It’s going to be a quick post today because it’s October 4th, a day of rest for me based on a tradition that dates back to last night when I realized I probably wouldn’t feel like working today.
And THAT’S how you start a tradition. You should try it some time.
I’ve been meaning to show you the two most fun vegetables I experimented with this year.
One is Mouse Melon, which I thought was a bust, but made a comeback in the third quarter.
The other is the Reisetomate tomato that Laura from Cubits Organic seeds surprised me with this spring. I ordered a bunch of seeds from her and she threw in the Reisetomate because she simply decided I had to grow it. So I did, because I take direction very well. No I don’t.
Behold .. the fun vegetables of the 2013 growing season.
The Reisetomate tomato is all bubbly and warty looking. The fun part about it is that you can pull each ball off like a cherry tomato. The not so fun part of it is they’re quite sour tomatoes. NOTHING like an actual cherry tomato.
Mouse Melon grows on this lacy, delicate but incredibly strong vine.
I think the reason they’re called Mouse Melons is quite obvious to anyone with even a partial strand of DNA in them.
These tiny little melons can be pickled or used in salad. And even though they look like a tiny watermelon, they actually taste like a tart cucumber.
When you bite into the mouse melon the first flavour you get is cucumber, but then your salivary glands do that weird thing where they kind of burn and clench up, like when you eat salt and vinegar chips. It’s astonishing how I can relate everything back to potato chips. Or at the very least potatoes.
Alright. That’s it, I’ve already worked longer than I wanted to. Now, it’s time to relax. (which for me involves, cleaning out the garden, harvesting what’s left, probably removing paint from a brick wall, cleaning up the house and giving random neighbours wedgies.
Have a good weekend!
Raise tomato and mouse melon are just adorable. At least the way you presented them on these photos. Did you take all the photos yourself? I enjoy the color and hope when I’ll taste them I’ll get this very exciting taste… Instead of going to have some rest (which is not rest at all as you described it) I think you deserve to have some real one – take a book and sit enjoy the weather. And how about weather conditions you grow these vegetables?
Hah, those are some tiny watermelons you got there
(sounded better in my head)
(fine, no it didn’t)
Oh my goodness, those mouse melons are too cute. And now of course I will go and spend an insane amount of time on that organic seed company’s website to shop for next year’s seed order!
I decided to take the day to relax too. and so far I’ve made Tomato confit and Crabapple jelly. Hmm… I think we’re on to something.
…. next year…mouse melon in my garden for sure! Don’t know about the warty tomatoes though…..especially if they are sour? Do you “like” the way they taste? Are they a “good” kind of sour like sweet tart sour, or sour gummy worm sour? LOL
Digging dirt putting the garden to bed IS relaxing … :)
Here’s hoping your neighbo(u)rs read your blog and will then avoid the wedgies.
Thanks for the mouse melon tip — that sounds like a unique one to grow. I wonder about pickling them….
I ordered the Reisetomate this year. Just moved to a new place (with NO garden) so I have to go through the motions of creating a whole new garden. Will try your cold frame plans. Thanks for the mention of the Reisetomate being sour. That will save me the shock of biting into one!
I just love cute vegetables..Have a relaxing day off..snicker snicker..
Love the mouse melon! Do you know where a person might find seeds for that?
Are you going to pickle them?? I’m just fascinated by those little guys! Want to try them next year!
How cute…a mouse melon. Not sure about those tomatoes though. I prefer the sweet cherry tomatoes. What will you do with them, put them in sauce?
Please tell us how the “taking paint off a brick wall” thing goes! Pictorial would be great!
Mouse melons!!! Who knew? Damn, I am so glad I read your blog, ’cause I am gonna knock the socks off of my kiddos next year when these little guys start growing. So, so, cute! And they sound delicious, too. And to think that I almost didn’t read this post! Tsk.
I wanna see how you remove paint from a brick wall!!
Have a great weekend!
Not big on the two veggies, though interesting. What brick wall? Did I miss something? Will we get pictures and instructions?
Enjoy your relaxation!!
Why, you are just as cute as your Mouse Melons ! Have a great weekend Karen!
What do you do with a mouse melon?
Would like to know where to order mouse melon seeds. Have tons of fence line I’d love to harvest from next year. How long a season of pickables?
You have all the fun – removing pain from a brick wall – ugh.
My fun veggie was a BLUE pumpkin called Jarradale. Can’t wait to roast one, but right now they are busy being autumn decor. A tad more class than the halloweeny feather boa wreath box you sent me *lol*
Sister LOVES that thing! You would have thought the cat found a box of cat porn…ugh.
I grew those Reistomate maters this year too but mine weren’t so pretty. The lobes ripened at different times so they went from green to rotten on the same tomato so the things were a multicolored hot mess. And even the ripe parts didn’t taste good!
Oh, you are so funny. I love the mouse melon. Just the name is fun.
That was strange…most of my comment disappeared…Love the tomatoes and the Mouse Melons, would love to have some for our party trays at The Fresh Market. Anyway, my day off turned into a work day as someone at one of our other stores “Walked off the job”!. Imagine doing that in this economy??? So, I will be working on my day off and not knowing when my next day off will actually be……I am already tired…Have a great day and try to squeeze a little more into the day, surely you can…Ha Ha!
Anyway, you have a great day of (relaxation), and I will have one too. Thanks again for living life as you see fit!!!…Susan
Mouse melon… Want!
any vegetable with the name “mouse” in it wins in my book!
The mouse melons are adorable! :)
Mouse melons are what we call “Mexican sour gherkins.” We ordered them on whim from our heirloom seed company because we thought they were kinda cute… love them in salads. We describe them as being a cross between a cucumber, watermelon, and a lemon. Enjoy!!
Mice get their very own melon? Well, aren’t they hot little tamales!
Coolest tomato ever! Have a great weekend, I’ll be relaxing myself as I put panelling up in our 2nd bathroom. I’m going to let hubby & the neighbour put the fence up in the backyard. Phase two is starting…
Mouse melon is adorable.
If you are what you eat, then you’re smaller than you seem in pictures, but every bit as much of a tart as I think? Hahaha!!!
*snort
Mouse melon! AIEEEE!ADORABLE OVERLOAD!
That is all.
By October 10th, you mean October 3rd right? Am I missing a full week? Damn, I didn’t even take the turkey out!