This weekend I cleaned up the Plot Against Hunger gardens and then went to my own to work. It is beginning to look like fall in the garden and elsewhere.
The zinnias, though, are still glorious!
The rats have been temporarily vanquished. As a result I have tomatoes!!! I also got some peppers and eggplants.
Quite a haul for this garden season. I knocked the green tomato off trying to pick one of the ripe ones.
I am hoping to have at least one butternut squash. This is the only winter squash I didn’t rip out to keep the rats from feasting. We’ll see if I get any.
Possibly two butternuts. We’ll see. I may have to cover the plant with something…
I also have arugula, which nobody eats except me! What a treat.
Note there are some new arugula seedlings coming up on either side of the mature crop.
The oregano is having a resurgence, and is lovely in pasta.
My oregano seems to intermingle with sweet peas and still keep the upper hand.
I am hoping to get another eggplant or two, but I think there may not be enough left of the season.
I fear those three incipient eggplants above the mature one may not have enough time left…
Just for kicks, though, have a look at my turnip sprouts. The season will be long enough for them!
Turnips are another thing that, Like arugula, only the gardener is eating…
arlingwords 
I’ve never had an appreciation for turnips – it’s one of those shudder memories from my youth…….. The zinnias are wonderful – glorious autumnal colour! And yay for ridding yourself of rats even if only temporarily. You need a Pied Piper …… The green tomato could be fried I believe, like at the Whistle Stop Cafe 🙂 It’s something I’ve always wanted to try since seeing the movie in the early 90’s. Hope all else in your life is going well xo
LikeLiked by 2 people
Fried green tomatoes are yummy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes they are and who would have thought?
LikeLike
One day I shall try them……
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fried green tomatoes need a batter or a breading–kind of like onion rings. They’re delicious. If I have a lot of green tomatoes (and I may), I pickle them. I am in the midst of a kitchen redesign (my goodness it’s expensive!) and getting ready to visit my old college roommate and her husband. haven’t seen them for 10 years, though we’ve been in touch. Boy time gets away. I hope you’re having a lovely spring in NZ…
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are moving!! So glad to see stuff is happening 🙂 Kitchen redesigns can be very expensive – but they can also be done on a budget…… have fun! Weather was lovely but has reverted to blah for a bit and I have just received the most gorgeous basket of flowers as a late Birthday present from the lovely Laurie so am feeling very uplifted!! Enjoy your meeting with old friends – I hope it will be lots of fun!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m so excited to see your remodel. You know the old saw: It takes twice as long and costs twice as much, but you’ll be happy in the end.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope so. Costa un sacco! But just about anything I could do would be an improvement.
LikeLike
I remember you kitchen well. I think we walked through with you discussing the remodel. Will you bump out a wall, or work within the existing space? You’ll love it, now matter what you do.
LikeLike
I’m staying in the same space; probably with the same plan I described then–an L of cabinets and countertops, new floor, and new appliances, including my first microwave! Also a new overhead light. The design is really nice so far. I will have much much more cabinet space.
LikeLike
I’m glad you were able to harvest some crops from your garden – pests can be so disheartening. The zinnias look prolific!
We might get a frost tonight, which will end the peppers and basil. I tried to cover a few of the zinnias, as it is supposed to warm up again, fingers crossed! I’d be happy to get a few more weeks out of the flower bed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I hope you do! Frosts can be erratic, so let’s hope it misses you a bit longer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, I hope so!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think almost anything dipped in batter and fried is delicious…. How nice that you will be having a renewed kitchen. My kitchen is quite dated, but serviceable and easy to keep clean so I don’t think I’ll change it, now that I live alone and my former love of cooking has seriously diminished. The zinnias, of course, are wonderful. Here’s to looking at next year with renewed hope!
LikeLike
Yes, I was thinking you do to the fried green tomatoes what you might do to onion rings. Yum! My kitchen is pretty bad. Under-use of space, ancient appliances, wood-grain laminate counter tops with that brown seam the old ones had, and about 4 feet of counter space. So…after living with it for more than 25 years, I’m going for something better! It’s going to be nice to have a new one. Sometime late next spring, depending on when I get scheduled.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You go, girl!
LikeLike
What’s going is is my mad money account. I’m going to have to build that back up again…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sigh…isn’t that always the way…but at least you won’t be mad at your kitchen anymore.
LikeLike
Not mad, just …disgusted. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Lisa, nice to see you’re still enjoying your garden. We’ve had some cooler nights, but no frost as of yet. My baskets are still blooming but the flower beds look plenty tired. I need to get out there. I never know what to do with eggplant. I’ve had it at resturaunts and enjoyed it, Eggplant Parmesan. But I tried to make it at home one night and it ended up in the bin. What do you do with it? Enjoy Autumn, it’s been lovely here. xK
LikeLike
Eggplant is so yummy. The thing is it has to be thoroughly cooked to that creamy consistency. I use it in pasta sauce with tomatoes; slice it thinly and broil or grill it then marinate it in olive oil, lemon, garlic and basil for salad or appetizer (you can wrap it around cheese or meat), saute it chopped for a while and then toss in some other summer veggies to cook with it, and of course, there’s ratatouille and Asian versions of eggplant. I have made eggplant parmesan, but because you have to cook the eggplant first and that involves breading and frying, I don’t do that very often. They also bake up really nicely if you want to make baba ganouj or add the innards to a spicy eggplant tomato soup (add cumin and coriander–yummy). Now that should give you some ideas to research! I heard from a friends in Mass. and Ontario that it was supposed to frost last night. You’ll be next, no doubt!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well done, you farmer! And I love arugula too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations on winning this round of your ongoing battle with the rats. 🙂
LikeLike
I hope they stay gone. We have ripped out all their cover and cleared some overgrown untended gardens.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good luck! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the zinnias and the tomatoes. It looks as if your gardens picked up a bit
LikeLike
Thanks Derrick. I think it’s heading toward it’s winter rest…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jeez–I LOVE those zinnias! As you’ve probably figured, I’m more a flower gal than a veggie gal, but I’m glad for you, that you’re getting some payoff for your hard work.
LikeLike
The zinnias have definitely been the bright spot this year. Throw down some seed next year and see what you get! The rabbits do like the small plants, but you can cover them for a while.
LikeLike
So happy the rats are gone. They make me shudder. I’m hoping you are able to harvest more eggplants. They are so delicious straight from the garden.
LikeLike
Those two in the picture went into a squash, tomato, eggplant bake last night for dinner. They were yummy. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that the little ones get big enough to pick before frost.
LikeLike
My eggplants started really slowly this year, but came on strong in September. I roasted and froze a bunch (good on pizza) and also have some babies that I’m hoping will grow more before the frost. Peppers too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That sounds great. I have never roasted and frozen eggplant. Will have to try that. Good luck with the peppers! It’s that last bit of produce that rounds off the season.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your oregano looks very healthy – mine never grows as rampantly as that. Arugula- is that what we call Rocket? I’ve just bought a bag from the supermarket- I love it! Also, the zinnias are a picture.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup, in fact, in order to make sure it was spicy and nutty, I used English Rocket seeds!
LikeLike
Good to see that you were rewarded for your efforts. Zinnias have never been my favourite flowers but that photograph shows them off in a way I’d never pictured.
LikeLike
Lisa, I’m glad you finally got some tomatoes to call your own. I’ve never acquired a taste for eggplant, but it sure is beautiful. And your herbs!
I love the colorful zinnias. Will they last into the fall months? It’s all looking beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They’ll probably look good into October. In November, they’ll have to come out. It helps to cut flowers so they produce more, but by November, they’re pretty much done. I am thrilled with my tomatoes.
LikeLike
That was my strategy with the sweet peas, but here it was June when they said, enough, it’s too hot. But guess what, I already have a few volunteer vines starting to grow. Crazy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lisa, I am so happy that you were finally able to harvest some tomatoes and eggplant. You have really hung in there and at least one a battle over those rats!
I hope you’ll share photos of your kitchen remodel at some point.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s going to be while, but I could do before and afters! I am so glad to be getting a little produce.
LikeLike
man, that garden is flourishing, eh? I truly miss having a garden, living in a desert and in a high-rise just makes it impossible…love those tomatoes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Compensations include travel to very cool places, though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
always two sides to everything, eh
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, so delighted fall is showing its face! My favorite season of the year, and though the zinnias are beautiful, as you say, give me yellow mums and pumpkins any day 🙂 And I have to say, I love arugula too 😋
LikeLiked by 1 person
The only reason I don’t love fall is what comes after. But it has its good points!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay, I’ll give you that 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
It seems like an exhausting task to taste all that wine, professionally. or otherwise,
LikeLike
Hi Lisa – so lovely to see your garden just so full and sunny after the hard work a few months ago?
LikeLike
I’m slowly putting it to bed for winter now. Have no internet, so not posting new things until that gets fixed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fabulous. Nothing as satisfying as growing and picking and eating your own produce. All fresh all organic. Hard work, but well worth it. Great post.
Peta
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! and thanks for coming by.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your garden looks vibrant and vigorous still. Those zinnias are lovely, as are the tomatoes. And please throw some of them arugula over here! I love ’em.
LikeLike
I still have the arugula, but this blog was about a month ago. I’ve been having internet issues and haven’t posted. I’ve pulled out the peppers and eggplants and probably should get some of the green tomatoes before the predicted frost. Thankfully the flowers are still looking good! Thanks for coming by, Cynthia.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful images all. We have many eggplants here.
LikeLike
I have had to harvest them all now.
LikeLike
Glad to hear you are getting some veggies for yourself! We have all kinds of critters here that want their share. Our biggest problem is birds in the vineyard, followed by gophers.
LikeLike
All I have left now are some green tomatoes and some greens. I did plant some turnips that I should be able to eat in a few weeks, but I hope to put the garden to bed soon. Thanks for stopping by!
LikeLike