Duck, Duck, Duck, Gooseneck!

I've grown crookneck/gooseneck summer squash for the past eight years because they taste great and, as you can see from the photo above, they have a really interesting appearance that sets them apart from other squash varieties. By the way, the last squash on the right is of the papaya-pear variety.

They're Called What?

These are papaya-pear squash. I grew them for the first time this year. Just two plants; but each flourished in their individual 18 gallon plastic containers. The yield was good. They tasted great sautéed with green onions(also pictured here), sweet peppers and diced jalapeños. They're also good in soups, casseroles and stir fry dishes, like most other summer squash. And they make great pickles too. I can't wait to grow more of them next season!

Definitely NOT Coming To A Supermarket Near You-Part II

The pineapple tomato is an heirloom variety that takes more than 100 days to mature. Each fruit can grow to be several pounds in weight and often has large, odd shaped lobes. In addition, they have skins so fragile that transporting them over long distances isn't an option. So why bother growing them? The flavor is sublime, slightly sweet and really does hint at pineapple. If you're the type of person who doesn't like tomatoes because of their acidic taste, you should try these. A local farmer's market is your best bet. Or better yet, make plans now for growing some in your own garden next season.

Abbondanza!

It's been a good year and the Carnival squash plants outdid themselves. We'll have the delicious fruits of their labor to enjoy all winter long.

Racing With Jack Frost

It's October and in this part of the country we know that it will soon be time for the first killing frost. But that doesn't mean there isn't time for one more batch of green onions to reach their flavorful best. These are being grown in a recycled pot that was tossed out as refuse. Yeah, some call me cheap( I prefer to be called frugal), but I'm a tasty sort of cheap.

Definitely NOT Coming To A Supermarket Near You

Do not attempt to adjust your computer monitor. There is nothing wrong. Mother Nature is in control. She will control the vertical. She will control the horizontal. And she will determine the hue of her vegetables as she presents the white beefsteak heirloom tomato.

Peter Piper Picked A Peck Of Purple Peppers

These are my purple potted peppers(try saying that 10 times fast). Last year I grew them as separate plants in small pots, but this season I have six plants in a single Earthbox. Either way they seem quite happy and prolific. Just further proof that you don't need much space to cultivate nature's bounty. You can find the seeds for these purple beauties online. And before anyone asks, I don't own the companies the links point to, nor do I get a commission. I just want to share some of what has worked for me with others. Enjoy!

Squash- Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combination

The countless varieties of squash make it one of the most interesting vegetables to grow. Here we have two examples, Carnival(L) and Bush Delicata.

Sabroso!

Like many peppers, jalapeños don't need much to be happy; a modest sized pot(the one pictured is about 2 gallons in capacity), old bucket or other re-purposed container filled with potting soil and composted material(or your favorite organic fertilizer), ample water, warm weather and sunshine are enough to produce a healthy plant that will help add some spice to your food and your life. Ay, que rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrico!

A Ton of Tomatoes

The first large, ripe tomato of the season was of the Oregon Spring variety. It was soon followed by many others. So what do you do when you suddenly have a plethora of tomatoes?

Make fresh tomato pizza!

Tasty Gold

This year I decided to grow six different types of tomatoes. The ones pictured above are called Canary cherry tomatoes and they can be grown in small pots. This is the second year I have grown them. You know they are ripe when they turn a deep golden color. And they taste as good as they look!

If At First You Don't Succeed......

Last year, I tried to grow Lakota squash for the first time, but as soon as the squash started forming, something attacked the plants(my guess is squash bugs) and I was left with nothing but material suitable for the compost pile. As you can see, this year things have worked out better.

Going Green Again

It's been a good year in the garden so far. I grew three cabbages to a nice size in plastic wastepaper baskets that I bought at a local hardware store. Each basket was slightly damaged with a little bit of plastic broken off on the top at the rim. This "defect" put them on sale for 25 cents each. I think I got my money's worth, don't you?