Our pumpkin/winter squash harvest is almost complete. So far, 33 pumpkins, 22 spaghetti squash, 10 other winter squash. Even though it was cold, it was a pretty good year for squash and pumpkins. Countless summer squash that we didn't count or gave a way too.
We have tomatoes coming out of our ears but they are a juice variety, not so tasty. The super tasty ones we ate as fast as they ripened. Didn't dry or can. Potatoes did amazingly well. Pickled and froze beans. No squash to speak of. It's ok. I have a hard, lighted, foam pumpkin for halloween . I use it every year when kids not around. Plenty of my favorite weeds.
We usually try to grow enough jack-o-lantern pumpkins so that each Alaska grandchild can carve one. Other than that, we grow pie pumpkins and naked seed ones for pepitas. We have fake ones for decoration as well. We don't get trick-or-treaters here since we have been so far out in the boonies, but development is catching us since Covid, so that may change. We have a long, scary driveway through the woods though....
No squash of any kind did well this year. Weird weather. And now There is one lone female bud on the end of hubby's pumpkin vine. No male in sight. Unrequited love. and there's now way it could mature anyway at this late date. Daughter just showed up with a bag of honey mushrooms. The wet and cool has given a little bit of help in the area of mushrooms after this weird year.
We have not had a decent garden in a few years now, I stopped working in it and jake has been busy on vehicles, boat. I want to at least plant some greens soon.
I think I saw @Jake Smith refer to starting veggies for winter in the greenhouse, though. We grow very little between now and March except bedding plants here.
Yes he did but that may be wishful thinking on his part, or at least put off a few weeks.He has so much he wants to do in next few weeks.
I am very excited by a tomato we have. Got the first few about three years ago and they grow true every year. I saved a lot of seeds this year and intend to corner the market. I don't know what kind they are but are very flavorful, meaty and few seeds (which makes seed saving difficult ) But I have little seed starters and can't wait till February.
That is great Mary, we may plant a couple this year although its late, but we are still cleaning up from the hurricane here. I was cutting vines off fence today. But we do want to at least plant the one raised bed.
You did, and I will after redoing the greenhouse, I will buy some transplants, and start some seeds too. I was listing my projects on my list to do, on my thread, of things I will do next. That kind of helps motivate me more, and I feel better after they are done. The porch is done, and the kitchen is too, I put those up, and it took a while to do, but I did get it done. The van and truck still going, I have to tint the van windows I put that up the same day. Still have a couple of big trees to get off the fence, a deer jumped one of them today while we were going around the trail and then jumped the fence too. Glad it wasn't hurt like the last one who broke her neck trying to get away from us. Not trying to be wise, or write a long story, but did see it mentioned a few times, so trying to clear things up.
Also, @Don Alaska, to further answer you, here we usually only go down to mid-30s, and in the greenhouse, if you stay between 60 to 80 or so vegetables grow quite well here year-round. We have a few times in the teens and that's when heating is a challenge or when the greenhouse gets too hot above 85 degrees you have to open it and use fans to cool it.
When I lived in the deep south, I just grew cabbage or kale if I grew anything. I had no greenhouse, and I was somewhat happy to get a break from the heat.
I take it you save your seeds, @Mary Stetler. Good for you! I have been doing that for many years as well, especially tomatoes and peppers, since they are so easy to save. I have done some squash and peas too, but squash is a hassle, and I am lazy, so.... We have developed a couple of our own varieties of peppers here, but the tomatoes are just kept year-to-year.