Carrot Harvest Today

Really happy with the varieties and colors of carrots this year. Growing them in large pots proved to be really easy.

Summer carrot harvest

I grew several varieties in pots this year. They did so well I think I will keep doing it this way. Much fewer problems with weeds. More fun.

May 24th small but nice garden harvest

Trying white eggplant this year. Cherry tomatoes are doing well but better boys and beefsteaks are struggling. Basil was going to seed. That's the dish.

It sounded like a good idea at the time - the icecream cone seed pot.

I read a gardening hack idea that I liked. Plant a seed in an ice cream cone with some dirt and then when it has sprouted and ready to go out in the garden just plant the cone and it will easily degrade. Sounded like a good idea, but WRONG. As water is added to the cone it starts degrading way before the seed sprouts. It makes a really big mess. There may be some seeds thT will work due to not needing much water, but not most.

Growing Basil in a Mason jar

A friend gave me a kit to grow herbs in a mason jar with some water and liquid fertilizer. We have been having highs in the 50's here in central Florida and gray depressing days, so I am using a grow light to make the Basil happy. The water and fertilizer go in the jar. The top has the plate taken out and replaced with a strainer, growing medium, and some heavy cloth strips that wick the water up into the growing medium. The
Basil has sprouted and look healthy. It is still small. Nice indoor project for January.

My Zone 9 Garden in December

Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Romain and Bibb lettuce. The weather has been perfect; chilly but nothing like north of Florida.

Miscellaneous Fooling Around

Cassia in the fall

Most people do not get to see our beautiful Cassia except neighbors. It bllooms for about 3 weeks in the fall and is really a favorite. It is one of those shrubs that is easy to prune  so that it takes on the appearance of a small tree. We have a Chaya (Spinach Tree) and an Angel Trumpet that I have pruned the same way. I just like the look.

IRIS BEAUTIES

ROASTED BROCCOLI STEMS

juste saw a recipe for roasted broccoli stalks.
I have always wondered about eating them but never tried it.now I'm curious. got to try it. More later.

winter / early spring garden

 tomatoes coming along nicely

 cabbage, broccoli, romaine and bibb lettuce

assorted hebs and flowers

Playing with collages

My Current Use for Wine Corks

I have far too many leftover wine corks. In my defense I have not uncorked them all, some people give me theirs. I tried using them as mulch in one of my raised beds, but did not like the results. They were not very effective at keeping the weeds down and generally just got in the way. I removed them after a year or so. My latest and better use is to use them like crockery in the bottom of plant pots. We have all had the experience of having a good sized pot and needing to put some drainage material in the bottom before adding dirt. Rocks, gravel, and potsherds really make a big pot heavy. Corks work really well to allow drainage and are not nearly so heavy.  Yea! Let's hear it for leftover wine corks.

Look What Showed Up in my Yard Yesterday!

Sandhill Cranes are taking over Lake Helen.

Growing a Pineapple

I cut the top out of a grocery store pineapple in 2012 and planted it in a pot then forgot about it. Somewhere I read that it takes 2 years for a pineapple plant to produce a pineapple. Well sure enough it works!!! Take a look.

COLE SLAW MY FAVORITE

Original recipe makes 20 servings
1 medium head cabbage, shredded
1 large red onion, diced
1 cup grated carrots
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 cup white sugar
1 cup white vinegar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon dry mustard
black pepper to taste

Directions
In a large bowl, combine cabbage, onion, carrots, and celery. Sprinkle with 1 cup sugar, and mix well. In a small saucepan, combine vinegar, oil, salt, dry mustard, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Pour hot dressing over cabbage mixture, and mix well.

Grilled Eggplant Recipe

Prep and cooking takes about 15 minutes not counting getting the grill hot:

Ingredients:

I like medium sized lavender eggplants - Dancer is my favorite variety. I find the big black ones in the store too bitter. If they are used get 1 large one, soak it in salt water for 30 minutes and pat dry. This recipe is better with 2 medium Italian or Japanese eggplants
3 TBS Olive oil
2 TBS Balsamic vinegar
2 garlic cloves minced
a few pinches of fresh herbs - Dill, Basil, and Oregano are nice
Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking: 

Get your grill hot. Combine oil, vinegar, garlic, herbs, salt and pepper. Cut the eggplant into 1/2 inch slices. Coat the slices with he herb, olive, balsamic mixture. Grill for about 5 minutes per side or until tender and brown.

December 2013 in the garden

Red Lady Papaya

Red Lady Papaya

Red Lady Papaya

Lemons

Cranberry Hibiscus (Hibiscus Acetosella)

Cranberry Hibiscus (Hibiscus Acetosella)

Angel Trumpet (Brugmansia)

Turnips and Lettuce up front with Radicchio in the background

Christmas Tomatoes

Eggplant and green tomato on the grill

I have a wonderful variety of eggplant called Dancer. Violet colored, medium size, and the tastiest ever. It has been producing all spring summer and fall. Planted 1 seed in a pot and it has produced enough eggplant for me and my wife from May to December.  I grilled some last night that was great. I have some green tomatoes in the garden also. I am thinking about grilling both the green tomatoes and eggplant, putting some cheese on the eggplant and then topping with a green tomato. I will post how it turns out.

10 reasons why I love Gardening

It is experimental - I am never sure of the outcome

I really love to pull weeds - It is easy and I can see what I've done

I like fresh veggies

The veggies communicate with me but they are quiet

The garden is beautiful

Peace

I am still amazed that such great things come from such small seeds

A little bit science and a little bit art

Digging in the dirt is fun - I never wear gloves

It reminds me where my food comes from