As we go through what seems to be the umpteenth round of record-breaking high temps, my focus is on prepping the garden beds for next spring. The soil needs to be turned and manure worked in. Crop rotation definitely has to be done, especially for the areas where the tomatoes grew. The harvest this year was okay despite the heat, and what few Cherokee Purples I got were beautiful and delicious as always. And like last summer, we were inundated with cucumbers!
Burrata, cukes and Cherokee Purple
As for the fruit harvest...a handful of grapes, some mirabelle plums and the 'nashi twins' that should be ready in a couple of weeks. Once again, the persimmon put out lots of flowers yet all but one of the developing green orbs remained on the tree. No visible problems with pest or disease, but for some reason the tree won't or can't keep from dropping young fruit.
Nashi twins
I grew several (not from seed) types of hot peppers this year but the aji amarillo was my pet project. Ever since I saw them as an ingredient in Peruvian cuisine, I wanted to grow and harvest some to use in cooking and for saving seed. The peppers are thick-walled, 4-5 inches long, and around 5/8-inch in diameter. An update is in the works when I get around to working with them.
Aji Amarillo
Today's high: 31°C / 88°F (yesterday almost 34°C!)
