Starting the Fall Garden

I know, I know. It's been more than a year since I blogged about my garden. Due to some health issues my husband has been experiencing for the past 6 or 7 months, we didn't get to do much spring gardening. We did get some garlic and taters, but I didn't have time to blog about them. However, the husband's health issues have been addressed, he's feeling better, I'm getting more rest, and we're back in the saddle for the fall!

I've never really "done" a fall garden because you have to start it in the dead of summer when the temps are over 100º and it's miserable to be outside during the daylight hours. Really, who can garden in the dark when it's not so hot?? On top of the miserable heat, we've had NO measurable rain for weeks.

I still have lots of bell peppers that I managed to plant in the spring. Of course, they didn't get planted "on time" so they've not done much until recently. As long as I can keep them watered, they should do well through the fall. I think I planted something like 14 or 16 transplants. Less than half of them survived the squirrels and the birds. Grumble, grumble.... I have 1 Bullnose Red Pepper, grown from seeds saved from last year's crop, some orange peppers, golden peppers (yellow), and chocolate (purple) peppers.

These are the chocolate peppers. They're supposed to be really sweet, but since I've yet to taste one, I can't say for sure. The plant is a nice size with lots of branches and a sturdy trunk. It's loaded with babies, too! I counted 5 babies on one plant yesterday and that was just at a glance from one direction!

The husband is going to erect some kind of shade thing for them so they don't get sun scald. The one red bullnose pepper that I have already has a touch of sunscald, so we'll have to use it soon.

Last Thursday, I sowed cantaloupe seeds. They germinated in 2 days! We'll grow the same variety we grew last summer, Honey Rock. I think every single seed I planted has germinated, even the ones I dropped and couldn't find so they wouldn't germinate in the wrong place! LOL

This picture is from yesterday. Today, all the leaves are open and they're up above the straw. Soon, I'll have to thin them to 3-4 plants per hill.

Until next time, have fun playing in the dirt!