It’s time once again for Harvest Monday, where we celebrate all things harvest related. The late summer harvests are still keeping me busy. The pole beans are still producing heavily and I have been freezing most of them. I’m growing almost all heirloom Appalachian beans which do very well in our area. They have strings, but the pods stay tender even after the beans inside have started to swell up. They also have outstanding flavor, which too often has been bred out of many of the modern varieties.
pole beans and tromboncino squash
It’s my first time growing Hickory Stick beans, but Bertie Best greasy beans and the Non-Tough Half Runner have been doing well for me for several years now. I’ve been getting two or three pounds with every picking, which adds up pretty quickly. I got almost ten pounds last week all total. Thankfully I don’t pick them every day though!
Hickory Stick beans
Bertie Best beans
Non-tough Half Runner beans
The eggplant is coming on too, with Dancer and several of the Asian types ready to harvest last week. It’s been a good year for eggplant and we have been enjoying it for sure.
Dancer eggplant
Asian eggplants
I’m finally getting ripe sweet peppers, plus a few of the mildly hot Aji Golden peppers. Sweetie Pie is a red mini bell and a 2017 AAS Winner that always does well for me. And Jimmy Nardello and Lemme’s Italian are two of my favorite of the red frying peppers.
Jimmy Nardello and Lemme’s Italian peppers
Aji Golden peppers
Sweetie Pie and Carmen peppers
I got four of the Thelma Sanders winter squashes, and that will be all for the year since the vines have died back. It’s one of my favorite acorn squashes, with a sweet and nutty flavor. The last of the winter squashes to harvest will be the neck pumpkins, and some of them will be ready soon.
Thelma Sanders squash
I got a few slicing tomatoes last week, including Chef’s Choice Yellow and a Big Beef. Tey aren’t the prettiest specimens but it’s been a Horrible year for the big fruited tomatoes, and I’ll take whatever I can get at this point.
Chef’s Choice Yellow tomatoes
In non-harvest news, we have had quite a few Monarch butterflies visiting the last few weeks. I saw one on the purple coneflowers and was able to get a photo before it flew away. I’ve also noticed several Sulfur butterflies and a couple of the small Skippers sampling our flowers lately.
Monarch butterfly
I hope you all are staying safe and healthy out there. Harvest Monday is a day to show off your harvests, how you are saving your harvest, or how you are using your harvest. If you have a harvest you want to share, add your name and blog link to Mr Linky below. And be sure and check out what everyone is harvesting!
Our beans haven’t really enjoyed the conditions this year. I like the look of the acorn squash.
I think sometimes we gardeners worry too much about how pretty our crops are, when all that matters is the taste. So I would be very satisfied if I got those Chef’s Choice tomatoes like yours. We’re seeing lots of Monarchs flitting through. They seem to like zinnias. But we have not seen any caterpillars yet, unlike past years.
Another wonderful harvest from you Dave. your right about the tomatoes though, our yield this year has been disappointing, as with most veg – still the joys of growing yoru own. Also envious of your Hickory Stick beans, Bertie Best greasy beans and the Non-Tough Half Runner as our beans are coming to an end.
So many beans! My pole beans were eaten off by a critter shortly after they broke the soil, and I never got around to replanting them. The same happened to a row of Jacob’s Cattle, but they grew back and gave me a small harvest. Agree, those tomatoes will taste just as delicious as “pretty” ones.
It’s great to see that Monarchs in your garden. I don’t think I’ve seen any in my garden this year, but I think there’s still a chance as the should come through on their migration to their overwintering sites on the coast nearby. The winter population here has been at record lows. So sad.
Your beans have such curious names! I wonder where they originated? And your harvests this week are very colourful.. that time of the year isn’t it? I miss seeing Monarchs on holiday as clearly not going anywhere, so enjoyed your pic even more for that
All my summer crops are removed except the squash and beds prepared for the cool season veggies. Late harvests are always appreciated even if their quality is suboptimal. I always have monarchs in my garden from early spring through the fall. We’ve seen the monarch sanctuary that Michelle speaks of.
I love the beans! While I’ve grown many dried beans, I haven’t branched out as much when it comes to green beans. Now that you mention that flavour has been bread out of a lot of varieties, I’m starting to wonder if I’ve ever had one with real flavour. I’ll have to try some of the varieties you mention to find out.