Putting the tomatoes and peppers to bed

The early end of the planting season forced me to pick the rest of my tomatoes and peppers before temperatures drop below freezing this weekend. I spent all yesterday morning picking green tomatoes and ended up with an entire brown paper bag full! It is a shame they couldn't ripen on the vine. Luckily they will still ripen in the bag, and hopefully they didn't get too cold already. I also picked all the peppers that were left. I am going to dry them to use in soups for the winter. Does anyone want a bag of green tomatoes? I seriously have a ridiculous amount!

I don't know what I am going to do without my garden to occupy my time! I can bring my two herbs in but that isn't the same! I guess I need to start planning a timeline for next year's garden! I learned a lot from this years and hope to have so many more vegetables next year!

I should have kept track, but I definitely produced a ton of tomatoes! Each plant did really well, except the pots produced far less. Next year all the tomatoes go in the ground.

Sadly my pumpkins are nowhere near being ready, so next year I will need to plant much earlier. I think I need to try more gourds and squash next year. I will have to cultivate the area better though.

I think I will also diversify my peppers. I had all cayennes until the very end where the bell peppers finally produced.

Next year I want a ton more herbs. Hopefully the oregano and rosemary I have can last inside until next spring.

Until next year, I am putting away my vegetable garden tools. I still have a lot to do to prepare the yard for winter, so this isn't the last you will hear about our fantastic garden!