The lone pepper

For some reason I only got one pepper from my yellow bell pepper plant (it turned out more orange). I picked it, moved the plant to a sunnier spot, and ta-da! I have lots of baby bell peppers growing now. Only problem is we're going to get our first frost in a week or two...

After months and months of doing absolutely nothing, the jalapeno plant is finally producing. I've got... wait for it... one pepper

I've heard jalapenos like dry conditions, which is a bummer because I've been so faithfully watering it all summer. Oh well. Such is gardening... such is life...

Time for tomatoes!

I have two heirloom tomato plants growing in the garden - an Early Girl and a Cherokee Purple (yes, purple).

Now, I know what you're thinking - purple tomatoes?! But hey, that's part of the fun of growing your own food, you get to experience varieties you wouldn't normally find at the grocery store. 

These little beauties are the sweetest tomatoes I've ever tasted.

They're more purple in real life...

I also have a Cherry 100 growing in the Topsy Turvy. I practically killed this one early in the season (it went through several snowstorms and freezes) but it's amazing how well it's doing. There's nothing better than a hot, ripe, juicy tomato right off the vine....

One big problem I've encountered is tomato blight.. aka slow, painful death. They're still pumping out lots of tomatoes though (if not a little on the small side)...

I did also spot blossom end rot on one of my early girls. Just one, thankfully.

After more than three months of waiting, I now get to savor these amazing fruits. I'm also finding creative ways to use them every day - like tomato and goat cheese appetizers on crusty italian bread. 

 This one looks more purple than in the previous picture

Digging for buried treasure

Or potatoes rather.

It's strangely satisfying, plowing into the dirt with a large shovel, uncovering these little jewels. I've dug up the area a couple of times and I keep finding more of them!

 I just have to point out the peanut-shaped one on the end

Although I wish many of them had grown bigger, the quarter-sized ones will work perfectly in soups and stews (no slicing required). A couple of factors I think contributed to the overall smaller size:

*not enough consistent sunlight

*soil wasn't deep/loose enough

*probably would have been good to add some phosphorous since my soil is very nitrogen-heavy

Considering all my folly, the harvest wasn't too bad. Potato soup anyone?