It’s the first Saturday in September, and it’s definitely beginning to feel as if autumn is just over the horizon. Local tv stations reported that the Farmers’ Almanac predicts we will have a longer, harsher winter so that may mean an earlier frost than usual. So, I’m trying to squeeze every bit of harvest out of the potager until it arrives. The larger tomatoes are becoming fewer. The “Parisian” cuke vines have been pulled, and there are fewer summer squash now as well. However, the melons are still coming on strong, as are the cherry tomatoes. Photo 1 is today’s harvest.
2) Despite the fact that summer has drawn to an end, there are still lots of things to look forward to, including this gorgeous pumpkin. I’ve pinched off all the growing ends of each vine to encourage it to ripen the pumpkins already there, rather than trying to set more fruit. I’ve done the same on the tomato plants.
3) I’m not sure which pumpkins these are, because they are plants that were leftover from the garden club plant sale, and someone pulled out the tags. I’m just happy that they are growing so well! Ends have been nipped on these as well.
4) These look more like pumpkins, but they are actually winter squash “Orange Magic,” which was the winner of our winter squash taste test a couple of years ago. They are really abundant this year.
5) This is the best crop of salsify, or vegetable oyster that I’ve grown in the potager. I’m hoping the white carrot-like roots are developing below the soil line. They will be harvested after a couple of frosts, but before the ground freezes, peeled, diced into pennies and turned into either “oyster stew” or slightly mashed and made into “crabcakes” and fried in butter. Both meals are a winter treat, and any excess cooked pennies can be frozen for later use.
6) Today’s bucket of flowers contains the last lisianthus, two types of celosia, gomphrena, the reblooming feverfew, zinnias, dahlias, sunflowers, rudbeckia, and Blue Bedder salvia. The number of flowers is dwindling since the sunflowers are nearly finished and the zinnias are getting smaller.
That’s my Six on Saturday for early September. If you’d like to see what other gardeners have going visit The Propagator, who hosts this meme.
herbalblessingsblog 
Fall’s nip is definitely in the air…and I love it! After many a sweltering and humid days and nights, it’s so wonderful to throw the windows open and breathe sweet fresh air.
You have been a busy gardener, Carolee. What a bountiful harvest. And I love, LOVE, love that summer’s end bouquet!
Thanks for sharing your six…need to get mine written and posted!
Cindie
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I’ll look forward to reading yours!
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I am picking blackberries and have a blanket at the bottom of the bed to pull up as needed so it is definitely Autumn here! Your harvests are amazing!
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Our blackberries are long gone, but I did add the folded afghan back on the sofa arm and a blanket at the bottom of the bed as well! The harvests have been bountiful this year. Plants are amazing! I’m wondering if maybe the lack of rain didn’t send them the message “You’d better reproduce a lot!” and maybe I just watered enough so they could? Whereas in the years when we have plenty of rain, they don’t produce as much (or maybe too many days the pollinators couldn’t work? or fewer days of sunshine?) and some rots from too much water? An interesting study could be made…..
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There are so many variables it is hard to know which is the most important. But interesting to try to tease them out.
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That all looks super impressive! š
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Thank you!
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