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.

Cilantro In Ecstascy

While I have more than a little concern that we are only a few weeks away from serious snow here in NWI, it's nice to see my potted cilantro luxuriating in the cooler temperatures of autumn. If my plants are happy, I'm happy. 

Full Circle

Now that the worst of the summer's heat is behind us and the cool temperatures are with us once again, there's time to squeeze in one more round of lettuce before Old Man Winter makes outdoor gardening impossible in this neck of the woods.

Hints Of Color

Tall or short

Great or small

Container plants

Color our fall

Sunshine Pizza

This pizza is a totally tasty sunshine bright delight that's made from fresh, shredded, yellow summer squash and fresh bright yellow and yellow/orange cherry tomatoes. It's just another reason to love my garden!

Just A Part Of Today's Small Container Tomato Harvest

I left these on the vine as long as I could to make sure they had full flavor. I was not disappointed. There would be more to show you, but I couldn't help checking product quality(snacking) while I was harvesting.

Any Balcony Or Window Sill Would Welcome These

Aye laddies and lassies, it only takes a wee container to grow tasty Tiny Tom tomatoes. This plant is flourishing in a home that is only three quarts big.

Welcome To The Container Tomato Jungle

It looks as though it's going to be another good year for container tomatoes. And yes, they are as delicious as they appear to be.

Здравейте

Normally at this time of year discussions about anything orange in the garden would center around pumpkins, winter squash and particularly hardy chrysanthemums. But this growing season is ending as strangely as it began. 

Just as winter didn't seem to want to move on and allow spring to take its place, now summer seems reluctant to make way for autumn. We usually have our first hard frost well before now. And there were times during my formative years when trick or treat treks took place in heavy coats and boots through inches of snow, but not this year. It will be cool and dry for the candy goblins tonight. And tomorrow's weather should be sunny with high temperatures in the mid 70's.

I'm not complaining about Jack Frost's delayed arrival. I'm overjoyed that he is late because it's given my Bulgarian Carrot Pepper time to mature and show its true colors. I planted it late and it takes a while to grow, but it seems that the odds were ever in my favor. Just a few more days of mild weather and I'll have the chance to see how it tastes.

That's all for now.

Довиждане

Harvest Hues

The vibrant colors of these banana peppers clearly indicate that they are ripe and flavorful enough to be collected. They'll make a great addition to my baked sausage, potato and onion dish.

Contained Tomatoes

What is the best container size to use for tomatoes? Well, it seems that the answer is any size that works. I wouldn't have thought that I'd get any decent results planting Siletz Organic(a determinate variety) in a container the same size as the ones I use for cherry tomatoes. But as you can see, this plant has produced nice sized fruit. I guess the potting soil/compost mix along with some organic liquid fish fertilizer did the trick. Don't you just love it when an experiment is successful?

Yes, You Can Grow A Rainbow

One of the great things about growing banana peppers is that you can never be sure what colors you'll get. And when there are multiple hues on a single plant, it's as though you're growing a very tasty rainbow.

Pepper Mystery Solved

Well, it turns out that my mystery pepper seeds were jalapenos after all.

Peppers For The Patio

You don't need much of a container to grow beautiful banana peppers like these, as you can plainly see from the photo. And you certainly don't need much room either. So if all you have available is a patio or porch, preferably with a Southern exposure, you have no reason not to try growing some to supplement your supply of fresh vegetables. Peppers have few if any pests and the only "problem" you may have with them is harvesting them fast enough once the plants start producing!