Rosalind Creasy's "Edible Landscaping" Book Giveaway

Edible Landscaping Book Giveaway

It's time for another exciting "giveaway!"

This time it's Rosalind Creasy's wonderful Edible Landscaping book from Sierra Club Books.

If you grow your own vegetables (and I know many of you do) you're going to love this 380 page book chock-full of ideas for incorporating vegetables into your existing flowerbeds. Just take a look at these sumptuous garden beds overflowing with beautiful blooming perennials and healthy vegetables.

Click photos to enlarge for better viewing

This updated version of the Edible Landscaping is loaded with practical information, detailed steps for creating a landscape plan, landscape designs, guidelines for plant selections, chapters on designing with herbs, vegetables and fruits, berries and nuts. It also includes a gallery of design ideas and tons of gorgeous photos.

This book is a great summer read in preparation for the autumn garden. Click here to read more about the book.

All you need to do to have a chance at winning the Edible Landscaping book is leave a comment.

The winner will be announced on Thursday - June 16th

so be sure to leave a comment by Wednesday, June 15th at midnight to enter.

Best of luck to everyone!

The Spring Vegetable Garden

In early to mid-March, once the threat of freezing temperatures is greatly reduced, warm-season crops can be planted in the garden. But, remember if you plant early...you may need to protect young seedlings if the temperatures drop.

Warm-season vegetables...those that will produce through mid-June (some longer) are:

Beans (bush and pole), corn, cucumbers, eggplants, melons, peppers, potatoes, yellow squash, tomatoes and zucchini.

Herbs:

Basil, dill, fennel, marjoram, Mexican tarragon, oregano and parsley.

Garden Tip: Rosemary is a great year round herb to plant in the garden...even if you don't cook with it. It doesn't freeze, it's fragrant and it makes a great looking landscape plant.

Planting seeds is most economical, but to harvest tomatoes before summer's heat and humidity arrive, you'll  need to start your seeds in pots the first two weeks in January, and bring them indoors to protect them from cold weather. If you're just getting started now, buy already established plants from a local nursery and plant directly into the garden.

Garden Note: You can still plant cool-season varieties such as: broccoli, carrots, lettuce and radishes that should produce into May (better to get them planted by February 15th). But, if you have limited garden space, you may want to stick with warm-season varieties for a longer harvest time.

 To extend the tomato season into summer, try the new heat-resistant varieties available such as: Solar Set and Sunmaster, or plant some cherry tomato varieties which will do better during the hot months. My favorites are chocolate cherry, black cherry and sun gold.

For the total scoop on growing tomatoes in Florida see the University of Florida Extension's article: Tomatoes in the Florida Garden.

To the seasoned Florida vegetable gardeners...

What advice would you give to someone planting vegetables for the first time?

Upside Down Tomatoes! Yes or No?

Those snazzy upside tomato planters, such as the Topsy Turvy, seem to be all the rage these days when it comes to growing tomatoes. But do they really work?
I purchased a homemade planter for $10 from my local tomato guy , who grows and sells seedlings of 100 different varieties several times each year. He’s a great guy to have in town because I can try different varieties every season. I dropped by his nursery to pick up a Black Cherry tomato but the only ones left were in these upside down baskets, so I decided to give it a try.

His baskets look great and seem to be producing a nice supply of tomatoes. Mine (see photo), however, looks limp most of the time and is a little beaten up by the wind. It also hasn’t set much fruit. One difference is that he had all his baskets in rows together and they were surrounded by a jungle of a garden. My planter is out in the open and doesn’t get much protection from the wind. On a positive note, It will be nice to be able to pick up my basket and bring it indoors once colder weather arrives. That’s assuming it’s still alive by then.

The verdict is still out for me, but I’m strongly leaning toward the traditional method of growing my tomatoes in the ground as my favorite. What about you? If you’ve grown your tomatoes upside down, in a container you purchased or made, leave a comment and, let us know your results.

Time to Plant the Spring Vegetable Garden

The uncertaintly of the economy these days is prompting many people to consider planting a vegetable garden for the first time. In the last few weeks several people have told me about their plans and their hope of becoming a little more self-sufficient. They did express some trepidation in their new adventure due to a lack of experience.

For these folks and for anyone who wants to grow their own vegetables, I highly recommend James M. Stephens' (professor of horticulture sciences at the University of Florida) book entitled Vegetable Gardening in Florida. His vast years of experience and knowledge are packed into the 125 pages of this well written book.


He covers everything from site selection, planning, weather effects, soil preparation, fertilizers, organic and alternative methods, seeds and transplants to insects, diseases, harvesting and storing. There's even a section of growing herbs. And since gardening in Florida is different than anywhere else in the country I guarantee you this book will become your vegetable gardening bible. It's well worth the $11.53 that it costs.

Two other resources for the newbie vegetable gardener is Spring Vegetable Gardening and Herbs for Spring. Both can be found at Solutions for Your Life by the University of Florida Extension Services.

Warm season vegetables to be planted now are: beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrots, celery, corn, cucumber, eggplant, green onions, lettuce, English peas, peppers, potatoes, pumpkin, radish, squash, watermelon.

So, if you're getting back to the basics these days why not give it a try. You can't beat the taste of vegetables fresh from the garden, and the satisfaction of having grown them yourself!

Grow Your Own Tomatoes this Spring

Did you know that the number one vegetable (in this case fruit) that people grow is tomatoes? Well it is, and it's not really a surprise. Who doesn't enjoy the hearty taste of a homegrown tomato. And, now is the time to get those tomato seeds started.


Tomato Growers Supply Company, located in Fort Myers, is a great source for a variety of tomato seeds. In fact, they carry over 500 varieties of hybrid and heirloom tomatoes, peppers, hot chiles, sweet peppers, tomatillos and eggplant.
I've ordered seeds from them numerous times and have been very pleased with the outcome. They have an excellent rating on GardenWatchDog.com and are celebrating their 25th year in business. This year they are offering many new varieties - 9 tomato, 4 peppers and a lovely white eggplant.
For help in making your selections or advice on how to grow tomatoes, read the University of Florida's article entitled Tomatoes in the Florida garden.
You can visit their online catalog or request a free catalog which comes along with a FREE bonus offer.
If you have purchased from Tomato Growers Supply Company, please leave a "comment" letting us know your experience and if you recommend them or not. Thanks!
Note: I did not receive any compensation for recommending this nursery from any source.

Featured Blog: Central Florida Garden

Visiting Dr. Michael Denner’s blog, Central Florida Garden, is like immersing yourself in an all encompassing lecture on the benefits and pitfalls of fruit and vegetable gardening in Florida. This college professor generously shares his 5 years of experience in growing plants, fruits and vegetables in his Deland garden. You will find information on sustainable gardening practices (recycling greywater, drip irrigations systems, composting, environment and more), best seed varieties for this area (including the online nurseries sources he purchases them from), pest control and even some recipes.

Blogging since 2005, he has accumulated an impressive amount of information for successful vegetable gardening in Central Florida. And, if you’re not growing vegetables in your garden, you may want to reconsider and begin planning your fall garden. You’ll save lots of $$$’s, plus you’ll enjoy a bounty of fresh veggies right outside your backdoor.

Vegetables to Grow Through the Winter

One of the highlights for Florida gardeners is being able to grow vegetables through the winter months. Once the daytime temperatures become pleasant it's time to plant a number of vegetables that will perform well during our Florida winters.

Many of the varieties are perfect for making tasty winter soups. Take your pick from these vegetable that thrive in cooler weather: beets broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, collards, kale, kolrabi, leeks, mustard greens, onions, spinach, lettuce, swiss chard, arugula, carrots, chinese cabbage and turnip greens.

We have plenty of herbs to choose from as well: dill, parsley, cilantro, chives, garlic, sage and rosemary.

Garden Tip: It's best to plant peppers and tomatoes in containers so that you can bring them indoors when a freeze is expected.

While you're at it don't forget to plant a few cold-hardy annuals along with your veggies. Some great choices for winter are: petunias, pansie, violas, snapdragons, allysum, foxglove, calendula, dianthus and ornamental kale.





What favorite winter vegetable varieties grow in your garden?