Continued Fall Activity

The first ten cauliflower plants went out into the garden on Saturday October 1. This was in an area where corn was growing one month earlier. There are still pole beans in the area which are producing moderately. The Daicon radish are growing nicely now too but I have to keep redirecting the winter squash which is experiencing an indian summer growth spurt away from them.

Peas were also planted on October 1st. They are about two inches high now and telling me that this should be a good year for peas. If one listens carefully, young plants with give hints which helps one predict how successful the season will be. Peas are having a good time. I expect a fun ride.

This weekend, four more cauliflower will be set out along with six kohlrabi and a dozen Rutabagas, all started in the greenhouse. The pictures in this post show how the cauliflower is hidden among the summer pole beans which are still actively producing. Also note the giant winter squash stem in the picture on the right. This squash is still producing so I am planting cauliflower around it.

I also started a flat of Joi Choi in the greenhouse on Monday. These were already coming up by Friday. They will go out in a couple of weeks.
Meanwhile the corn harvest continues. My last big batch of corn is ripe and I have been picking about a dozen ears a day for the past week. The freezer is full now and we have been totally pigging out on the sweetest corn of the season. Nothing beats October corn. There are downsides of late corn however. Squirrels like to help themselves to corn in September and October. And every ear has an earworm unlike the early corn where there are no earworms. But the sweetness is worth it.

I have two ways to control squirrels. I place plastic bags over the ears after pollination is complete but before the corn ripens. Squirrels don't mess with corn covered in this manner. But it is a lot of work. This year I also tried running plastic netting along the rows at ear level. That seemed to work too and is a lot less work.

This weekend I start seriously planting fava beans. I have been sprinkling a few in the ground since early September and some of these are actually producing beans this year. Nice to have October favas. But the serious planting is between now and the end of the year.

Lots of composting to do with the corn coming out along with some of the old beans. But it all makes great compost.