In the Garden with Pat Rubin

Bee garden writer Pat Rubin writes about everything that grows, from flowers and trees to vegetables and lawns. Pat volunteered for several years as a Placer County Master Gardener and has written about gardening for many national and regional publications. In addition to gardening, she spends time raising and showing miniature horses and miniature donkeys.

In the Garden will include news, events, advice and other gardening tidbits. Pat will also answer reader questions.

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September 10, 2007

Don’t give up on the late summer garden

As mornings begin to turn cool and the summer garden starts to look ragged and tired, gardeners are inclined to give up and pull everything out. I admit I was on the verge of pulling everything out, composting the beds, covering them with mulch and taking a long winter’s break.

But I didn’t, because the tomatoes kept producing. In fact, the Sungold tomatoes are producing better now than they have all summer. There are still cucumbers to pick and the basil looks great. The fig tree is loaded with a second crop. The apples are ready, and the pear crop has just finished. And for only the second time in 20 years, I have almonds to pick. All the other years the squirrels and birds got them and left none for me.

Somehow I never noticed how bounteous September could be in the garden. So I’m waiting a bit longer.

Meanwhile, I’m enjoying tomatoes, almonds, apples, cucumbers, basil, parsley, oregano….

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