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October 19, 2023

As I have been harvesting the last of my vegetables this last week, I have been dislodging the baren plants and throwing them over the patio fence.  That allows me to come along later with my mower and mulch them into the ground.  I mentioned earlier how I had harvested my last batch of jalapeño peppers (Capsicum annuum) and four of my Arkansas Traveler (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Arkansas Traveler’) tomatoes.  I did leave two of the travelers with larger green tomatoes on the vine as there is a chance for weather in the mid-70’sF (23 C) this week.  Several have now started to turn red, so it is just a race to see if the weather can ripen the last few tomatoes on my two vines before the cold shuts them down.  I only grow a limited variety of vegetables, but I am considering increasing the types next year.  That made me wonder when produce ripens in Arkansas and what are the last crops available.  

When I looked online, I found there are several types of Arkansas crops that are harvested in October.  This marks the end of the season for fruit trees like apples and Asian pears.  Second crops of greens (generic for edible plant leaves), along with broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) can last into November, weather permitting.  A variety of species of gourds (family Cucurbitaceae; pumpkins, squash, and watermelons), along with my tomatoes all tap out as the last of the warm days leave and the plants succumb to the cold.   I had mentioned how the various herbs can be grown and harvested from April through October, and if they are in a transportable container (and cared for) can be moved inside and last throughout the winter.

Thoughts:  I had started this year’s planting season with high hopes (again).  I planned to plant several new varieties of vegetables along with my usual tomatoes and potatoes.  Life got in the way at the beginning of planting season and my expectations fell short.  Now that I have harvested the last of my crops, I have reflected on the fact that if this was subsistence farming, I would be in for a bad winter.  My grandmother used to have a large vegetable garden (1/2 ac/0.2 ha) where she grew the vegetables to be canned and preserved for the winter.  I heard grandfather told her if she would allow him to grow wheat on the garden space, she could afford to buy what she needed from the produce store in town.  While I am not there yet (nor have the amount of land) it is not far from my own reality.  Still, I am committed to try and reduce my carbon footprint.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.