September 23, 2012

Since we're leaving on a trip in two days, I figured I'd better pick any ripe tomatoes I could find.  I got 8 lbs. 9 ozs.  I peeled them, diced them, and canned them.  I got 7 pints.

I also picked the last three apples on the columnar trees -- one Scarlet Sentinel and two Golden Sentinels.

Things are starting to look fall-like in the front yard.

The butternut squash is coloring nicely, and we picked the first fall raspberry.

September 22, 2012

I've finished leveling the new area along the fence for fruit trees.  We had planned to put in a 2x6 retaining edge, but I don't think we need it.  It's pretty level.

I pulled out the Orange King tomato.  We were not eating it.  It's very bland, and we have several tomatoes that taste much better.  I also picked the last muskmelon and pulled the plant. 

September 21, 2012

Today I picked all the ripe paste tomatoes, which amounted to 6 lbs. 7 ozs.  It was mostly the San Marzano, with a few 'Marzanos' thrown in (whatever they are).  I decided to dehydrate them rather than can them.  The interesting thing is that the Marzanos are not only bigger, but they are also much meatier.  The San Marzanos are almost like a pepper inside.  Lots of empty space.  Here's what they looked like on the tray, with the Marzanos on the bottom and the San Marzanos on the top.

They were even more bizarre when dried.  The San Marzanos were just threads.  I really like the Marzanos better, but I'm really not sure what they are.  This is the San Marzano -- a typical Roma-type paste tomato.

And here is the Marzano.

I'm thinking maybe I should save the seeds, but I don't even know if it's a hybrid.  I guess I'll give it a try.

Today I planted some bunching onions in a big pot on the deck.  The peas I planted recently are up.  And the salad greens and spinach are doing really well.  We've been cutting and eating them for about a week now.

September 15, 2012

The cucumbers have been looking really terrible, so I pulled them out today.  I think it was a combination of too little water at some point and some kind of disease.  Who knows.  Next year, only two plants.  Maybe better air circulation will help.

I've been working on getting all the arbor vitae roots out of our new planting area.  I'm more than half way there.  It's a nasty job, but it has to be done.

With the new open back yard, it seems like the birds are in the water much more.  Maybe they feel more secure without all the hiding places for predators.  The last couple of days they've been bathing with joyous abandon, throwing water everywhere.  They are going through a large bag of birdseed every two weeks now.  We hope they're loading up to get ready to leave.  At $41 per bag, it really adds up.  But we don't begrudge the cost.  It's such good entertainment.

September 11, 2012

The arbor vitae hedge in back and the larger of the two fir trees have been removed, so now I have a lot more sunny space to plant.  I'm hoping to get several fruit trees and add five more raised beds.  I'll have to wait until all the flowers are out (mostly dahlias) before the beds can be built.

The compost bins have been put back together after the tree guys moved them without consulting me (argh!)  We've moved the tool shed to the back corner and put all the bins and other paraphernalia in a neat row.

September 9, 2012

It's been very cool and mostly overcast today.  I pulled out one of the muskmelons, as all the fruit on it had been picked.  There are still three unripe ones on the other plant.

The second planting of zucchini has lots of mildew, but otherwise both plants look pretty good.  The cucumbers, including the one I planted later, are all looking rather peaked.  The leaves are kind of yellow and splotchy.  Most of the cucumbers are still o.k., although some are sort of oddly shaped. 

There are lots of San Marzano tomatoes starting to ripen.  I guess I'll have to decide what to do with them.

There are lots of little twirly things coming down in the backyard.  Further investigation reveals that they are the seeds inside the fir cones.  I don't remember this happening last year.  It may be that there were not a lot of cones on the trees.  This year the larger of the two Douglas firs has lots of cones. 

September 8, 2012

Two more melons.  After attending Fall Fling today, at which I heard Willi Galloway speak, I came home and planted some Cascadia snap peas in a big pot.  The plan is to have these for pea shoots.  And who knows?  Maybe we'll actually get some peas.

The lettuce in the two pots is doing well.  The first planting is pretty close to harvest size.

September 5, 2012

We've harvested six more melons.  They continue to be pretty darn good. 

Today I pulled out the acorn squash in the big pot.  I got five squashes, but one had a soft spot.  So four good ones.  The plant looked terrible.  The few leaves on it were yellow.  The plant in the front yard in the ground looks much better.  In fact, it is still blooming and producing new fruit.  I plan to leave it, as well as the butternut squash plants, until they freeze. 

September 2, 2012

The jury is back and the verdict on the melon is in.  It's pretty good.  As good as many in the stores.  But not spectacular.  And this was a nice warm summer.  So I won't be growing them again.  Besides, they take up a lot of valuable space.  By the way, we now have two more in the fridge.

September 1, 2012

As I was checking the muskmelons (Delicious 51), one slipped off the stem.  It smells like a melon.  So it's now in the refrigerator.  We'll taste test it tomorrow.