As we move into the end of September, local gardener Jim Rauchenstein reflected on many successes of this growing season. I had taken an earlier photograph of him standing beside onions tied to a grid with sisal or twine, drying. A wall of onions it was but I think the photo went to that “iCloud” storage place in the sky. Jim watched the stems drying out over two or three weeks. When dry, he placed them into mesh bags — 300 of them. They are in the basement, comfortable on shelves where it is cool, dark and dry.

There were many Patterson and sweet yellow Spanish onions because both varieties store well for a long time. Jim admitted that a red cultivar did not grow particularly well. They also grew leeks and shallots. Those remain in the ground.

The Rauchensteins use onions in so many food preparations. June makes salsa with them. They are in soups, scrambled eggs, spaghetti sauce and sauteed vegetable dishes. They even embellish their pizzas with onions.

The list of vegetable successes from the raised beds on three sides of their property is long. Peppers and tomatoes are still being harvested. Swiss chard, lettuce, beets, beans (earlier) and three types of cucumber grew well. The slicing cukes were harvested first and the pickling varieties later as they reach maturity.

As for the squash family, butternut, Long Island Cheese and Blue Prince offered the best returns. The Long Island type appear round but present a flattened appearance producing well. There is not as much resistance to bugs and blight in Blue Prince but it offers a flavorful flesh. Spaghetti squash did not do well, but Jim told me that June loves the Fairytale pumpkin with deeply marked grooves. It has a deep flesh, is robust and insect resistant. June manages those pumpkins well by baking tea breads, muffins, pies, cakes and cookies.

When Jim spoke about the sweet potatoes, he reflected on the long growing season — an advantage this year. He is hopeful they present an ample crop. He has ordered special heavier mesh bags for storage.

These raised, well-groomed, well-cared-for beds are a delight for both Rauchensteins. The season has blessed them with no deer interference and minimal damages from menacing rabbits. Squirrels feasted on the blackberries.

Harvesting will continue for a while as sweet potatoes mature. The leeks and carrots are items which Jim said they were still pulling up as Christmas came a year ago.

Mary Lee Minor is a member of the Earth, Wind and Flowers Garden Club, an accredited master gardener, a flower show judge for the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs and a former sixth grade teacher. 

Source: bucyrustelegraphforum.com