Tomatoes, Squash, China Peas Oh My!

Winter holidays and family matters took precedence over our garden, but it is amazing how forgiving plants can be even when ignored or neglected. Thanks to this week's steady rainfall followed by unseasonably high temperatures (mid-70s) and bright sunshine, the landscape looks remarkably healthy and the edibles are continuing to produce. Sun Sugar and Big Zac grafted Mighty 'Mato tomatoes continue to flower, bear fruit and ripen, not as abundantly as the cool season Stupice grafted tomato, but enough to keep us from buying grocery store wannabes. I also clipped off the one remaining Triamble winter squash and began picking the China peas that are playing hide-and-seek amongst the tangled vines. Even the grafted pepper plants continue to produce and I was able to clip off a lovely Chocolate Beauty bell pepper. The best surprise of all was when I noticed several oca (Oxalis tuberosa) tubers showing off their colorful shoulders above the soil surface. The tubers are bright, cherry-pink and are similar to potatoes, but sweeter with a hint of sour cream flavoring (for more information about the oca, be sure to read my feature in GardenLife's February 3 Newsletter). Even though it is the end of January, Bruce and I will feast on Mother Nature's forgiving and bountiful harvest. Life is good in the January garden.