Ready for Pumpkin Season

Summer is coming to a close for most folks, and parents look toward the start of the school year. The farm season now shifts into high gear for winter squashes. The first of our decorative pumpkins is just about ready! The summer squash season should be easing out, and at the size that we let them go to, they complement the winter squashes quite well.

Tomato Nest

The tomato plants are a wild mess of vines, leaves and fruit. Since it’s late in the season and the nights are noticeably cooler, I have started to prune the overgrowth and attempt to concentrate the plant toward ripening existing tomatoes.

(include video) Always curious about how things work, I took on an introductory cleanup of a tractor implement. Removing bolts the size of cigar, cleaning out the dirt, adjusting the 3-point hitch – I was loving it.

Totally Skeeved Out By This

Then I saw this monstrosity, the size of a cigar, hanging on for dear life on the pruned tomato plants. It skeeved me out but I had to stare at its organic shape, pattern, the hook on its butt and the terrifying tiny pinhole eyes. ** shudder ** I tossed the whole thing a few feet away, hoping that the sun would dessicate it. Looking at this picture sends a shiver up my spine. Reading up on the tomato hook worm now, I should have dispatched it more vigorously and permanently. Stay tuned.

Revival Oregano

The herb rows suffered this year and was neglected, until now. I uncovered oregano that grew despite all odds but not all herbs made it through. This year, we’ll have some Parsley Sage Rosemary but no Thyme.

Sweet Thai Basil

Basil

Italian basil grew fabulously. Thai basil made a decent showing. Holy basil did not sprout at all.

Popcorn

See the red tassels on the popcorn? Now we wait for the plant to dry out and wait for the first frost to come.