Smart Poodle Blog » Gardening

Tomato Anyone?

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:41:28 +0000

I haven’t been blogging all that much about my tomato garden. But it’s in full swing, and we are enjoying the varieties do much. The best tomato I’ve ever eaten is the Black Tula. You’ve got to grow that variety! It’s a dark reddish greenish tomato that is bursting with sweet flavor. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Variety is the spice of life

My organic tomato garden in homemade growing bags made from landscape fabric

Nasty horn worm ate 4 tomatoes off one plant!

Chicken salad stuffed tomato (that my husband drenched in hot sauce)

Thank You Starbucks®

admin — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 02:20:37 +0000

Does anyone else out there wonder just how many pounds of coffee grounds Starbucks® tosses every year? Well, today I used 36 lbs. of used grounds in my tomato pots. How awesome is that?

http://www.clipartguide.com

In 1995 Starbucks® started a Grounds for Your Garden program, passing along used grounds to those who want to enrich their garden soil. Coffee is rich in nitrogen, making it an ideal soil enhancer.

Thank you, Starbucks® for many things, including handing me a Hefty full of gold for my garden. I just hope the plants don’t get all strung out from the caffeine.

Florida Tomato Season is Well on its Way!

admin — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 01:15:12 +0000

After experiencing so many diseases with last year’s crop of tomatoes, this year I sewed my own growing bags out of landscape fabric. It drains so much better than plastic or terra cotta pots. Poor drainage = tomato disease, particularly in humid Miami. I was a bit nervous about the change in containers, but so far so good. We had several massive bouts of rain, and the landscape fabric drains beautifully.

If you have yet to see my stop-motion tomato video, check it out here!

A New Tenant in My Garden

admin — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 01:06:56 +0000

Check out what appears to be a net-casting spider living on my back patio! Is this an elaborate pad for a spider, or what?!

And So Tomato Planting Season Begins!

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:52:23 +0000

It all starts with choosing the seeds, planting them in a tiny greenhouse and then transplanting them into cups. When they’re a bit larger and have strong stems, it will be time to plant them into pots.

I am growing a variety of other veggies as well from seeds I have yet to plant. Hold onto your hats,

5 days after planting seeds

Transplanting the seedlings into cups allow them to expand before finally planting.

Photo Op – Fairchild Tropical Gardens, Coral Gables

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 01:05:39 +0000

Fairchild Tropical Gardens

My New Organic Tomato Garden Video is HERE!

admin — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 03:01:33 +0000

Organic Veggie Garden – The Best Places to Buy Seeds

admin — Tue, 17 May 2011 01:30:08 +0000

In South Florida we garden all year, but our best garden season is in the winter. For the rest of the nation, summer is where it’s at. I’m searching now for the seeds I will plant in October. Here are my favorite places to buy organic seeds:

The seedlings from this year in my garden that grew into the biggest tomato plants you’ve ever seen!

Tomatofest – This is a fabulous place to buy organic, heirloom tomato seeds! The options are so plentiful, it will overwhelm you.
Seeds of Change – This place has everything organic you can imagine. The trouble is that you will not be able to decide which seeds to buy. They have vegetable, fruit, flower seeds and much more.
Johnny’s Seeds – Johnny’s sells a wide variety of seeds. Not all are organic, but I have had great luck with different organic vegetable seeds from here – in particular the lettuces and broccoli were the BEST!
Heirloom Seeds – They had all non-hybrid varieties and some are organic.

Good luck with your summer garden!

10 Activities to Enjoy Spring with Your Kids

admin — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 23:59:57 +0000

Plant a garden together. Kids love to plan out a garden, buy seeds or plants and plant them in the garden or in pots. You can check books out from the library to help you get started. Pick a theme – veggies, a flower garden or even a butterfly garden. The whole family can enjoy learning and caring for the garden together.
Spring clean. Children may actually enjoy cleaning out a closet or organizing their toys and books. Make it fun. Play music and keep the task positive. This is a great way to teach your kids how to take care of their stuff and to be generous by donating items they no longer need to others who could really appreciate them.
Take a nature hike. Collect leaves and flowers to press. See if you can identify plants and insect species.
Make or decorate a birdhouse to put in a tree in your yard.
Plan your summer vacation. Get the kids involved in the process and they’ll be much more excited about the trip. You can look at maps to see where you are going and look online for fun stuff to do when you get there.
Take swimming lessons. Every person should know how to swim. Check out your local YMCA for classes. They’re fun to take too.
Go thrifting or yard sale shopping. It’s a lot of fun to visit thrift stores or spend a Saturday morning mapping out and visiting yard sales. You don’t have to buy a lot of stuff, but it sure is fun to look!
Do a craft together. Make a mobile of hanging insects, make a wreath of flowers for your front door or paint a wooden box with acrylic paints to store newfound treasures.
Cook together. Plan out a great healthy dinner with lots of fresh veggies. Take your kids to the supermarket, an then cook together. The kids can have fun setting the table an decorating it with crafts you made together.
Get moving! Dust off your tennis racquets, hop on your bikes or play softball in the park, even if the weather is not perfect!

http://www.clipartandcrafts.com

So Many Tomatoes! What to Do With Them?

admin — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 02:49:42 +0000

Clean and peel tomatoes

Cook with onions, garlic, red wine and spices

Add meatballs. and look what ya got!

Yummy!