Growing tomatoes in winter

Although we experienced our first night of freezing temps last night, my thoughts are on starting tomato and pepper seeds early this winter.  It has been a mild winter for us in Zone 9 Florida and I've done it before, but it has been a long time since I experimented with this theory.  

Once the seedlings are big enough to transplant, they need to be grown in containers so they can be moved inside in case of a prolonged freeze.  We may just leave the containers in our carport area where they are protected.  It is worth a try to get a jump start on the growing season.  The containers are currently sitting out there empty . . . and seeds are relatively inexpensive.  

Time to order seeds!

Check out the Customer Favorites Tomatoes, now available at Burpee.com!

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The Path to Serenity

There is something about paths in the garden that can transform a garden into a serene sanctuary that creates the mystery of where the path leads, especially when connected with secluded garden rooms.

I love the randomness of the pattern and diversity of materials used in the featured path.  Very clever idea for stretching out the more expensive pavers by mixing them with less expensive items.  Very cool!

Click here to go to the story behind this path!

What an awesome path that can be duplicated with relatively inexpensive items.  

For those who love to create with concrete like me, the pavers would be so easy to make!  

I'm ready to mix some concrete :)

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Fall gardening checklist

The autumn leaves are changing colors, 

the temperatures are coming down, 

in Florida it is less humid.

At a loss on what to do in the garden?

Fine Gardening's website has an awesome series of

videos and articles on seasonal gardening.

Click here to go there!

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Fall gardening for subtropical and tropical climates

This is one of my favorite times of the year for gardening in our Zone 9, Central Florida garden.

Soon the black eyed susan vines that have seeded themselves all over the Paradise that is now a jungle will provide a much needed splash of color.  Another season has gone by, leaving the Paradise neglected and way overgrown.  The coleus and impatiens that used to grow wild are few . . . the past winters have killed the reseeding process that was going on.  Hopefully we can at least get those going again to bring more color to the garden.

Now is the time that I prune and propagate.

For guidelines and reference, please refer to my Florida gardening page for lots of links to the websites I go to for everything I need to know about gardening in Florida and similar zones.

Click on the Florida Gardening graphic to go to the page.

As the seasons are changing, we have been utilizing our outdoor dining area again . . . much to our delight!  

It is time to get the container plants in the carport jungle going again.  We are looking forward to planting more tomato and pepper plants.  Our pepper plant is still putting out delicious hot peppers!  It will be nice to have a greater variety.  The lime tree is still putting out some awesome juicy limes :)


We'll be visiting Busch Gardens soon and will post photos of their Fall gardens.

Happy Fall!

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Nasty Grasshoppers Caught In The Act!

Not only have they chewed up most of our

 plants, but now we caught them in the

 act of having sex in our front yard.

Shameless grasshoppers . . . I hate them!

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Summer Reflections

Another summer has come and gone . . . 

Paradise still remains like a jungle.

Of major note . . . the lime tree that was a memorial gift from JR's aunt when he died started producing very tasty and juicy limes that we have really enjoyed in cooking and sharing with others.  It is still putting out limes like crazy.  After waiting so many years for it to produce fruit, it was almost like JR was sending a message that he is smiling from heaven as new love bloomed and a new life has begun with my new husband, The Captain.

The grasshoppers invaded the Paradise with a vengeance . . . and they are still here.  Honestly, I don't know how anything survived as they devoured and chewed up leaves of most of our plants.  

We managed to get some tomatoes from our tomato plants, but all in all, that endeavor was disappointing.  Guess we started too late for optimum performance and didn't start them from seed.  They were not super healthy from the start and the grasshoppers put a dent in fruit production despite our attempts at spraying with our organic concoctions.  They were pulled up a few weeks ago :(

We did grow some awesome hot peppers that have continued to produce those hot and spicy treasures.  Hot pepper plants are one thing that we have been able to grow with no problem in our area . . . they thrive!

The basil is barely making it . . . 

the rosemary didn't last long, it died a quick death.

However, it has been a summer of health problems, in and out of hospitals with several members of the family and we got married . . . gardening became a low priority as the heat and humidity rose and health problems made it impossible to spend quality time in the garden.

We look forward to better health, cooler temps and quality time to start over again soon . . . especially with tomatoes, peppers and herbs.  Hopefully we will finally make it to the back yard that was Paradise turned into a jungle littered with fallen limbs and weeds the summer storms encouraged.  However, since most of the world has experienced devastating weather, we are grateful that we are still high and dry in Paradise.

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Nature's miracle . . . composting

It is estimated that yard trimmings and food scraps account for 26 percent of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream.  Why not recycle them into the best fertilizer you could ever buy?

Utilizing nature's fertilizer by way of composting is the economical way to revitalize and nourish your garden using these every day waste items usually thrown away as trash while helping the environment by saving landfill space?


Take advantage of one of nature's miracles and start a compost pile in your back yard . . . it is easier than you think . . . and the benefits are awesome!


Click here for more information about composting from the EPA.

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Soil recipes for container gardening

What a gorgeous tropical container planting!

Container gardening is my preferred method since I detest digging through tree  roots and I really don't enjoy using a big shovel . . . guess it is a girl thing.  It is so much easier to plant in containers . . . much easier to manage!

Grouping the same type plants with the same nutritional and drainage needs is a good idea for optimum plant health, using a specific soil mix that is well suited for the plants.

Click here for a listing of recipes for various types of container plantings.

Photo/Illustration: Steven Cominsky

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Slug Control . . . Home Remedies

You can have gorgeous flowering plants one day and wake up the next morning to nothing but sticks.  Slugs will do that!


After lots of experimenting, I found many different methods of getting rid of them . . .


Best method . . . purchased organic slug bait and put in jars with holes in the lid . . . placed sideways in areas plagued by the slugs.  The method is similar to a roach motel . . . they check in, but don't check out.  Be careful using baits if you have pets . . . even if they are organic, they can be toxic to pets.  Placing them in jars keeps the pets out of the bait.


Slugs hate scratchy barriers like crushed eggshells, wood ash and coffee grounds . . . they can be used as barriers around infested areas.  It is a tedious process and requires reapplication after rain or watering.


It is said that copper strips shock slugs and snails trying to cross them, although I never tried it.  Thin copper can be found in craft stores.


There are effective baiting techniques!  Lure them and then kill them in soapy water.  Another tedious process, but they will gather away from your plants to a confined area where you can easily dispose of them.


They love beer . . . set out in jar tops at night, collect them and dispose in the morning . . . they also love dissolved yeast.


Set out fresh melon rinds and grapefruit at night . . . lures them in just like the beer does.


The baiting techniques can be a problem in you have pets!


We haven't had a problem with slugs . . . it is the grasshoppers that are eating everything in sight.  The only way I've found to effectively get rid of them without using pesticides is catch them and stomp them dead.  I hate them!


Share your home remedies for controlling pests in your garden!

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Growing Tomatoes . . . soil additives

As an organic gardener, I'm always looking for tips from other gardeners who have successfully used what some would consider off-the-wall methods for maintaining healthy tomato plants.

The following mix has been used by several gardeners

 on the Organic Gardening website forum . . .

Mumsey's Magic Mix 

1 handful bone meal
1 handful cornmeal

1/2 handful powdered milk

1/4 handful epsom salts

Mix well in hole, plant tomato.  

Side dress every few weeks or so
with the cornmeal and powdered milk,
 watered down or not . . . the rain will soak it in.

I've posted these links before, but here they are again ~

If you need information on how to grow your own tomato plants, Fine Gardening has an awesome video series covering various topics.  Click here to go to their tomato page.

And if you haven't checked it out yet, click here to go to my tomato links page.

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Cilantro ~ Grow it in your garden

Coriandrum Sativum . . . also known as Chinese parsley.

The leafy part is called Cilantro, the seed is known as Coriander.

Cilantro loses its flavor when dried or cooked, so it is best used fresh.

Since Cilantro plants grow and go to seed quickly, it is best to plant them continuously (every three weeks is suggested) throughout the growing season (spring and fall) to keep the crop going.  Summer heat will speed up the growing process, quickly seeding the plants when soil temperatures reach 75 degrees.  

The plants love growing in a moist, well-drained soil mulched with compost for nutrients and root protection to keep the soil cooler to prolong growing.  The shade from closely growing plants also keeps the roots cooler.

The plants do not grow well indoors . . . they require mostly full sun, although it is possible to grow in morning sun and afternoon shade.  In general, they are a cool season plant and best grown in the ground since they don't tolerate transplanting well.

To prolong leaf growing, trim off flower heads as soon as they start to flower.  You can allow the flowers to mature and seed . . . they will resow and another crop will be ready in a few weeks.  The seeds can also be collected when they turn brown to use as coriander or to dry out and save for replanting.  Keep your seeds in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for use as a culinary spice in cooking or as seeds for next year's crop.  

The cilantro leaves are ready to harvest about 8 weeks from seed and can be cut any time during the growth period.  Cutting the outer leaves first is recommended so the smaller leaves can continue to grow.  It is best to harvest before it begins to seed, which produces bitter tasting leaves. 

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Mosaic Trash to Treasure

This gorgeous mosaic planter started off as a concrete slab piece with square inserts that someone had ready for the trash.  It goes to show you that one person's trash is another's treasure.  I love the use of mosaic tiles!

Click here for the tutorial on how it went from a ready for the trash concrete slab to gorgeous mosaic planter.

Creative projects for the garden are so cool!

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Container Gardening in the Shade

Awesome containers!

Utilizing containers in different shapes, sizes and colors can add lots of interest to the garden landscape.

I love container gardening in shady areas of the garden, but not all plants can tolerate shade.  Find the plants that love the shade and the results are awesome!

Click here for an excellent article from Fine Gardening that lists shade loving plants and tips for growing container plants in shady areas.  Lots of great tips!

The photo source is Fine Gardening.

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Outdoor Seating Areas

Having a larger sized property makes it possible to have various

seating areas for the versatility of having smaller secluded quiet 

spaces and the larger spaces for entertaining.

The Captain and and I are currently clearing out our large

property that is still way overgrown, making way for new and

exciting areas which are still in the planning stages.

I'll be featuring more garden spaces that inspire me, along

with informative articles that I find as we go through our

inspirational planning stage.

I love this intimate outdoor garden spot . . . a great little place to

escape and enjoy nature.  Love the chairs and the placement of

container plants to create the barrier.  The use of the fence as

a backdrop rather than trying to hide it is a great idea!

Click here for an informative article from Fine Gardening entitled

"Seating Areas Made Simple" for tips on creating awesome spaces

on your property.  The photo comes from this article.

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Coffee grounds in the garden?

Don't throw away your used coffee grounds!! 

Fertilize your acid loving plants with old coffee grounds . . . they will love it! 

Did you know that used coffee grounds repel snails and slugs? Add to your garden soil before seed planting or work in plants already planted. 

Used coffee grounds also repel ants . . . 

Spread used coffee grounds around your flower beds to keep the cats from using your garden as a litter box.  

I never throw away left over coffee in the pot! What I do is add water to fill the pot and water the container plants in my carport jungle. They love it! 

 Of course your compost pile will also love those used coffee grounds . . .

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Want to grow your own tomatoes?

Although we got a late start, we are enjoying tasty tomatoes our tomato plants are putting out.

In the past, we have been able to grow our tomatoes all year long, which is what we are setting out to do.  There is nothing like picking your own tomatoes off the plant for dinner . . . and you can never have too many tomatoes!

If you need information on how to grow your own tomato plants, Fine Gardening has an awesome video series covering various topics.  Click here to go to their tomato page.

And if you haven't checked it out yet, click here to go to my tomato links page.

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Creative Garden Design

Michelle is "consumed by seeing art and design in everyday life."

It is apparent in her awesome landscape designs that is a mix

of gardening and art with awesome and unusual results.

Her blog, Garden Porn, is an art gallery for the gardener who

loves putting an artistic touch in their garden designs.  It is a

delight for the inspirational senses!

The above photo from her blog features an awesome staghorn fern

planting that is mixed with a variety of succulents displayed in a way

that we will definitely be doing for our carport jungle.  I've already

decided to cover the wire container with staghorn ferns since those

succulents don't do well in our humid climate.

Here is what I have done with staghorn ferns . . . they are featured

in a discarded book rack trash to treasure project that is still thriving

in our garden after a decade and survived some very harsh winters.

I started the staghorns as babies in the book rack that

was lined with chicken wire and gardening moss.  It has

grown in a semi-shady area and basically left alone for

at least the past 8 years.  This photo was taken four

years ago.  It is still thriving and growing in the same 

spot . . .  definitely a survivor!

We may scatter some baby staghorns around the sides of

the rack, which should make a spectacular feature in

 the garden.

More recent photos to come as soon as we refresh

the bald spots!

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Trash to Treasure

What an awesome idea for yard sale treasures!

My grandmother used one of these to make her

 tasty mashed potatoes.  It brings back lots of 

great memories :)  

I'd love to make one of these

for the carport jungle!

Click here for a tutorial on how

 to make one of your own.

I've often used many kitchen items in the

 garden.  My favorite is an old broken 

coffee maker that I painted . . .

One of the things I love creating most is giving

life to  an otherwise useless item.  You'd be

surprised what a difference a little paint makes.

Happy crafting and gardening!

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