Oh no - too cold for my tomatoes?

I didn't know you could grow tomatoes in the winter in Florida, but inspired by my friend Merge I picked up tomato plants at our local Home Depot back in November. They have literally exploded into some fat and happy, bushy tomatoes.

Now I'm worried, since it is supposed to get down to the low fifties and for two nights even down to 38 degrees. I wonder if that is too cold for my tomatoes?

Hope not - they look soo promising. Richard loves tomatoes and if we have too many, I can always make a fine tomato and basil sauce. A delicious dilemma:)

Here they are about two weeks or so after planting - it seemed like they took a long time to start flowering ...

But - just look at them now ....

Richard did a great job staking them up for support.

Now I can hardly see the layout of my mini veggie garden -

it's an 8 ft by 8 ft plot.

The sweet potato vine I planted in the center pot - atop the urn - together with the red geranium  for some color and fun decor, is now taking over.  I'll have to take it out of the pot, so the Geranium has more breathing space. I love red geraniums:)

That's OK - the lime green of the sweet potato vine will look good as a contrast anywhere. Besides, I learned from my garden friend Merge that sweet potato vines are the easiest to take cuttings from, cut off a few tendrils, stick them in water and voila - they will root for you. That means I can start at least three or four more new plants before spring.

The pepper plant is going to town too - it's actually a red one, but we keep eating it green (tastes great). First, because Richard didn't know it was supposed to turn red. I left up two of the green ones - waiting for them to turn red - hoping the critters won't develop a taste for them.

This Italian basil looks good, but for some reason it is a real water hog.

Below: Here you can see the African basil on your left  - it's blooming - purple spikes - now.

It's the only basil I found that lives thru our Florida summers and produces for three years in a row.

The leaf sticking up in the middle is spinach grown in a window box from seed - now harvested and eaten:)

Rosemary on your bottom right. 

Alongside the veggie garden there's another collection of herb pots and flowers, the ones who usually prefer cooler temps and they are the first ones I move around the end of April.

As my gather friends who have followed my garden essays this past year know - my veggie garden is always changing - it's the nature of the beast.

Besides, I like trying out different things - like the cantaloupe and eggplant I tried last spring-summer. It can be fun. Heck, my friend Merge planted corn for popcorn (a special seed) and she harvested enough for a couple of pops:)

Jimbo - our resident garden kitty -

is always by my side whenever I'm in the garden, especially if it looks like I'm digging, planting or moving things around -

 he's always there - nose first.

 The lime green is the sweet potato vine.

 Cheery African Bush Daisies - very easy to grow here in Florida.

Off to the side of my blue seating area I keep my dill and parsley, more (different) basil, chives and flowers.

A nice place to hang out and inhale the scent of the herbs.

OK - now that you've seen all the newest veggies and herbs - let's go head for the gazebo and have a sip of wine or whateva:)

On the way there - let me show you today's new hibiscus flower.

 Thanks for visiting my gather friends - until next time!

All images taken by Rose H.

copyright 2009