My busy season in the shop is well underway, leaving me very little time for experiments in the kitchen. In desperate need of some therapy, I decided to spend a little time in my fall garden the other evening. I love fall gardening, and I’m always a little amazed that most gardeners don’t take advantage of this time to extend their growing season. There are quite a few vegetables that thrive on the cooler temperatures leading into winter.
Here in northern Indiana spring jumped to hot summer temperatures so quickly that my snow peas did not do well. However, a late summer planting resulted in beautiful peas that were ready to pick this week. The variety is Oregon Sugar Pod II. I just love the way the vines end in these little twisty curls!
Another veggie I love to plant for fall harvesting, and also for overwintering, is spinach. Unfortunately, I have nothing to show because my neighbor’s roaming German Shepherd dug it up ….. twice! I replanted after she dug it up the first time, and within a couple of days she came back and dug up the seed bed.
I tried a new vegetable this year, and I’ve learned a lot. I sowed Florence Fennel seed directly in the garden early this spring, but the bulbs didn’t develop very well. After some reading I discovered it might perform better if planted early to late summer so the bulbs could form and mature in cooler weather. I went ahead and planted some seed about mid summer, but the plants are still small. Next year I’ll try planting earlier. I use fennel in place of celery when I cook, but it’s rather expensive in the markets in my area. I have two reasons for using fennel. First, I think celery is an evil, vile tasting thing. Secondly, my husband is allergic to celery.
When most plants are turning brown and beginning to to die, I have a couple of herbs that provide beautiful, vibrant splashes of color in the garden.
Calendula.
Pineapple Sage.
My basil had a wonderful year. It’s has been lush and prolific, thriving in the sweltering heat this summer. I’ve frozen boatloads of pesto, and have been sending it home with friends and family by the bushel. Really, I’m not kidding…. literal bushels! Because it’s threatening to go to seed, and harboring hope that I might find one more chance to make another batch of pesto, I decided to cut it back one last time. Look who I found guarding my basil! Isn’t he beautiful?
With no one to take the basil off my hands, it had to go on the compost pile. Thus the title of this blog post ….. “An Unfortunate Ending”.
Related Posts
April 20, 2013 Growing Pea Shoots
October 22, 2011 Sweet Potato & Root Vegetable Seasoning 
August 20, 2011 Season of Change – Fall Gardening
June 5, 2011 How Does Your Garden Grow?
July 6, 2011 Fennel Success!
That is what’s going to happen to lots of basil around here, too. I grow the Greek columnar though, because it never flowers. No hassle, and really flavorful.
I was hoping you were going to write about the groundhog. They torment me, and I would so enjoy reading about a human winning.
Passionflower in the mail, btw.
As much as I would like to relate the tale of our winning over the ground hog, I think it might upset some readers. It was quick and merciful, but not pretty. Thank you so much for the Passionflower! I will try to grow some next year.
NO, NO, NO, send all your basil to me; never enough pesto. Oh, how very , very sad.