You can see that the only growth left in either garden at the end of October were my very own Tabasco and Habanero Pepper plants. I harvested what I could after the second frost began visibly damaging the leaves and fruit. Certainly enough peppers left to create one last batch of hot sauce. The last of the Ho Chi Minh peppers are on trial to see if they can be preserved like Cayennes by drying out in the kitchen.
That is a variation of Thyme hanging in-between.
I also chopped and froze the last of the Hot Portugal peppers. They were among my favorite discoveries this year. I am saving seeds of the Red Habanero, New Mexico Chimayo, Ho Chi Minh, Hot Portugal, Bhut Jolokia, and Tabasco. I am excited to see what kind of combinations arise from the soil next season. But for now, I am basking in hot sauces like Golden Habanero and Ginger Tabasco as well as our hot salsa. Despite my efforts to stunt and destroy my peppers early this season, they have still graced me with a substantial harvest.
My first significant season with focusing on Tomatoes went relatively well. A few of them were mildly affected by the fungus that destroyed some of my pepper plants - which is now only a concern regarding plant rotation next year. Tomatoes should never follow peppers and peppers should never follow tomatoes. Regardless, tomato production was good, and we estimated harvesting between 50-75 pounds. In a good season, I believe we could produce 100 pounds.
We were also fortunate to have (and appreciate) many spiders and praying mantises during the mid and late season. Fungus was a problem, but pests were not. We always have spiders, but I am hoping that whatever drew the mantises to our area will draw them back next year. I saw at least one mantis egg sack in our herbs - and carefully moved it to a safe location during our clean-up activities.
It's all over now. And all things considered, it was a short(er than normal) season because of the cold and wet of May/June - but it came with several lessons for the garden and for life. For that, we are grateful.
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Autumn
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