Tuesday, October 13, 2009

SPT—Next Year

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I tend to think of gardens in pairs—strawberries and spinach, followed by beans and zucchini, followed by tomatoes and peppers, ending with squash and apples. I enjoy each thing while it’s producing but also look forward to the next thing. Except for winter squash. I look forward to it from the very beginning.

This summer I planted the squash too close to everything. When they started to take over the raspberries I ignored them. When they started to take over the beans I ignored them. When they started to take over the peppers and tomatoes I tried to contain them. They out-willed me and I gave in. Since we haven’t had a good crop of squash for a few years, like an indulging mother, I let them go and go and go and trample everything. I’ve been waiting for the first frost to nip and set their sugars. Last weekend while we were gone the first frost came. It wasn’t mild, it was a killer below 20. All those squash that I let have complete run of the garden were ruined.


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Not to be completely outdone by a frost, we bought a few at a vegetable stand. They were pretty. They were lovely. They were colorful. They rode safely in the back of the pickup through Idaho and Utah and back through Idaho. But, they did not ride safely through Montana. It was near zero temperatures and those squash froze as badly in the back of the pick up as the ones did in the garden.

Next year I won’t pamper the squash and let it run the garden. Next year I’ll put the squash in the front of the pick-up. Next year . . .

11 comments:

Cassidy said...

Oh I love a good garden. Someday I'll have one. You can't plant one here, did you know that? Or at least not in the ground. The ground is too toxic. Nice, eh?

Deidra said...

So sad. I love winter squash, too. Sometimes I prefer a piece of squash with butter and brown sugar for dessert.

Sadly, we decided we didn't have any room in our garden for winter squash. I let the pesky zucchini take over my peppers. I should have hacked it back when I first thought about it. Our garden plot is all cleaned out and done for the year now. Always sad to see the end of the season come (though I wish for it mid-August!).

Barb said...

That's a shame about the killer frost (I almost typed killer squash - that would have been a very different post).

Kathy’s Korner said...

A tragity of this magnitude has to be some one fault. I just can't stop laughing, I know I should be more sympathetic, because truely the loss of one's squash is a terrible thing and the loss of one's squash twice is even more devistating! I think it is Calvin's fault! He knew it wouldn't be safe in Montana! :)

Ande said...

Oh no! I'm so very sad for you Mom.

Anonymous said...

I'll share---pick them up on Thursday.

BRENDA

Jill said...

I'm clueless about gardening, but have heard that squash can be quite the space hogs.

I'd like to plant pumpkins some time.

Emma J said...

Casey and I are feeling serious squash envy. And sad for you about the freezing. (But Barb's killer squash made me laugh!)

Food Storage Made Easy said...

So funny! would of, could of, should of. I don't really like squash. I wish you had some so I could try it your way, maybe I would be converted.

Grace said...

I feel so bad for you! I'll help you maintain it in the garden when i'm living with you, and we can have great winter squash next year! In the meantime.. I hope you're able to enjoy some good squash sometime this season!

Kim Sue said...

there are always lessons to be learned for next year...