Monday Harvest 10/22/12

A lot more going in than coming out at this point.  Only a few pepper plants left over from the summer, but man are they still producing, Fresno Chilies, Yellow and Purple Bell Peppers.  Already getting some lettuce and cilantro.  It's nice to finally get the fall planting underway.  It was 100 degrees last week, but finally the days are getting cooler as are the nights.  We even had a little drizzle this weekend.  Put in some potatoes, shallots, carrots, and more lettuce.  Citrus trees are all heavy, some are even starting to change color!  The Blood Orange tree is especially productive this year. 

 

 

 

 One of the advantages of a close farmers market is that you get to know the vendors.  I met one of the avocado growers from ACE Ranch, which is in Escondido, south of LA.  He brought up a Reed avocado for me that I put in the ground yesterday.  Now with a little work, some TLC and luck I should have another avo tree that kicks out a lot of fruit.

 

Also picked up a Babcock Peach to go with the Santa Barbara that I put in last year.

 

Satsuma Mandarin to round out the citrus selection.

Garlic just starting to poke their heads up.

Beets, only took a few days to germinate, I've learned from last year to do plantings every 3-4 weeks to assure that they keep on coming in the spring.

 

The littlest farmer is especially excited about the Spinach.  The little thief sneaks into the garden and eats it right off the plant.  I'll have to watch him this year, maybe have him  plant his own patch.

This lettuce germinated in 2 days, no joke.  We have a hot spell for 3-4 days right after I set out seeds and within 2 days they were already starting.  I love the SoCal fall.

Is summer over yet?

It's been quite a while since I last posted, thought that fall was here then 100 degree days prove that that was just wishful thinking.  Notice Col. Sanders below taking a little dip.  September was pretty hot around, it was tough watching the plants that I had worked so hard to raise from a seed wither under the intense sun. 

 

 

Lots of Monarch caterpillars on the milkweed this year, we raised a few. 

 

The last harvest, even found a carrot that I planted last fall.  The only pumpkin that I grew came from TPW's compost.

 

 Along with the garden and fruit trees I have also been planting alot of native plants.  The Santa Barbara Botanical Garden has an awesome plant sale for the entire month of October, quite a selection.  Put in 24 plants, lots of different Salvia, some Trichostema lanatum, and a couple of Matilija poppy.  Have to find plants that don't need a lot water.   Got two new chickens, 1 Barred Rock and 1 Blue Andalusian, the older girls have been either brooding, molting or the heat has shut them down.  Not a lot of eggs recently.

Put in spinach, lettuce, onions, garlic, chard, a few pepper plants are still in from the summer.