It’s time once again for Harvest Monday, where we celebrate all things harvest related. I am feeling much better, after recovering from a summer cold bug I picked up recently. It was rather mild, all things considered. I didn’t do a lot of cooking last week though, as my wife was in Alabama dealing with the passing of her sister. She is home now, and hopefully our normal routine will resume as best it can. The harvests continue though, and it is still very much squash season here. I’m filling up the freezer with extras, and we’re eating it as often as possible.
assorted squashes
squash and cabbage
I got another pickling cucumber, which will be just enough to make another batch of garlicky dill pickle kraut. That and the Fermented Curtido are two of my favorite cabbage based krauts. I try and make several jars of those two each season, and they keep for at least a year when refrigerated.
Excelsior cucumber
And speaking of the Curtido, I got two more ripe Pot-a-peno peppers last week to spice up a batch of the kraut. One hot pepper is usually more than enough to add zip and flavor to the ferment, which is mostly cabbage.
Pot-a-peno peppers
curtido ingredients
I cut the first of the Jacaranda broccoli last week. The heads were a bit loose, which is not surprising given they matured in very hot and humid conditions. The eating quality is fine however, and it has made a nice addition to our lineup of broccoli varieties.
Jacaranda broccoli
The container eggplants are keeping us well supplied too. Fairy Tale, Gretel and Icicle all showed up in meals last week. We used a few for an eggplant sandwich I made for dinner last night.
eggplant harvest
I got the first acorn squashes last week, one each of Goldilocks and Starry Night. Neither plant seems to be very productive this year, but I’m sure we will enjoying eating whatever we get. The Centercut squash vines are loaded as usual though.
mixed harvest with first acorn squashes
The greenhouse cucumbers are managing the heat, producing enough to satisfy our needs. Nokya and Mini Munch are doing well at the moment as I wait for other to join in the harvests. I made some Quick Refrigerator Pickles with most of these last week.
Nokya and Mini Munch cucumbers
In non-harvest news, I was pleasantly surprised to see our resident bluebird pair had built a 4th nest for the year. I’ve been hosting bluebirds for almost 40 years now and it’s the first time I can remember seeing 4 nests! #1 had 4 eggs and the next two had 6 eggs each. It brings joy to my heart every time I see or hear a bluebird.
bluebird nest #4
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 please check out what everyone is harvesting!
The weather here is terrible and the climbing squash have had quite a battering from high winds for 3 days but on the plus side we’ve had more rain this July than we usually have in Autumn, so the lawn is looking lush!
Sorry that you have been unwell and condolences for the loss of your sister in law.
We are having a courgette glut. Two of our neighbours have had a bucketful each. I’d enjoy the curtido before it fermented as we aren’t fans of fermented cabbage. Thise bluebirds really are prolific!
Wow, four broods from your bluebirds is impressive! They must really love each other, haha. We’re lucky if we get two. Your harvests are looking good. I see that you don’t shred the cabbage for the kraut?
I do a coarse chop on the cabbage, cutting it into bite size pieces. They shrink a bit after fermenting too.