Next Season Has Started

I piled up some layers for my lasagna garden bed for next season. Now I just have to let Mother Nature do her thing for the next few months until planting time in the spring.

The Last Blush Of Summer

I ask your indulgence to join me in a moment of silence, followed by wailing and gnashing of teeth. This is the last fresh tomato from my garden and I shall be in a state of depression until summer of next year.

Sunflowers: The Next Generation

Cabbage Forever

On more than one occasion I have waxed poetic about the versatility and virtues of cabbage, but in the interest of brevity I'll avoid doing so here. I'll just present this as another example of why I bother to grow cabbages. This one was planted late and didn't reach the size of some of the others I grew this season. However, it is more than enough to produce several generous servings of coleslaw, which is great by itself, as a side dish or as a topping on shredded chicken or pulled pork sandwiches.

Solanum Tuberosum

The potato is  thought to have originated in the Andes of South America. It was probably first domesticated in the Lake Titicaca region of Peru and Bolivia between 10,000 and 7,000 years ago.It was brought to Europe by Spanish explorers. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Here are some products of my efforts this year. Next season, I am going to try using a bigger container to see what will happen.

Happy National Farmer's Day!

Tonight's The Night?

Tonight they are predicting frost. I hope they are wrong!

Jefferson's Wisdom

"Though an old man, I am but a young gardener."
- Thomas Jefferson -

Weed It And Reap

Blame It On Columbus

The age of the great voyages from Europe to the Western Hemisphere initiated by Columbus  unleashed peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, corn, peanuts, chocolate and squash on the rest of the world and changed the diets of countless individuals forever!

Because I Can

Thea Bowman Academy Farmers' Market

It's coming next Saturday, October 13th. Please drop by and take a look around. You'll have access to local produce and the chance to support your local food producers.

Some Music To Harvest By

Country Gardens

Enjoy!

 

Autumn Hopes

Hoping for a long Indian Summer to give my last batch of carrots a chance to mature.

Autumn Leaves

As autumn leaves begin to fall, remember they have far more uses than being gathered and set alight for roasting sweet potatoes.

Laughter In The Garden

Container Carrots Part Deux

They're predicting frost in our area already, so I'm glad that these beauties were ready to be harvested. They came out of the growing pot and went straight into the soup pot.

Eco-Bohemian

It's Time To Celebrate...

And need I add that these can be grown in a home garden?

How Sweet It Is!

The sweet taste of summer squash in the form of a pie is even more fantastic when it's made from fresh produce grown just a few steps away from your kitchen.

Homemade Marinara

Love those roma tomatoes!

Bucket O' Carrots

When I posted this photo on a Facebook page about container gardening, I didn't expect it to get too much attention. But so far, over 180 people have given it the thumbs up! It's amazing that so many people have a positive view of using a discarded bucket, some soil and water to grow carrots.

There Are Russians Blushin' In My Garden

No need for alarm people. Russian Persimmon tomatoes pose no threat to national security. However, your waistline may be in trouble should you ever sample the delicious preserves that can be made from them. By the way, in the interest of full disclosure, please be aware that no collusion was required to grow these tomatoes, just a modest sized container.

Grow Some Bananas In Your Garden.

Banana Leg tomatoes are finally ripening in the garden and they are most welcome.

The Garden Is A Good Place To Laugh

Jalapeño Booster

This season it was a special treat to celebrate the arrival of the jalapeño blossoms with a ceremony to honor Tlaloc, the ancient Aztec god of the rain, earthly fertility and water during the blood moon that occurred earlier last month. It was much simpler than the ritual for Tonacatecuhtli as no Vestal Virgins were required. And legend says that because of the lunar event, the peppers should be especially spicy.

Patio Gold

These tomatoes bred specifically for containers seem right at home in my repurposed trash receptacle.

Why Garden?

It's That Time Again!

New This Year

I'm growing Japanese Giant Red Mustard for the first time. It is supposed to have a unique and slightly spicy taste that makes it an excellent side dish. I can't wait to discover if that is true.

Better Late Than Never.

These hedges usually bloom at the end of April, but since we had the coldest April in about two decades, they are just coming into their own now.

Spring Has Sprung... Finally!

Although May 15 is the official last day one can expect frost in NWI, this year has seen the cold temperatures last longer than normal. April had the coldest average temperatures in years. But now things seem to be headed in the right direction.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

It's Popeye's Favorite Day Of The Year!

Emerging Lettuce

Cilantro Spring

The nights aren't warm enough yet here for me to put out my container cilantro plants, even in my mini-greenhouse. I'm hoping for a warm-up soon because they need to be repotted into larger containers that won't fit on a window sill.

Every Wonder Where Vegetables Come From?

History is eternally fascinating, especially when it concerns our food and its origins. Take some time to read about where some of the most popular vegetables in the world originated.

Face It, We Love Spring!

For It Cannot Be Denied

So Accept The Inevitable

None Can Oppose It

There Is No Way To Stop It

It's Coming

Through Gardening We Engineer A Better Environment And World

Go Bananas In The Garden

If you haven't been using banana peels in your garden, you're missing out  on the helpful nutrients that they can provide for your plants. Just take a look at the benefits they can bring.

• Potassium: Helps plants grow strong roots, and enables good distribution of water and nutrients. It helps regulate plant enzymes and promotes the growth of stronger stems. This helps to create strong, sturdy disease resistant and pest resistant plants.
• Phosphorus: Promotes healthy roots and shoots, and is absolutely essential for successful production of blossoms, pollen and fruit. Big and strong plants can't be grown without it.
• Calcium: Is also a great help in creating strong root systems and stems. And it assists in breaking down soil nutrients such as nitrogen, and helps other minerals move through a plant’s system.
• Magnesium: Is essential for healthy photosynthesis, without which no plant can thrive and be healthy.

The Dream Begins