Friday, October 25, 2013

Cold weather could spell end of the harvest

The spring-like fall has been great for our tomato plants. Stubbornly barren all summer, they sprang into action in September and have been producing fruit ever since. But with the mercury suddenly dropping and the threat of frost, the late tomato surge may be for naught. That big fat Brandywine beefsteak below may end up as a fried green tomato.
This time of year is always one of life and death in the garden, with new flowers sprouting beside dry brown leaves. I am always optimistic and believe that the growth cycle will continue endlessly, until the first frost arrives.    

This Brandywine may never ripen

Maybe these black cherries will turn rosy in a paper bag

Lonely Serrano pepper is ready to eat

My Red Russian kale will keep growing, even in colder weather

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Not pretty, but late season tomatoes taste good

We were shut out all summer, but now our tomato plants are giving us a little fruit. They don't look terribly attractive. They're cracked and pocked. They're not very red. Still, when you cut them open and take a bite, they're pretty tasty. They don't have the flavor of juicy, mid-summer tomatoes, with that perfect balance of acidity and sweetness. And they're smaller by far. But they're still better than anything you can get in a store.  Nothing is ever as good as homegrown. So, thank you tomato plants, for finally coming through. Better late than never!
Cherokee Purple tomatoes

Meager harvest better than nothing!