Fall Plants and a Few Eggplants are all That is Left to Harvest

This past week it has been getting cooler and some cold fall temperatures should be arriving before the week is over. Fall temps are now here and it is time to slowly close down the garden. I still have fall plants such as broccoli, kale, celery, and brussel sprouts that I will continue to care for and harvest. I even have a few eggplants that will be picked very shortly. For the most part the gardening season is coming to an end for this year.

I have three eggplant plants with only two that are growing a second batch of eggplants. These are not as big as the first harvest, but a couple of them are still a good size to make a delicious meal out of them. One plant has about three and the second plant has only a couple.

I have been harvesting my broccoli practically the whole season once I cut off the center head. Two plants have survived and they have been generating plenty of broccoli. I have already made a couple of broccoli and cheddar soups this year and I am planning on making more as long as they keep producing.

On the other hand I have not started harvesting my kale, brussel sprouts, or celery. Both my celery and brussel sprouts were planted in the spring and so far they have been able to survive through the hot and humid summer weather. Now that it is the fall this cool weather should definitely help them in growing healthier and possibly be ready for some harvesting.

My kale is the only thing that I planted this year for the fall season. All the other fall crops were planted in the spring and have lasted all the way to the fall. I have several plants that are just about ready for harvesting, but I am going to wait another week or so before I start cutting off leaves. These will be perfect to store for the winter and make some hot kale soup out of them especially during those cold winter months.

I still have carrots that need to be removed from the garden as well, but that will happen later in the year. I will also begin placing straw on my strawberries before the season is over and to protect them from frost and freezing conditions. Next year I should have at least a descent harvest as long as I place a net over my berries to prevent birds and even chipmunks from stealing my berries.

There are still a few strawberry plants that I need to move so that I will have four to five rows at the most.  I have added runner plants in-between each plant in order to fill in spaces throughout the rows.

I was deciding whether or not to add plants to create more than five rows, but I will see what happens next year and if there is space for this many plants.