Freeze Damage in Zone 9

Morning, learned a lesson this week.  Do not cover your tomatoes with a plastic drop cloth.  However, when you have lemons, you make lemonade (we already did that this week with the our lemons), we are going to make some green tomato salsa with a recipe found on another Zone 9 gardener's blog.

Here are some photos of the damage and product

I'm trying something as this whole garden thing is trial and error, I've pruned back the last two plants, one is a Hybrid Roma, the other is a Hybrid Beefsteak....let's see if anything comes of it.  In addition, I've taken a root string from one of the Roma's and put it in the Earthbox to see if anything sprouts...who know's?

As you can see, quite lot of salsa ahead of us.

Next up is January's planting's and more garden improvements.  On the slate is:

• Chucking the planting table....haven't really used it
• Adding in two more 2x4 raised beds
• Have noticed a real need for an herb garden, so Cilantro, Parsley, Mint and Thyme will be added
• Starting January/February seeds
• Have another couple of sweet potatoes sitting, just waiting on their slips

Enjoy your weekend, if anyone is reading this decrepit site.

Brown Thumbs?

Well, we took the plunge, put on the boots and started the garten.  Yes, it also looks like a Bier Garten.  Can you blame me?

This project kind of just 'grew' (get it?) from a raised bed, as seen on the left (below), Right (above).  Got so excited and discovered a source of throw away lumber and acquired a number of 2x4 boxes.  Stacked them together, secured them, and filled them up with rock, compost and soil and we now have several raised bed gartens.

This is on the southwest side of the house and gets good sun the majority of the day.

So, in September we planted tomatoes, bib lettuce, romaine lettuce, canteloupe (listeria free mind you), corn, onions, carrots, green/yellow/orange/red bell peppers, yellow squash, pole beans, watermelon, broccoli and cauliflower.  Potatoes are next, just need to get them from the feedstore.

Total of 60 sq feet of garden.

Due to drainage issues, built a deck along with it so our feet don't stand in the water after a heavy, heavy rain.  Again, recycled pallet material, even reused the nails!

 Started the corn, tomatoes and Romaine lettuce from seed!

Even had some help with the decking.

So all in all, we should be able to get our ROI this season alone, thanks to the 'recycled' boxes and deck work.  More important, it is a place to relax, reflect and feel proud about the work we did and think back on some fond memories of my grandmother's tomato garden and how sweet they were.

This is our first real garden since we have been here, we had some good success in Ohio, but not on this scale.  Thanks to Megan and Michael to really be an inspiration to get motivated and see it through.  Now only if these brown thumbs can turn green!  (sounds like a Elton John song)

On the plate for this week:  Hanging a truss system for the Blackberry plants.  These are the "Natchez" variety of Blackberries.  They were in the 50% off rack at Lowes, I think I've nursed them back from their distressed state and they seem stable where I want to plant them.  My research says, although they are from Arkansas, they will grow successfully in Zone 9.  Can't wait to see if we are lucky to get some fruit.

Next up...blueberry bushes around the pool cage.