Mid-September: Successes and not

As the season winds down and harvest continues, it is time to evaluate the successes and not-so-much of the garden. The weather has made garden production odd. Potatoes that do not flower, tomatoes that stay green until late, lots of pears but no apples, no rain but lots of weeds, heat without rain, rain without heat. Still, there are always experiments going on and it is time to report on some results. Onions. Last January, based on a presentation by Susan Nicewander at the library, milk jugs that had been partly cut received potting soil and onion seeds, were taped closed, and put out into the garden. The resulting seedlings were transplanted into the garden in April. Onion seeds were also directly planted into the soil at the same time. The onions resulting from the winter sown seeds were much larger than the direct planted. There was an onion crop, my first. Onions were sun dried for a few days then stored in a cool dry place. Gourds. Gourds are grown every year, they are my happy plants, grown away from the main garden and usually the hard shelled species. This year decorative gourds were grown, seeds planted, watered in, trellis built, then on their own. A large number of variously colored gourds, amazing. They will be left until frost to allow the maximum development of wall material. Sometimes store bought ornamental gourds have been picked too early, then coated in wax, and rot. Most of the gourds on my vines will dry and cure intact. They are destined for craft projects. Raspberries. A new bed was built for raspberries and plants moved from where they did not get enough sun. No raspberries. They will have one more year to produce, then the bed will have new occupants — plants respond to threats. Winter squash. Last year a cardboard box was filled with potting soil and planted with pumpkin seeds. It worked well, I knew where the roots started for watering, the cardboard was no barrier for roots but did deter weeds, and pumpkins grew. Tried the same thing this year with butternut squash seeds but deer kept eating all the leaves until some fencing was put up, then it stopped raining. The vines are trying now but I am not optimistic about results. Butternut squash produce vast vines so they need a protected area with lots of room to spread. The winter will hopefully provide some thinking time about this situation. Mulberry weed. Some of my garden is infested with this weed which I do not remember from the past and which wasn't on-line as a top ten weed. A friend with an app for photo identification of plants found its name. It has sticky leaves and balls of tiny white flowers. It can be pulled up but also breaks easily at the soil surface and resprouts. Even though a lot has been pulled up, I am worried about seeds overwintering and future problems. Will probably use a pre-emergent weed suppressor in the asparagus bed next spring. Ugh. Harvest continues, lots of tomatoes and bell peppers. The second planting of spinach, carrots, peas and squash are growing nicely. The sweet potatoes have two weeks to grow then will be harvested, ready or not, so the bed can be cleared for October first new compost. Yes it is work, but satisfying, and definitely with fun moments. Enjoy. Susan Carty is professor emerita at Heidelberg University.