Sep19

You Know You Have a Good Friend When…

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You know you have a good friend when she not only cares about you, but she also cares about the worms in your compost! Not every non-gardener would risk looking like a composting maniac to grab some coffee grounds. 🙂

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The Starbucks near me has a special basket for used coffee grounds, but there must be a lot of composting maniacs in my area as I seldom see grounds in it.

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I am happy to have a friend who is willing to grab some grounds for me! 🙂

Do you take advantage of Starbucks’ free grounds? Do you have another source for additional composting materials? I’d love to hear about it!

Sep15

Small Batch Pickled Okra

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My father-in-law has been asking me about pickled okra. Sounds weird, doesn’t it? I mean, many people don’t like okra anyway; add the word “pickled” and it takes the weirdness to a whole new level.

I like to prepare okra using my no-slime recipe, but I couldn’t get the idea of pickling okra out of my head.

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Okra season is about over for me, but I did find a few pods and decided to make a small batch and try them. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

I modified and adapted the pickled okra recipe from Southern Living to make just one half pint, and also changed the seasonings a bit. I did not alter the ratio of vinegar and water, though.

Here’s the recipe and process-pretty easy!

Bring to a gentle boil: 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 1 tablespoon canning salt, and 1 teaspoon sugar.

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While you are bringing the solution to a boil, pack the jar with a clove of garlic, a half teaspoon of dill seeds, and as many tender okra pods as you can possibly cram in the jar. The okra will soften and shrink during the canning process, so cram as much as you can in the jar.

Carefully pour the boiling solution into the jar, cover, and process in boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

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Try these as an interesting addition to a relish tray! Sure to be a conversation piece. This is another way to make okra without the slime.

Maybe next year I’ll plant less tomatoes and more okra! Shocking, yes, I know.

Have you ever had pickled okra? Would you be brave enough to try one?

Sep6

Ground Cherries

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One of my most anticipated crops this year was a fruit that I had read so much about but never tasted: the ground cherry.

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I was able to get some free seeds from gardenhoard.com, and grew this little plant. It has been quite hot, and the plant has suffered, but it is still producing fruit.

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The fruit is ripe when it falls to the ground. I recommend letting it ripen a day or so more, or the flavor will be a bit reminiscent of a green tomato.

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Eating them is simple. Just peel back the papery husk and eat the fruit. There are hints of pineapple flavor, but it really is in a class all of its own. I’m actually not quite sure that I like them.

However, I’ve gone to so much trouble to get and grow the fruit that I want to like them. I’m considering making jam. In spite of its size, the single plant has been quite productive.

Have you ever had ground cherries? What did you think? Some seem to have such fond childhood memories of them.

Sep2

September To-Do List

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September To-Do List

My garden is going through an ugly time.

Right now, only the most stalwart crops are surviving the heat.

This banana plant is a notable exception; it’s mocking its more homely neighbors.

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As you can tell, in the shed bed not much is going on except for the basil. I plan to put some fall crops over here again this fall and winter. This garden gets more sunlight in the winter and my collards and kale did well over here last year.

I can make some pesto from the basil and freeze it. A little pesto adds a nice summery shot of flavor to winter sauces.

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Despite the heat and lack of rainwater, I am still able to harvest okra, bell peppers, Southern peas, and some ground cherries. The sweet potato vines are running, and I should saute some of the greens. We really enjoyed them last year. Even if my sweet potato crop is poor this year, the greens would still make it worthwhile to grow.

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This banana pepper plant really is my pride and joy at this time. I hate to pick the peck of peppers and pickle them; the plant looks fabulous!

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I started my fall planting in August. My green beans are doing well and I have 2 zucchini plants.

Here’s my plan for September:

1. Start collards and kale in flats. In this heat, the seeds will germinate rapidly and get off to a good start.

2. Clear old plants from shed bed.

3. Find a yummy recipe for those banana peppers.

4. Pickle some of the okra. I’ve never had pickled okra-I hope I like it!

5. Transplant some of the tomato plants that I propagated from my spring planting.

 

The list is pretty easy for this month. I love gardening in Florida, there is always something new that you can grow!

Any ideas for the banana peppers? I’m thinking of stuffing them with cream cheese, cheddar, bacon, and sauteed onions and then baking them. Does that sound good?

How is your garden this month?

Aug19

Time to Plant the Fall Garden!

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For us in North Florida, spring is here again! Many of the spring crops can be planted again, and many of the fall crops can be started this month.

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I really want some green beans, so I am planting some of them, and a few zucchini plants. I saved seeds from my prolific ‘National Pickling’ cucumbers, and I hope to make some more homemade pickles.

I am only going to plant a few tomato plants. I have some cuttings rooted in water on my windowsill. I just clipped some cuttings off the plants before I pulled them. For more tips, read this post.

Many leafy vegetables can be started next month. Collards and kale did well for me last year, so I plan to grow them again.

For now, my garden has quite a few plants that will keep producing for a while: peppers, okra, sweet potatoes, and pink-eyed purple-hulled peas.

For a spectacular Florida Vegetable Planting Guide, visit the University of Florida site. If one of your spring crops failed, chances are that you can try again!

Gardening in Florida is awesome!

What are you doing in your garden now? Are you relaxing in the air conditioning or sweating in the summer sun? I confess, most of my gardening is done before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. Florida sun can be brutal!

Aug16

Top 5 Flowers for North Florida

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Top 5 Flowers for North Florida

My vegetable garden makes for a happy tummy, but flowers are happiness for the eyes.

If I could only have five types of flowrs in my yard, I’d pick these.

It’s hard for me to pick a #1 favorite, though. I love the cheery exuberance of my zinnias, but would I pick them over the beneficial marigolds? Fortunately, I don’t have to choose, and I wedge them into my vegetable and flower gardens alike.

Here are my favorite 5. If I had to start over with a new yard, I’d start with these.

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1. Zinnia

They come  in a bazillion colors and  sizes and grow well from seed. They keep well in a vase and attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Annual.

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2. Marigold

Reputed to repel nematode and other pests, marigold are a pretty and useful addition to a vegetable garden. Last year I grew some from some cheapo seeds, then saved so many seeds that I stored them in a spice container with large holes. This spring, I pretty much just sprinkled them where I wanted them to grow. Annual.

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3. Vinca

Gotta have vinca. They are a common landscaping plant for a good reason. These hardly flowers boom their little hearts out all summer. They reseed themselves quite well, and come in varying shades of white, pink, and lavender. I was so excited to find a blue vinca earlier this year too.They need no special watering or fertilizing and flourish even when neglected. I have a patch of them growing in front of my house. They are surrounded by a concrete porch and brick walkway and grow in poor, sandy soil. I planted a landscaper’s flat of 18 about 5 years ago, and thry have reseeded themselves in that spot ever since and have provided extra plants and seeds for other spots as well. Annual.

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4. Daylily

This is one of the earliest bloomers for me in the spring. The green and cheerful yellow are such mood-boosters after a chilly February. Supposedly the flowers are edible, but so far I have valued their happy colors more than their value as a food source. Perennial.

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5. Knockout Rose

My list would not be complete without this landscaping rose. No, its flowers are less than impressive, and scent is lacking, but it adds a welcome splash of color for very little effort. It blooms until the frosts come. One year, I had Christmas lights on the bushes. The white lights looked so lovely with the hot pink blooms. Perennial.

There are other honorable mentions: lantana, yarrow, crocosmia, Shasta daisies, tornia and mums. What do you think of my top 5? Did I include any of your favorites?

Aug14

How To Save Dinner Plate Hibiscus Seeds

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Dinner plate hibiscus are a great flower to grow in North Florida. Mine were easily grown from seeds given to me by a neighbor. Your neighbors are fabulous sources for free seeds- if they can grow it, you probably can too!

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Mine really started blooming in their second year and have been low maintenance; I don’t give them any special watering or fertilizing, and they do just fine. The flowers are showy and extravagant.

The seeds begin to dry out around the middle of July. It’s kinda hard to find a dry day on which to harvest them, as summers are quite rainy in the panhandle.

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I seized a moment between showers and I clipped off the tops. I couldn’t help but admire them, the relaxed green leaves contrasting with the structured brown seed pods.

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Pretty symmetry. You can see the ripe seeds ready to be dispersed.

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Saving Dinner Plate Hibiscus Seeds

The seeds are so ready that a few rough shakes into a bowl dislodged many of the seeds. Some hearty smacks against the sides and bottom of the bowl released many more.

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Many little critters were also interested in the seeds too, can you see the dried carcasses? There were also a gazillion tiny bugs that scurried about, rudely exposed to the light. To prevent them from eating the seeds or laying their eggs in them, I bagged the dry seeds and stuck them in the freezer. This should eliminate the bug issue. The seeds should be fine-after all, seeds are exposed to freezing temperatures in the winter anyway, even in Florida.

Although the bulk of my garden space is dedicated to edibles, I must have my flowers. I’m planning a post on my top 5 flowers for North Florida. I have found some that will bloom early in the spring and I have found some that will bloom even in the hottest, most humid days of summer.

Aug8

Raising Chickens 101

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Do you have chickens? I have a friend who has a flock of backyard chickens, and she asked me to care for them for a few days. It was a little exciting at times-she has 8 biddies, 2 medium-sized chickens(do they have a special name too?), and 6 full grown chickens. It was a neat experience to see them and to see what was involved in their care.

I have been considering getting chickens for my backyard. They could help me by eating kitchen scraps, producing manure, and even clearing areas for gardening. From what I know, they seem to be ideal garden helpers.

Have you been thinking about getting chickens? If you are in the Pensacola/Pace/Milton area, there will be a session on August 9 at the Pace Library about chickens. You don’t need to make a reservation; just show up at 9:30 am.

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According to their flyer, there will be information about what kind of breed to get, what you’ll need to take care of them, and how to find out if you are even permitted to own them at your home.

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Chickens seem to be a great addition to a household, especially if you have a garden too.

Do you have chickens? Are you glad that you have them or do you regret getting them?

Aug4

What Should I do with Green Tomatoes?

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As I pulled up my tomato plants, I harvested some green tomatoes.

I have some large green tomatoes, so I’m considering making fried green tomatoes.

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However, the little ones have me stumped. I was given the idea by my husband’s grandpa to pickle them. I do have some pickle juice left from when I made my easy dill pickles, so I did try that.

However, I’m sure that I will have more green tomatoes.

Any ideas?

 

Aug1

August To-Do List

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August To-Do List

Did you know that in North Florida, fall planting is as busy as spring? In fact, many of the spring crops (beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers) can be planted again!

Here’s how my garden is doing and my plans for this month.

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The summer showers and sweltering heat have finally taken their toll on many of my spring plants. However, the herbs, green beans, and ‘Marketmore’ cucumbers are doing well by the shed.

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I have moved many of my herbs from my pallet potting bench to the shadier garden, as the summer’s heat was drying them out too quickly.

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I ripped up the tomato jungle, but took some cuttings from the ‘Roma’,’Super Sweet 100′, and ‘Brandywine Pink” tomato plants for propagating. I am rooting them in water, as the heat seems to be a bit oppressive now for rooting them outside. I have a post about how to root tomatoes in this post.

The cucumbers are done. They exceeded my expectations, while the tomatoes in general underperformed.

The sweet potatoes are running, the new row of okra has buds, and I have a cantaloupe and watermelon ripening,

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It is a little strange to be preparing in the heat for fall/winter crops when sweater weather is a distant memory, but I will sweat while starting seeds for crops that will likely taste the best after a light frost. The best source that I have found for vegetable planting times in Florida is here.

So what is on my to-do list?

  1. Plant more green beans.
  2. Start broccoli, cauliflower,collards, and cucumbers. More fall crops can be started next month too.
  3. Make pesto. I transplanted the basil cuttings that I rooted, so hopefully I will be able to make some to freeze. It is a vibrant addition to winter spaghetti sauce.
  4. Stuff and roast banana peppers. Anyone have a favorite recipe?

Not too busy, the heat of summer is when I tend to let what I have done in spring do its thing. I haven’t had to do much weeding, even after pulling up the tomato plants. Less weeding is the main reason why I mulch.

Oops, almost forgot. I hope to try my first ground cherry this month too. The plant is from some seeds that I got for free, and I am so excited to try them! One of my big goals for this year was to grow fruit, and I really hope this plant succeeds.

How is your garden? Did you have a crop that exceeded your expectations?