thanked me by setting blooms and now I have some ping pong ball size tomatos to look forward to. Yesterday I planted several squares of Derby Bush beans. I had those planted this summer and they didn't do as well as I'd hoped so I'm hoping the cooler weather will help. I also planted one square each of Detroit beets and Cherry Belle radishes. I don't even eat beets but they look so pretty in pictures and seem to be so nutritious I'm going to try to like them... I have Vivian Romaine lettuce and Swiss Chard started under lights in the house, I'll be setting those out in a couple of weeks, and I think I'll try some sweet peas..

We planted, tomatoes, peppers, peas, squash, onions, carrots, beets, lettuce, spinach, and swiss chard. Just hope I didn't wait to long. It was still so hot here in Az, in the 100's, and I put off planting. I still have things under shade most of the day to keep them alive.

Fall garden doing pretty well so far. I've got ....

Tomatoes: Pink Brandywine, Lemon Boy, Yellow Pear, Better Boy, Mr. Stripey, Cherry (red), Cherry (Yellow), Beefsteak and Wild Florida Everglades Tomato

Cucumber (Burpless)

Cantalope (Super 45 Hybrid)

Bush Beans

Sugar Snap Peas

Yellow Squash

Bell Peppers (Green, Yellow, Red, Orange)

Spinach

Radishes

Dill, Oregano, Basil, Rosemary

there is a great organic farm up the road a piece from us in worthington springs, fl. it's called comet farm. haley west (owner / horticulturist) sells home garden kits in the fall and spring. totally awesome. i have planted kale (two kinds), lettuce, broccoli, peas, nasturtiums, hollyhocks, a few herbs (dill, parsley and chives) in my raised bed (4x6x12). then in two attractive terra cotta pots i planted carrots and radishes, respectively. here's a photo:

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if it doesn't show up i'll try again.

happy gardening - my niece in MN is quite jealous that we can keep gardening...