Bedtime for the Vegetable Beds

Last hurrah . . .

I had planned to turn under the entire garden today, but this is what I found:  tomatoes--more tomatoes than I've seen in a while.  I found so many tomatoes that I could not bear to till them under, so this little patch of currant tomatoes (and one lone Black Truffle plant) have been spared another week.  The tobasco peppers should be ready this week then that bed will be put to bed.

Final harvest . . .

The days are now shorter than the nights and the sun-loving peppers and tomatoes are fading, too.  I harvested just a handful before clambering onto my faithful tractor with the tiller on low.  (As best I can tell, I have not had any disease issues this year or I would be removing the plants.)  It took three or four passes to really turn under the plants and leave lovely dirt just chock-full of organic material which will (fingers crossed here) compost over the remaining fall and winter.

Tilling . . .

The Resident Dragon has suggested that the vegetable patches move from the center of the orchard, so I am preparing this strip to be my flower bed.  What kinds do you suggest?  They will have to be hardy as the grass is invasive.  I also would prefer annuals to bulbs.

What kinds of market flowers should I plant?

I had considered moving the vegetable beds to the north side of the yard, but I think I will keep the east garden for a while.  I worked in two trailer loads of leaves last year, and I hope to do the same this year.  I would think, on the third year, my accursed buckshot dirt would be approaching friability.

I hate the thought of starting over.

Garden strips after one tiller pass . . .

One thing that has worked well has been the garden "strips."  Since I have the luxury of a tractor with a tiller, I created one-tiller-width strips this year with paths between.  My soil does not usually dry out enough to work a big patch until late May or early June.  I can get away will narrow strips earlier because I don't usually have problems with "bogging down" in the narrow strips.  The strips are also just wide enough to reach in from the grass.  I don't know what to do, though.


I'm debating creating enclosed raised beds or just building up the beds.  The grass is so, so, so invasive that I just cannot keep ahead of it.

Suggestions?????  Should I make enclosed raised beds next year and use some sterile soil mix?

The golden blossom of a pumpkin

Despite the mad rush to put the garden to bed, there's something quite soothing about the long-shadow days of autumn.  The sun may still be uncomfortably warm, but, when I turn the tractor into the wind, the breeze is cool, and hints of the golden days before the blue days of winter.  So, I'll savor these days, cradling each in my hand like a precious drop of sunlit amber.

For you, too, I wish golden days this autumn.

What's happening in your garden?

Nancy