Squash er...Washer

Another 2009 veggie container, this old wringer washer was a great find along the highway next to a "Free" sign-it holds a lot of soil, makes a nice raised planter, and looks cool (in my opinion of course, I know some folks object to household appliances in the yard...to each his own :) Last year this held tomato 'Lemon Boy', and the plants were quite successful (considering I planted them in August as clearance orphans.) On May 24th I planted the seeds for summer squash 'One Ball' ( 50 days), leaving the "weedlets" seen here. The ferny plant wound up being demure feverfew (I'm 85% sure), and the other became gigantic mullein plants (though not oversized until well into fall).By June 12th they're on their way.

And just over a month later on July 18th the plants are huge!

Flowers get going by July 25th.....

...and I almost tried "fried squash blossoms" on July 30th. Have you ever done this? Part of me thinks it sounds tasty, part of me says "too weird".....maybe next year.Fruits in full production! By August 4th I can't resist...

...so I harvest these two teeny things. These squash are supposed to be harvested at "pool ball size", but I decided to cheat. I was not disappointed! :)

Plenty of flowers brought plenty of squash, I harvested four more times....

...and they looked like this.

Ack! These delicious squash have been discovered by someone else.... .....luckily these plants were extremely prolific!Some early frosts didn't bother the bushes too much due to overhead trees, but on October 18th they were hit hard...

....and by October 21st the squash are gone and the velvety mullein are left.

Guess they're asserting themselves as a "cover crop".