The Sweet Taste of Success: 200 Kilograms!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today has been a rainy day with more than an inch of rain. Coming back into the house I found a tomato and picked some arugula. This modest addition of 158grams tasted great with my dinner.

Importantly, though, this addition now pushes the total of the produce from the garden to over 200 Kilograms. It will be interesting to see how much further we can get in the next 6 weeks.

199.895 KG + 158 grams 200.053KG

Almost There: Some New Plants

I have planted a lot of cruciferous vegetables this fall. These plants are called this because they all have a set of 4 leaves coming off the stalk. This means broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and even kale are all closely related. I did not do a very good job of labeling the plants and I am not sure what this 3 foot tall plant is but I hope it is a cauliflower.
I can recognize fennel. This one is now about a foot tall and I can see the bulb is starting to form. This plant has a  strong anise or licorice flavor. For many people this is a love it or leave it plant. I am looking forward to trying it out in about a month.
I could also pick spinach as I now have a goodly supply particularly for a salad.

We are so close to out goal at the Suburban Farm.
199.895 KG. We just need about 105 grams to make the goal. I don't want to pick something I cannot use or give away because it is likely to go to waste. Therefore I will post again in few days when we cross the goal line.

Collards and Tomatoes

This is a strange time of year. Tomatoes and collards do not usually co-exist in the a garden but this year with the very warm weather this can happen. Interestingly, I think because the days are short and the temperature a little cooler the tomatoes do not ripen as fast. If you bring them in though in just 24 hours they will be amazingly red, ripe and delicious.
These are not the prettiest tomatoes but they taste good.
Here is about a half pound of collard greens that are going into a pot of soup that I am making for work.

The New Farmer has been rambling in the north country but some snow has shooed here back home. She robbed the garden today picking turnips, tomatoes, okra, lettuce and rocket to make up 846 grams off food.

I have 1.798 KG to add today and this brings the total to 199.331KG

Success; The Tomato's Live Own

The wrapping of the tomato plants was successful and we got through the two nights of cold weather. I don't even think there was a frost last night.
The plants look great and I was even brought in a few red tomatoes that got knocked off the bush.
These are the sweet potatoes that have been seasoning. This is drying for several weeks so that they can be stored in the basement.
I did go ahead and pull up some more sweet potatoes that the frost had killed the vine. These vines came from slips that the New Farmer brought with her from Florida. The potatoes look a little redder the the other sweet potatoes.
Some have been damaged by the rain with the sweet potatoes swelling and splitting. One of the hills that probably did not get as much watering during the drought was particularly affected.
I have cooked up some turnip and turnip greens. I learned recently that in Europe before the potato was introduced from the New World that turnips were used instead. Ye Oldie  Mashed Turnips? Yum?
I have cooked some butter beans and I must say that though they taste good they are a disappointment for the Suburban Farmer in that the yield can seem quite meager. 

I weighed the potatoes before they dried and the beans before I shelled so that may make the total a little on the high side. However, I have given things away to people walking by that did not get weighed. With that caveat I have 7.485 KG to add to my total which is now
197.535KG

A Killing Frost Postponed?

Last night was a chilly one. We had a frost warning in the paper and on the radio. However, I was optimistic since we often seem to be a few degrees warmer here than at the airport. The weather was ominous with dark clouds, spitting rain and actually sleet and hail. This is such a change from just last week when it was up in the 80's. I was hoping to save some of the large tomato plants that have lots of fruit on them since much was just starting to ripen,
These ghostly forms are the work of the Farmer's Wife.  She labored long and hard to cover the plants. It looks as if she has robbed some of beds in the house. Ironically, she does not really like tomatoes, particularly raw.
Clearly she loves the Farmer and his project.

We will leave the covers on till tomorrow since it is suppose to be cold tonight then warm up. We only had 35 degrees on our thermometer at the house; 31 degrees was reported at the airport. There was however a frost on the neighbors roof this morning and on the pine straw in the garden. The only thing that looks limp in the sweet potato vines. I haven't and want look under the tarps until tomorrow.
The cold is good for many fall crops that have struggled with the lingering heat. Therefore, some turnips and turnip greens will be coming in for dinner today.

With the addition of 1.498 KG of produce since last report the total is 190.053KGs.

Carrots and Lettuce

Today I pulled up the rest of the carrots. They may look pretty rough but they were fine in the pot roast that I made.  I am not sure that I will grow carrots again. They take a lot of time and room and the yield is not so great. It might be fun to grow some funky varieties and maybe the novelty would be worth it.
I have great bunches of basil. I pick and pick and there are new leaves to bring in. The aroma is amazing. Some people have never smelled fresh basil and are surprised at the delightful fragrance that fills the room.
The Moskivch tomatoes are full of fruit and I hope that they will have time to make. These varieties are interesting. This plant which is a great spreading mass puts on groups of three fruits on a branch and when ripe they are delicious. I think that they will be good variety for next year.
The New Farmer came over for dinner tonight the surprise of the night is a was a great cucumber. Who would think that you could have fresh cucumbers in November. A great salad with rocket, tomato and cucumber to go with lamb chops.
 

In addition I have been keeping the office in stock with heads of romaine and buttercrunch
 

2.564 KG of produce to add to the total which brings the total to 188.555 KG