I’m still grasping firmly to summer as if it will never go away, but the fact of the matter is the seasons are changing. It’s a lot more comfortable to hang out in my apartment than it was a month ago, and there’s a tree on my street that persists in changing its leaves to yellow. Football season is underway (Go Hawkeyes!) and there’s actually a night this week where the temperatures are forecast to get down to 34 degrees.
In the garden, I’m trying to make a bunch of educated decisions, but I have a hard time ruthlessly ripping up plants. It just seems unfair not to give them another chance. And another. And another. Usually it requires full-on, total plant death to prod me to actually make a final call. I guess I just like to let the plants decide instead of me.
I had, however, decided to rip up the bean plants. They’re all raggedy and chewed-upon, some by bugs, some by animals, and while I did get at least two lovely harvests off them, and still occasionally get a bean or two to snack on, I had pretty much decided they were done.
And then I went out expressly to yank them, and found several plants with bean flowers on them. Now, logically, I know that there is no way these bean plants are going to make it from flower to bean before it starts to get too cold for them. But I have a soft spot in my heart for plants that are still flowering, and therefore, I caved.
The bean plants get to stay. For now. But if the flowers drop off or disappear, that’s it for the season.
on Sep 11th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
Don’t be too hasty there. I’ve planted Kentucky Wonder beans in late August and picked beans almost to Thanksgiving. Last year I was picking the last of them in a snow fall.
on Sep 11th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
I’m ready to be ruthless with what I have left. How quickly I tire of something… I’m ready to start planning my raised beds and plantings for next year. I should really stop and enjoy what’s left of this season first.
on Sep 11th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Steven, I’m not relishing picking things in snowfalls, but I’ll do it, if need be…
Libby, yeah, I’m not quite ready to dump the season yet!
on Sep 11th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
I think your beans have been talking to my tomatoes!
on Sep 11th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
You remind me of me. I don’t pull out or throw out plants as often as I should.
on Sep 11th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Of all the veggies that I’ve been growing this year, I think that the beans are the quickest from bloom to harvest. But maybe that’s because there are so many blooms I don’t seem to notice the beans until they’re almost too big! I know, nice problem to have.
on Sep 12th, 2007 at 6:17 am
Michelle, are your tomatoes blooming again?
Chigiy, it’s hard to make the call, isn’t it?
Heather, that’s definitely a nice problem to have!
on Sep 12th, 2007 at 11:31 am
good luck with the green beans.. I have had students refuse to pull them out of the ground. I am amazed by my cucumbers. I don’t remember plants being productive into September????
on Sep 12th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
Wayne, you still have cukes? That’s amazing!
on Sep 13th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
I was heartbroken a couple weeks ago. I went to mow off my cantaloupe vines since I couldnt find anymore cantaloupes. I mowed over 2 nearly ripe melons! arggh. And this is the first year I have ever managed to grow melons.
on Sep 14th, 2007 at 7:26 am
Jenjen, oh no! That’s tragic!
on Sep 25th, 2007 at 10:57 pm
[...] 2007 Comments , Status check , Vegetables Apparently Steven’s comment was right—there are many more beans to come. I harvested another handful this week, and they are destined for some good eatin’, although I [...]