The summer and heat have held out late this year, we’re still getting close to 80 degrees here in the Bay Area. Though it’s really hot for me, the tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and cowpeas have really blossomed well.

Heirloom tomatoes

I’ve been eating my tomatoes for a couple days now. I’ve just plucked almost 20 more from the vine over the last day or so. I’m really enjoying the fresh taste of vine tomatoes.

Eggplants, green pepper, basil and tomatoes

I’ve also been able to pick off close to 10 eggplants, which, along with a green pepper, got cooked for lunch today.

And finally I pulled off the cowpea pods this evening for what looks like at least a meal’s worth of black eyed peas. This all came out from 1 square from the square foot garden.

Cowpeas

I am extremely happy!

Despite the late summer start, no indoor seeding, and a whole bunch of mistakes along the way, I still get to enjoy a reasonable summer harvest.

Square Foot Gardening has been great, hopefully the fall crops will make it too.

To my surprise, the tomatoes are turning red. I picked 6 tomatoes from the bush today and had 3 for dinner. They’re getting redder and sweeter. The green peppers are also growing nicely, one of which is almost ready to be eaten. Eggplants, too, continue to grow and hopefully we can make some lunches out of those this week.

I’ve spent a lot of time thinning out each square, making sure each crop has all the sufficient resources to grow large. The beets in particular, this time around, look promising and will hopefully turn out nice and big.

The squirrels managed to hop over the fences we put up on some of the boxes and terrorized some of the crops in there. It’s so despairing to see that happen. We’ll probably put a roof top on the boxes now to completely keep those bastards out.

The transplants have been growing nicely. The brussels sprouts, in particular, are becoming sturdier as their stems are thickening.

Radishes

Carrots

The cowpeas are drying out and should be cracking open soon, at which point they will be ready for harvesting. We’ll take those and soak them in water in hopes of getting them to puff out and eat.

The radishes in the front are doing quite well. I expect them to be done in a couple of weeks. The carrots are coming along nicely too.

And finally, I planted some parsley, which can grow in any season.

Box 1

Tomatoes

Box 2

Eggplants and bell peppers

Box 3

Brussels sprouts and spinach

Box 4

Beets and cabbage

Box 5

Broccoli, cauliflower, basil, artichoke and cowpeas