First Frost Strikes - Wipes Out 90% of Garden

8 months ago
5

On review, the deep green of many vines LOOK good but closer squints show all are mostly toast, limp wet defrosting rags that won't recover. Posting this the next morning ... 28 was probably enough to finish it off except for a few that may or may not mean anything. Issue is a lot of late season blooms and greenies that could double the yield if had another couple weeks. Which is foolish to hope for in October.
1. As forecast shows, temps bounce back quick. Perhaps a few have time.
2. First 14 pumpkins went to market / targeted gifts the day before. As many or more orange ones outside were not damaged. IF they can stay on the vine, they can get bigger and intent was a rolling supply up to Halloween. Some may still be viable on vines or if not, frost is the normal harvest trigger.
-- Unless too young, MOST already formed greenies will ripen to orange off the vine.
-- Same with the winter squash. 80% harvested day before; those on vine only develop harder skins or will be taken if support vines are toast.
3. Corn could care less in their sheaths. All mature. Overwhelmed as it is; cobs on stalks need to be taken by next week or will have a lot of seed stock and/or treats for cattle (if appropriate).
4. Beefsteak tomato plant at season end anyway. Good job; drying out now with a dozen tiny late bloomers and looks EXHAUSTED.
5. San Marzanos got hit pretty bad despite cover. May straggle on but again, another mutant yield so far and already beyond expectations.
6. #3 tomato plant hit as well; jury out but plant looks dense. A little behind the others as came up from seed but beginning to produce and will continue if not finished off by last night.
7. NWS monitoring station is over 10 miles away near Ashland. Local high temps are usually spot-on but lows are generally 5 to as much as 10 degrees cooler than forecast stated for zip code.
Thus normal weather events; not ungrateful as overall expectations were exceeded in all areas and the only mistakes, regrets and losses (except some low pollenization in early corn) were those from my learning curve errors.

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