A meager harvest at best …

Eight-foot sunflowers, next year corn.

… but more than I can use even so.

With frosts predicted almost daily and night temperatures dropping into the 30s the time came to bring in the crop – harvest day in the haphazard garden.

The garden didn't produce nearly as much as in past years but there are several valid excuses. To begin with I almost didn't plant at all and so when I did start it was late and then I didn't plant nearly as much as I have in past years. Then over the summer I gave away most of the the zucchinis that grew, particularly the big ones, lettuce too. The lettuce planted in a pot next to the door grew at least four harvestable quantities, coming back strong after every cutting, so that experiment was worth it.

Some sizable zucchinis came up but I gave most of those away and had a couple of meals out of a few more. Potatoes came in strong. Having some of those tonight.

A friend came out and I gave her most of what I harvested today to share with other friends, so it is all going to good homes and the whole process no mater the outcome is satisfying and worth the effort.

Lettuce, zucchini and potatoes.

And then there are the sunflowers, another experiment and they came out great. Some are 8 feet tall now. I am going to leave them there to drop seeds and see what happens in the spring. But given the success in that particular part of the garden, I can see a new experiment next year, particularly if we have another early spring. If I'm still here I plan to try some corn out there. If it gets as high as an elephant's eye by early July I may have a new crop to try.

All in all, a success and enough so as to encourage another try.