The Good News

Thanks to those who left thoughtful and kind comments after the greenhouse disaster!  I've been working the last couple of days to salvage what I could, and thought I'd share the good news.

The closest-to-mature melon, a sweet Siberian  (Baker Creek seeds) commanded display on the table for a day before we cut into it.  I was afraid of being disappointed, and just wanted to enjoy it a little longer!  When when we finally cut into it...

we were a bit surprised by the pale fruit. It looked like it might not be ready.  I have no doubt that it could have ripened a little longer, but it was surprisingly mild, sweet, very crisp, and tasty.  We enjoyed every bit of that little melon.

The same couldn't be said for the other melons, but considering that this is our first melon crop *ever*, it's all a victory.

It probably wouldn't have hurt to start these plants earlier, but I have to remind myself that I was busy having a baby during seed-starting season. ;)  Already I am thinking about next year's garden though; what I will do differently.

As for the peppers...

I first harvested anything that looked like it had been touched by frost.  I took these and roasted them in the oven, then tossed them in a pot with some freshly sauced tomatoes, loads of garlic and onion, and a few other things.

The sauce is waiting to be bottled.  It tastes amazing, if I do say so myself. ;)

There were a few peppers that seemed to have escaped the frost- I think it's because they were on lower plants, probably protected by the canopy above them.

There were these little Thai chili peppers.  I bit into one, and had to make a mad dash for the milk jug in the fridge!  The boys thought it was hilarious.  Silly mama.  But they are hot and crisp, and just may ripen up nicely yet.

There were also some sweet Marconi peppers that looked pretty good, apart from being nowhere near ripe.

I've strung these and the chilies up in the kitchen for the time being.

I salvaged a handful of little fingers eggplants.

You can see where they get their name!  The very first of this year's crop, and the very last.  But better than none at all.

Along with some early tomatoes from the greenhouse that I'd dried and stuffed with garlic, those eggplants, the sauce, and a few other garden goodies, pizza Friday was looking pretty good.

After that first look at the frost-ravaged greenhouse on Wednesday, I have to say things turned out better than I expected, and for now, that's good enough for me.