Tomorrow, Thurs Sept 22, is the beginning of Fall, or Autumn as we called it in the UK and SA. Time to take stock of what’s growing.
Apple production is ending and the Anna, top left, and Ein Shemer, top right, are almost all gone. It has been a good 2.5 months of apple eating since the Pristine became available early July.
Although the Asian pear is almost done, the other pears are still turning out large, sweet pears and as long as we cut out the bad bits, they are a treat. M. is concerned to see occasional worms emerge from our greens and fruits. She agrees such travelers are never seen in store bought produce and I think she buys in, reluctantly, to my suggestion that if the store bought stuff is so toxicated that the little guys abhor it, why should we big guys be so keen to eat the stuff. It is pleasant indeed to pick breakfast and lunch fresh from the trees and growing beds. And I enjoy eating the fruit with the skin, which I will not do with store bought fruit.
The cooler weather and recent rains have bolstered the greens.
And there is little pest or disease pressure.
I am having difficulty with rabbit(s) which nail my pea seedlings shortly after they emerge. I am designing an enclosure which I will 3D print which admits sufficient sunlight, rain and air, is well anchored from rabbit nose nudges, and provides adequate protection. In the meantime I keep trying.
And since my rainwater tanks are well filled and it is cooler, I am transitioning more raised beds from fallow to production. First stop is the compost heap.
And here is the bed I just seeded.
If the lettuce does not survive the rabbit I shall have to enclose the bed or trap the rabbit.
We have been enjoying water melons and cantaloupe though some were picked too early. It is a dicy business judging when to pick – leave it a few days too late and someone else burrows into the sweet flesh.
