Changing Weather -- Mid October Update

Fall is Definitely Here!

And from the weather we've been having, lows in the low 40s and highs in the low 70's, you can tell winter is not far behind.  Last few mornings have definitely been sweater weather.

Okra

Since the last update, the okra has been doing a lot better.  The aphids are now under control, probably thanks to the ladybug and green lacewing population catching up to them and keeping them under control.  These plants are huge. Their  main trunk looks like a small tree trunk.  I've harvested lots of okra so far.  Been real good. I really like this variety of okra, "Emerald".  Some of the pods I have harvested have gotten real big (like 7-8" long) and the pods have still been edible.  Here are some that will be ready soon

And here are the plants.  Really pretty flowers too.  These plants take up a lot of space as they have spread out pretty far.   These six plants I put have given us as much as we want. so that's good note to remember for the future when trying to decide how much to plant, and remembering how much space to allocate for them.

Cool Weather Crops

Here are the mustard.  The are almost eating size now.  And right next to them are the turnips.  I think next week I'll start picking some of these for some "mixed greens" for dinner.

And here is the spinach. Had to cover a few more seedlings I set out to protect them from rats. Many of my small plants had been chewed to the ground.  I'm sure its been rats, as I have gone out at night and seen then scurrying  around.

The stinking rats ate many of my poor Brussels Sprouts and Cabbage plants.  You can see below some of the damage.

So I've had to put in many rat traps.  So far I've killed 2 rats.   I hate those things.  Last year I had the same problem too.  And 2 years ago they decimated my broccoli plants.  So frustrating!!!

Pumpkins

Finally getting a Rouge Vif dEtampes pumpkin to form. Its been frustrating that its been taking so long.  I'm not sure there will be enough time before the first freeze for it to mature. We'll see.  Hope this one gets good size.

In a few days I may try to gently shift it so its laying stem side up.  The other one I had this spring grew on it side and ended up looking lop-sided.   

The vines on the other side of the garden are not pretty much shaded over most of the day, so I don't have much hope for these. There is a small pumpkin that just started forming in this side, but I am not too hopeful.  Time's running out for these.

Speaking of pumpkins, I still have about 8 sugar pie pumpkins sitting in the pantry.  Yesterday I took a small one, and made these pumpkin scones.  I was inspired to make them after trying one at Starbucks, and I then I found this recipe : http://www.inspiredtaste.net/16810/spiced-pumpkin-scones-recipe/

They turned out really GOOD!! they were gone very quickly.  Unfortunately they are not the easiest thing to make.  I skimped a little on the icing, opting to go with only the spiced icing.