The Late Summer/Autumn Garden

Even though I'm not quite ready for autumn to be here yet, yesterday was one of those cool pre-autumn days that was great for yard cleanup.  I spent an hour or two burning some invasive vines that I had cut down last week because they had berries on them and I didn't want the seeds to drop and take hold.  The cool, crisp breeze and the warmth and smell of the camp fire pit were pleasant.

Afterwards, I spent some time cleaning-out the "picket fence garden."  After a bad bout of powdery mildew, the squash and cucumber plants had stopped producing, so I thought I'd pull them out to make room for the autumn crops.

I've never started crops at this time of year but supposedly, if you get them into the ground now, some veggies will fruit just before the frost--giving you a taste of summer's bounty right when we all could use a dose of it.

I placed an order from Johnny's Select Seeds last week and it has arrived.  Hopefully, I can get some of the seeds into the ground and into some trays in time to produce some fruit before the cold of winter.  Here's what's on the menu:

• Pickling Cucumbers
• Lettuce
• Asian Greens
• Bok Choy

Most of the brassicas (cabbage/broccoli family) will do well this time of year.  Cukes like it about 70 degrees to grow.  It's also time to put in items that grow best when overwintered like onions, bulb flowers, fruiting tree seeds, and potatoes.

Wish me luck!  This is something I've never tried before.