Avacado Tree

 If  you remember My List of Things I want To Learn and Do planting an Avocado tree is on that list.... 

Well I did it!!

Well the Hubby and I did it a couple of weeks ago. This is a tree my mom started about 3 years ago on her kitchen counter. She then put it in a pot for me at her house. Well 3 years later it really needed more room. So I kidnapped it and planted it! It seems to be doing great. I now I just need to fertilize it a bit and keep it from freezing over the winter and maybe in the next year it will start to give me fruit!

~LuLu

Herb Garden

 So this is my Front herb garden before...

Its more of a weed and forgotten stuff garden in this picture. 

And this is it now! 

To the left are Onions, in the middle (where it looks like dirt) Garlic is starting to sprout, then to the left I have Dill, Stevia, Tarragon, Cilantro, and Oregano. 

The long coiled like black thing is not the worlds longest garden snake it is in fact a soaker hose. Which may be the only way I remember to water my herbs! Now I just need to set up the wonderful timer my hubby got me and I'll be good to go!

I'm working daily to keep weeds to a minimum and that seems to have gone a long way! I want to rip out those HUGE hedges to the right in the top picture, but that is a job that will just have to wait! 

~LuLu

Tomato

So I FINALLY have a ripe tomato! I planted these in August I think and they are JUST turning red! The bushes are covered in little green tomatoes, but they have taken ages to ripen. I finally, finally, FINALLY get to enjoy the fruit of my labor! (instead of having to steal them from my moms garden!)

Just thought I'd share that quick update with you!

~LuLu

My Home Sweet Homestead

 So this is my gardening area BEFORE!....

And this is it .... During......

And this is it NOW!! :) 

(PS I need to weed-eat around the boxes lol!)

I currently am growing Tomatoes out the wazoo, Broccoli, Collard greens, Cauliflower, Spinach, and assorted Leaf Lettuces. I have also got my herb garden up and going so I'll post about that soon. 

I'm accomplishing a lot of things, but it all feels like its going slowly. But I keep on a trudging through!

~LuLu 

Fall Garden Update

My garden is growing - and Growing - and GROWING!!


Cucumbers - man oh man are my cukes looking good! They've been taking over and I've got probably 50 little fruits all over the vines. They are climbing on EVERYTHING and it's a fight to keep them off the tomatoes.

Tomatoes- The tomatoes keep growing and getting taller, but no fruit or flowers yet.

Cantaloupe- These aren't going nearly as crazy as the cukes which is ok because I can't eat them on my current diet, but I still want them to grow! I've got flowers blooming, but no fruit yet.

Bell Peppers- Boy do these look sad - and small - they are about 3 inch tall and one has already died leaving me 2 tiny plants, but we'll see. I'm not even sure this is the right season for them - Shrug its all just one on going experiment!

Sweet Peas- They are growing and growing, but they look meh at best. The lower leaves are a bit yellow and I've only seen one bloom, but they are about 1 ft tall now and so I'll give them time.

Broccoli- When the cold (lol in Florida the 70's is cold lol) weather hit my broccoli doubled in size making it about 1 inch - sad and pathetic, plus 4 plants were eaten by bugs. So I bought some starts from the nursery, and those are doing ok - We will see!

Corn- I ripped out all the corn! For several reasons - were not eating it on our diet, it kept getting caterpillar damage, it took up a lot of room, and mom gave me collard starts!

Collard Greens- they are alive after transplanting... which is GREAT!! Its only been a few days but they look good!

Green Beans- UGGH! - What a LOT of work - I keep getting caterpillars- ones that eat and roll the leaf so I've been smushing them and trying to crush all the eggs I find, but its a never ending battle. Plus the bush beans are more like lean over and shade the collard beans which bugs me. I may have to add a string separating the 2 crops until the collards get bigger. I've eaten 1 green bean, but it was tiny. I've seen lots of flowers so more should be coming soon. I can't wait!!

Garden Fall 2011

So Thursday the 25th I planted the seeds for my garden in starter cups on the porch. I'm trying to do this fairly naturally, mostly organic, and with as little work and money as possible. I'm hoping to plant tomatoes, corn, peppers, cucumber, peas, cantaloupes, green beans, and broccoli.


Well today I went out to water my seeds and HOLY CUCUMBERS BATMAN they went from nothing to one of them is over 2 inches tall!! Awesome! - now if I can keep this up for several months I'll be sitting pretty!!

I'm hoping to finish moving and preparing my beds this week so they will have some time to soak up some summer rains and get all settled before I plant.

I'm also strongly considering planting potatoes this fall in a separate bed!

More to come!

~LuLu