In this issue:
- October in the Garden – Loving Fall
- Video: Harvest & Store Winter Squash for Storage
- Gardenerd Tip of the Month: Pumpkin Recipes
- Gardenerd Product of the Month: NEW! High Yield Small Space Organic Gardening
1. October in the Garden – Loving Fall
On a road trip around the Southwest last month, we drove through hills covered in aspen trees as they were changing colors. Bright golds and yellows reflected sunlight, and shimmered with the first signs of fall. It made me want to see more of this seasonal change around me. Do you get fall color where you live? What trees near you lose their leaves and draw their energy inward? For us, it’s Liquidamber, sycamore, ginko, and of course, our fruit trees like pomegranates and stone fruits.
But right now in the Gardenerd Test Garden, pomegranates are turning bright red, and citrus tree fruits are just starting to lighten in color. We’re planting seeds for root veggies, cover crops (shelling peas), and salad greens. And we moved brassicas up to 4″ pots, that eventually will go out to their awaiting beds. It’s time to carve those pumpkins and toast the seeds. Our favorite recipes is in this blog post here.
This newsletter is pumpkin forward. In it we share recipes for those pumpkins, and how to cure and store them for winter.
Happy gardening,
Christy
2. Video: How to Harvest & Cure Winter Squash for Storage
Cure your winter squash for storage so they will last through the season. It’s easy to do. Watch this video.
YouTube: Harvest & Cure Winter Squash for Storage
If you don’t have a basement, you can still cure squash for winter storage. Christy helps you know when it’s ready to store and which squashes should be used sooner rather than later.
3. Gardenerd Tip of the Month – Pumpkin Recipes
We love adding pumpkins of all sorts into recipes in the fall. They puree well for pies and baked goods, they thicken soups and stews, and they caramelize in the oven beautifully. Here are some of our favorites for your pumpkin harvest.
Spicy Roasted Pumpkin Wedges
Warm the house with the scent of spices in the oven.
Mini Pumpkin Sage Balls –
A great appetizer or snack on a chilly day.
Pumpkin Puree
Make this now and freeze it for later use around the holidays.
and of course…Pumpkin Bread
Scroll down in the post to find a delicious recipe that makes 3 generous loaves. Freeze some for unexpected company, or last minute gifts for the holidays.
4. Gardenerd Product of the Month – NEW! High Yield Small Space Organic Gardening
Christy’s new book is getting 5-star reviews! Here’s what critics are saying about it:
From The Gardenangelists, Carol Michel and Dee Nash:
“If you want a garden at your home and you don’t have a lot of space, [the book] has tons of ideas for how to make a really nice garden…There’s a ton of good information in here; [the author] really knows her stuff.”
From Helen Yoest, Bee Better Naturally:
As a dedicated organic gardener for wildlife and food, I was impressed by how [the author] could succinctly pack in so much information. High Yield, Small Space Organic Gardening will be all you need if you are new to organic gardening.”
Get your copy at your favorite bookseller, or order an autographed copy for the gardenerd in your life (even if that’s you!).
Stay tuned for more tips and tidbits from Gardenerd.com. We hope you are loving fall as much as we are, whether you are tucking the garden away from winter, or just getting started for the season.
Search our archives here.