Summer Reads...

Admittedly, I am not much of a book reader.  Maybe when I am at the beach with no garden or family distractions, I'll read a book...

BUT.

I read lots of magazines, must be my attention span! Whatever. I left Borders last night with an armload of garden mags and a bit less flower money! 

This month's Urban Farm : Sustainable City Living is EXCELLENT! 

If you are a backyard hobby gardener/beekeeper/chick with chicks 

or wanna be

 this mag is for you.

 So far, every page is filled with info I know you'll love...

• Daylilly Ice Cream recipe
• "Sex is good, but not as good as fresh, sweet corn" a quote from Garrison  Keillor
• Rain gardening
• Beekeeping/Chicken Keeping
• Fruit Spreads

Go to Borders, get the mag...better yet, subscribe for $15/year...

www.urbanfarmonline.com/lowprice

Blessings 

ML

TheDirt Video Chat: Tomatoes in Pots

 Pots are perfect for growing vegetables. 
This month's TheDirt Garden Video Chat was about growing toms in pots!
Here is the wrap.


Tomatoes are perfect if you have location issues such as small space or deer.  Pots give you the option to move the plant to different areas as needed. You also have control of sun, water, and nutrition by planting in pots.



Just a few tips for those of us growing tomatoes in pots this year:
  

• decide between determinate & indeterminate- determinate has an "all at once" harvest, while indeterminate has a continual harvest. Look on the plant tag when buying seeds and/or transplants.

• cooler climate- choose early or cool weather varieties- 'Early Girl', 'First Early', Seattle Best of All' and 'Frisco Fogger' are good choices.

• Refer to your state's extension website, University of Georgia has an abundance of information on growing just about anything in our state!

• Tomatoes flower and fruit between 55 degrees and 95 degrees. Pots in the full sun can be moved to part shade when the heat is on!

• "Pots" can be buckets, beautiful glazed containers, or old plastic pots that larger trees were in!

•  Choose soil for vegetables when at the garden store, use 2/3 soil and 1/3 compost if you'd like.

• Group your pots together in the garden or patio for an interesting focal point. Get creative with your stakes---stake your tomatoes when you plant them, this could get hairy later.. 

Check out the following websites for more info on seeds and tomato growing!

Love Apple Farm

Totally Tomatoes! 

Tomato Growers

Tomato Bob

Marianna's Tomatoes 

Interesting GardenWeb forum chat re:tomatoes and beautiful pics!

Next month, Growing Tomatoes from Seed: The Basics


Blessings from the Garden. 
ML

Techno Tips

Two things I want to share with you. 

1.  Tomorrow, Thursday, January  27th, I'll host TheDirt garden chat via Tok Box. This is new for me, but I like to chat about gardening and would especially like to see you in person! No experience necessary. This will  be like sitting around the big ottoman in the middle of my den while sipping coffee! Go to www.tokbox.com, sign up for the FREE membership. You'll see a "Search for Users" button, type ML Louise and I'll be there! You can also Facebook me as a friend. Your Facebook friend list is already up on TokBox, so you can choose any of your friends to video chat. Ok-- you do have to have a webcam as it is video! I'll be sharing some ideas about growing tomatoes in pots which is my challenge for the summer!

2.  My kids have been so busy in the evenings lately, that my usual "June Cleaver" suppers were amiss. I bought (0.99) the Martha Stewart Everyday Food App for Ipad/Ipod and have hundreds of ideas at my "touch" everyday! Last night was Apricot stuffed Pork Tenderloin with roasted potatoes and broccoli. It was delicious! The combination of shallots and apricot jam were perfect.

Hope to see you tomorrow. 
Blessings from the Garden. 
ML

TheDirt

Apologies to yesterday's "Dirt" chatters. I had difficulties with my Internet service yesterday...

Please meet with us via TokBox next Thursday, January 27th at Noon. We will chat about Tomatoes in Pots! I am trying this technique to free up space in my raised beds, and because I hear it's an ideal way to grow toms....

Check out TheDirt on right sidebar of this website for instructions!

Blessings from the Garden.
ML