Good evening, gardening friends. My friend is having a plant swap at her house on Saturday, October 5th from 8 a.m. till 2:30 p.m. The location is 4675 Mildred Bass Road, Saint Cloud 34772. If anyone would like to come join the fun, you are more than welcome. You can even bring produce to sell. Please view her FB page, Grace Gardens.

First harvest of sweet potatoes. Grew in a pot. Pulled too early, so I’m going to let the other pots keep growing.

I started growing a tomato plant in a 5 gallon bucket a few months ago. Good practice before I dive into building my garden next season. It’s one way for me to learn the basics of growing and maintaining basic vegetables. I started off with 1 tomato plant which has grown quite a bit. Pulled a few suckers and planted in another pot which has taken off nicely. Both are placed it inside my screened in pool enclosure which produced two fruits but none since. I heard it was due to being inside of screen enclosure. It has grown so much that it’s starting to wilt over. It surpassed its original support stick. I purchased a galvanized steel cage support to help the growth of the original tomato plant and will add new potting soil to another 5 gallon bucket to transplant those suckers. Both will be relocated outside the screen enclosure so nature can be properly pollinate. My question, is this good potting soil to use and do I need to do anything else to the bucket besides add adequate holes in the bottom for drainage?

Tomatoes thrive in slightly acidic soil with a pH ranging from 6.2 to 6.8. If your garden has clay-rich soil, it tends to be more alkaline, and you'll need to amend it to suit tomato plants better. Adding organic matter such as compost can help adjust the pH and improve soil structure. On the other hand, if you have sandy soil, you're at an advantage! Sandy soil naturally tends toward a more acidic pH, which is ideal for tomatoes. However, remember that sandy soil drains quickly, so regular watering will be crucial to keep your tomatoes hydrated and healthy. Happy gardening!

As we move into the warmer months in Florida, starting a garden requires some specific considerations due to the intense heat and humidity. Here are some important steps and recommendations to get your garden started successfully: 1. Plant Nitrogen-Fixing Plants: During the summer, it’s not ideal to plant most vegetables due to the extreme weather conditions. However, nitrogen-fixing plants like cow peas and sun hemp thrive in these conditions and can help improve soil fertility for future planting seasons. 2. Start a Compost Pile: Building a compost pile is a great way to utilize yard waste and kitchen scraps, turning them into rich, organic matter that will benefit your garden. Here’s how to get started: - Gather Materials: Collect yard waste such as leaves, grass clippings, and chipped wood, as well as food scraps like vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and eggshells. - Layering: Start with a base layer of coarse materials like small branches or straw for aeration. Alternate layers of green (nitrogen-rich) materials like food scraps and fresh grass clippings with brown (carbon-rich) materials like leaves and wood chips. - Moisture and Aeration: Keep the compost pile moist, but not waterlogged. Turn the pile regularly to ensure proper aeration and speed up decomposition. 3. Mulching: Using mulch can help retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Organic mulches like straw, wood chips, and grass clippings are excellent choices. Spread a thick layer (about 3-4 inches) around your plants, but keep it a few inches away from the plant stems to prevent rot. 4. Soil Preparation: If you’re planning a future vegetable garden, now is a great time to start preparing your soil. Here’s what you can do: - Test the Soil: Get a soil test to determine its pH and nutrient levels. This will help you understand what amendments are needed. - Add Organic Matter: Incorporate compost, well-rotted manure, or other organic matter into the soil to improve its structure and fertility.