What's In The Fall Garden?

We've been enjoying fall weather that's so beautiful, so perfect, it's hard to even concentrate in the garden.  But Sunday, I got our little fall vegetable patch in order.  You remember those tomatoes I planted in August under their little cabanas?  Well, it was extra-hot until the very last few days of September.  So the tomatoes are tall and a bit on the leggy side.  But I do have flowers on them, so I am holding onto a happy thought:  fresh tomatoes for Thanksgiving!

Skinny devils, aren't they?

I planted two kinds of lettuce from seed: a Valentine mix of red and green, and another mix of mostly romaines.  I planted yellow bulbing onions and a mix of red and green salad scallions.  Greens do well here in the fall, so we picked out two cabbages and two kales, plus a square of "Pot of Gold" chard. 

Pot of Gold Chard, photo: Renee's Garden

Even though I never do well with carrots (because I can't/won't thin them properly), we did plant a cute little round carrot called "Round Romeo."  I had been saving space for broccoli and cauliflower, but we didn't find them!  My daughter picked out snapdragons and calendulas instead.  We squeezed them in amongst the vegetables.

Jack & Jill Sweet Peas, photo: Renee's Garden

Finally, we planted "Knee-High Jack and Jill" sweetpeas and "Whirlybird Rainbow Mix" nasturtiums on the low vegetable cages.  I like vegetable-gardening in the fall.  It just feels so much better to be outside now.  All around town, you can hear people breathing a sigh of relief.  We are all now sure we've made it through the worst of summer!