Pictures

I have been having some problems with the website, and I am unable to add any photos at this time.  I believe it is a storage quota issue, but it's unclear where I have to go to free up space.  I have emailed Google for help with fixing the issue.

Sorry for the delay in posts.  Stay tuned!

Happy Thanksgiving!

A pic of a pumpkin I sculpted in 2005

Peppers outside

Here's a green bell pepper from the raised bed.
Growth rate is pretty slow in the fall for produce.

Another bell pepper plant that was given to me by a
coworker.  It's doing ok!

Bachelor's buttons

The tips of the bachelor's button leaves are silvery, fuzzy, and curly - maybe even wilted looking - I wonder if this is normal since this is my first go-around with bachelor's buttons.  It could also be a disease.

If you guys know why this is happening, please comment below.

I recently did a water change in the Aerogarden in hopes of improving these leaves.

Upside-down tomato

The spring upside-down tomato had very high yields!!  Remember, I didn't use the seed packet that came with it.  I used Burpee cherry tomato seeds.

This upside-down tomato, which I planted in September, has been growing slowly and I thought I may have to retire it soon.

But what's this??  Flowers?!

They ARE flowers!  This might make some tomatoes
after all. 

I took it inside for a day or so to protect it from temps in the low 40's.  Right after that was when I saw the flowers.  I wonder if the inside environment/darkness in the garge triggered it to flower?  Hmm..

The one in the raised bed is doing ok - no flowers yet
though.  It might not produce for this fall season.

In other news, the agave azul is doing nicely.
(Like the new privacy fence?)

And two of the azaleas from last year are still going, but
their growth rate is very slow.

November blossoms

Miniature rose

Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea.  Looks Christmasy

Marigold - the seeds were a gift from two little girls
in the family

Marigolds

A poinsettia from last year, carelessly planted in regular
sand.  It has thrived all year, even in the most extreme
heat.  Now it's turning red again for Christmas.

Microtoms / Aerogarden 2

Orlando code enforcement on gardens

So this guy who keeps a vegetable garden is being forced to dig it up due to "code enforcement" who claims that he does not have enough groundcover in his yard. The guy offered to put up a fence, and was told that won't suffice, he needs to remove the garden.

Here's the petition that will help the guy out if he gets enough signatures:
http://www.change.org/petitions/city-of-orlando-florida-stop-digging-up-our-vegetable-gardens

Whole story here:
http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2012/11/13/city_of_orlando_says.html

Cherry Tomatoes/Aerogarden 1

The first red tomato

October harvests

All that vine for that tiny sweet potato?!

The sweet potatoes were planted in Spring.  Not a very good yield.  Alot of them were very small, so I just peeled them all, boiled them, then added butter & cinnamon.

Roma tomatoes.  They fall off the plant by themselves
because they get heavy

Cherry tomato

Harvested the first cherry tomato! These were planted in Sept.  It was about the size of a marble and was as red as it could be!

The first red tomato

I waited until the next morning and cut it in half and shared it with my boyfriend.

We both agreed that this batch is very juicy and flavorful - yay!  The last batch of cherry tomatoes was a little lacking in flavor, but still good. 

Honestly I think the flavor depends on how low the water level gets in the Aerogarden.  With this batch, I have been topping off the water daily.  With the last batch, I waited for the water level low indicator light, but by then the water level was verrry low.  Too low, in my opinion.  I noticed that the salad greens in particular are heavily affected in flavor when this happens.  They get bitter if the water level gets low.  I had to ditch them and replant the garden because of the bitter flavor, but at the time I didn't really realize what was causing that issue.  However, I did get 6-8 good harvests out of those salad greens before the bitterness issue.

Tomatoes don't become bitter with a lower water level - just a bit lacking in flavor, that's all.  I am glad I have made it a daily routine to top off water and very lightly prune.  It has made a positive difference in my gardens!  :)

November

November already!  How time flies...

Here's a pumpkin I sculpted for Thanksgiving in 2005