On Friday night the temperature dropped to 47 degrees F. (8.33 C.). Is it any wonder then that I don't have a lot to show you?
On Tuesday we picked 7.9 pounds (~3.6 kg.) of tomatoes, a "Rosita" eggplant, a butternut squash whose plant died around it, and more "Honey Select" corn, the last of it unfortunately.
On Wednesday, filet beans, Diva cucumbers, a few raspberries, another orphan butternut, and our 2nd artichoke for us to fight over.
On Thursday, The Kitchen Goddess picked the majority of the "Kenearly Yellow-Eye" and "Midnight Black Turtle" beans from our "Survival Garden," prior to a rain. We will weigh them after they are completely dry and shelled. Here's the picking in the shell:
And here's what they look like shelled (obviously just a sampling):
By Friday, it was time to harvest all the "Kennebec" potatoes that had been curing in the ground for several weeks with their foliage removed:
This weighed 32 pounds (~14.54 kg.). Here's one of the larger ones, shown in pounds:
As I've mentioned, I've never grown potatoes before. I can't believe I've wasted all this opportunity for food production. With the potatoes we'd already harvested, the season total was 42 pounds. I planted 2 1/2 pounds of seed potatoes in two 8-foot rows. That's a return of 16.8:1. Fedco says 10:1 is average and 20:1 is exceptional. So forgive me if I say I'm proud of myself!
On the weekend, I took the last of the tomatoes except for the "Sugar Plum" grapes, which are soldiering on despite the blight. We should still get some of those to ripen. But the others were completely diseased, so I picked what I could and pulled the vines. Suffering readers rejoice! No more tomato pictures!
I also took out the last of the green beans, then I pulled all the dry bean plants too, taking what was left. Once the pods are completely dry and shelled I'll tally up the weights of this experiment.
Even cooler nights are in the forecast. The garden already looks empty and sad.
That's it for this week. Thanks for reading, and happy harvests to all--especially those blessed with longer growing seasons!
I love those taters! They are such a good return on your garden investment. Those are some pretty dried beans too. I think I tried growing yellow eye beans a few years ago and they did not do well for me here.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dave. I wonder why you did not have success with the beans? Gardening is such a puzzle.
DeleteThose are awesome potatoes! You definitely should be very proud! And the rest of the harvest looks very lovely too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jenny. Good to have you back.
DeleteFab harvest. I hope to grow sweet corn next year, not a lot though. I would be happy to swap some of my raspberries for some of your veg, maybe for the tomatoes - ours were a disappointment this year.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Our raspberries are not well-tended, and grow among the grapes. But I love the small amount we get.
DeleteBelieve it or not, here in "sunny California" I had one night down to 46ºF and two nights down to 47ºF last week. That should be about as cold as it will get for a couple more months though so I can't complain. Whoa, that is a whopper of a potato, you got great results in your potato patch.
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle. And quit trying to rub it in about how beautiful your climate is.
DeleteThose potatoes look amazing - congrats! It's feels so great when you try a crop for the first time and it is successful. And also loving the corn - must grow both of those next year. I hear you on the cool weather - the weather channel is telling us that we are having October weather in September.
ReplyDeleteThanks Margaret. I'm more than satisfied with our potatoes, but the corn is always a struggle, and never gives us enough.
DeleteWell done with the potatoes, those are some dandy Kennebecs. My first year of growing potatoes made me an instant convert. They not only give a great return, but taste and keep far better than store-bought. Here in southern Indiana Sunday morning was 43 F. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteThanks! You are right about the potatoes tasting so much better. And I hope they keep well.
DeleteThat is a really nice potato yield. I think I was a lot closer to the 10:1 when I grew them. My garden is looking sad in spots too. Especially the squash vines. Oh they look so mildewed and sick. But I want to give the butternuts as long as possible.
ReplyDeleteThanks Daphne. I'm tending to think it's better to bring the squash in since the vines are mostly dead. Is there any advantage to leaving them outside?
DeleteYou should be very pleased with the potato harvest. Very impressive. I can't wait to see what I have beneath the soil. Temperatures dipped to 30 here in Maine last night. My peppers are not very happy. ~ Rachel @ Grow a Good Life
ReplyDeleteThanks Rachel. Yes, the potato harvest is such a fun experience. You never know what's down there.
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