Just got done planting the garlic. This is our first go with garlic. Planted 75 big cloves. I read somewhere about planting the small cloves to use in the spring as garlic "scallions", so I've about a hundred of them, planted very close together.
I planted where the green beans came out, to utilize the nitrogen produced by the beans. Added some pelletized fish and a light layer of compost over all. Will mulch with chopped leaves and surround with wire mesh to keep the mulch in place during the winter.
I didn't work the soil at all, just opened a narrow trench, I was amazed at the number of small worms. We had three inches of rain over a three day period last week and it quit three days ago, yet the soil was perfect for planting. Loose and moist. This soil improvement stuff is amazing, as is the amount of stuff being produced in a small area.
I picked about a gallon of Empress green beans from a 3'x3' test plot. No rust, spots or any signs of damage. Beautiful beans. I planted them in late summer from seed saved from the spring planting. As I usually don't, I didn't write down when I planted, being sure that I would remember when I did plant. I'm planning on covering the beans with a large cardboard box when frost comes to see how long I can extend harvest. We haven't had a frost yet, which is unusual as hell here in northern MO. Average first *freeze* date is 11 Oct.
The peppers are *still* producing heavily. I picked nineteen fully ripe Golden Marconis from the two plants in a pot. I think I am going to bring them in when frost is expected, could happen tomorrow nite. I'll strip the other peppers of all fruit and freeze them when it frosts.
The Miniature White cukes finally gave up and died. I planted them around the beginning of August just to see what they would do. Had a fair crop. Tasted darn good, as the other cukes gave up long ago.
It's been a good year, for learning *and* unlearning many things. Thanks ya'll.