Fall is now here and it’s been a really hot one here in the Bay Area. I’m not complaining though, because my peppers, eggplants and tomatoes are doing extremely well in this heat.

All the indoor seeds have now been transplanted into the SFG boxes and I have thinned them out to give the existing ones all the resources and a chance to flourish. I also took the time to thin out branches that clearly won’t yield anything this year. This too will focus the sun and water only on those crops that are almost ready to bear harvest.

The radishes and carrots in the pots are both doing well. I think in just a matter of 2-3 weeks, the radishes will be ready for harvest.

A nice, gardening coworker of mine gave me some spaghetti squash seeds to plant next year during the Spring. Looking forward to trying that.

The other new thing I’ll try growing next year is watermelon. I found some seemingly good seeds (first time) and will follow their instructions next Spring.

Box 1

Tomatoes

Box 2

Eggplants and bell peppers

Box 3

Brussels sprouts and spinach

Box 4

Beets and cabbage

Box 5

Basil, artichoke and cowpeas

Tobia and I put up poultry wire around the three boxes that are growing from seed. Because the squirrels get into the boxes and dig them up, seeds will never make it without this protection. I have transplanted broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and brussels sprouts into the boxes for the fall. I used the compost I’ve been making for the last two months to mulch the soil before planting these. I also added beets and spinach, from seed, to grow this fall.

To make room for all of this, we harvested all of the swiss chard and lettuce. Tobia sautéd probably 400 chard leaves for an enormous batch, and the lettuce we divided among ourselves and our families.

I’m still hoping the tomatoes, eggplants and peppers benefit from our California sun to yield something in a month’s time.

Independent of the Square Foot Garden boxes, I’ve planted carrots and radishes in separate pots we bought recently. The quick to harvest radishes are already visibly sprouting.

I’m excited to see how the fall crops do and am also starting to think about how to try to extend the season through winter.

Box 1

Tomatoes

Box 2

Eggplants and bell peppers

Box 3

Brussels sprouts and spinach

Box 4

Last of the lettuce

Box 5

Basil, artichoke and cowpeas

The tomatoes are getting nice and big now. Unfortunately they’re still green so we can’t eat them yet, but I’m excited at the thought. I just need the heat to hold up a little longer. The peppers and eggplants are flowering right now, I still don’t think they’ll make it this year.

We harvested all the beets and green beans from the middle box. I took the green beans for lunch at work along with some beets and enjoyed those. The box is now empty and the squirrels are having their way with it. I’m hoping to cover the box with the poultry wire I bought. The broccoli and cauliflower will likely make their way into this box
soon.

The swiss chard and lettuce are well overdue in terms of harvesting. I regret not picking those and eating them earlier. They are both significantly more bitter now, but hopefully cooking, at least the chard, will make it edible. Once that box is freed up, I’ll likely put the cabbage and brussels sprouts in there.

The last box contains fabulous smelling basil that I chop up every so often to enhance my tomato salad. The cowpeas should soon be ready for consumption.

Box 1

Tomatoes

Box 2

Eggplants and bell peppers

Box 3

Green beans and beets

Box 4

Swiss chard, lettuce and mesculun

Box 5

Chives, basil, onions, cucumber, artichoke, bell peppers and cowpeas