October is almost over, and it’s time for another harvest update from Happy Acres. The harvests are surely winding down here, and that is pretty much right on schedule for our garden. The tomatoes are done for, but I am still getting peppers and a few eggplants. It has been a great year for the summer veggies, and we have been well supplied for fresh use and for preserving. I also have a good supply of the Centercut neck pumpkins for our fall and winter use.
early October harvest
The harvest of hot peppers has slowed a bit but I’m getting plenty of them in now. I’ve made enough hot sauce to last me for a year or so, and I’ve pickled quite a few of them.
assortment of hot peppers
The sweet peppers have also done great this year, and we have enjoyed them for fresh eating. Cornito Rosso has been especially productive, as has the Pick-N-Pop which is a 2025 AAS Winner with bright yellow peppers.
sweet peppers and eggplant
The persimmons are just now beginning to ripen, and though they are not really pretty on the outside they are sweet and tasty inside. Our tree is the Nikita’s Gift variety, which is a cross between an Asian and a native persimmon.
Nikita’s Gift persimmons
I also made the first cutting of the fall greens this week. I enjoy using the Italian lacinato kale for soups, since it has great flavor and it holds up well for slow cooking.
lacinato kale
With frost in the forecast, it was time for the big sweet potato dig of 2026. Last week I dug 63 pounds of them in all, which was a big improvement over the 37 pounds I got last year. Unlike the ones you see in the grocery store which are graded, these come in all sizes and shapes. They will all be quite usable in the kitchen, and we will enjoy them throughout the months to come. They will need to cure for about a month before they are ready to eat. I’ll do a full recap on them later on.
sweet potato harvest
I’m a bit under the weather and fighting off a head cold virus right now, so that’s all I have to say for today. I’ll be back soon with more updates from Happy Acres!
