Tag Archives: Master Gardener

Compost Gardening Experiment

Posted on by rhondacarrier

In two posts, Make Compost Like Yoghurt and  Chicken Wire Compost Container, I described a compost method I am trying. The purpose is to set up a compost pile that matures quickly to be used as a vegetable garden base. The master gardener who recommended the method said to leave it for 3-4 months and then to plant vegetables directly in it. Although not all the hay was converted to compost, the mixture had matured with a rich layer of compost under the top layer of hay.  I added a small bag of purchased top soil, mixed it with the remaining hay and compost and planted two tomato plants. I left a layer of hay on the top to act as mulch.

Possible Problems: My concern is that there might still be enough active decomposition that the temperature could become too hot for the tomato plants. Although the plants are thriving, I’ll continue to monitor the temperature. Another concern is that there might be too much nitrogen for the tomato plants due to the rich compost. By adding the topsoil, I added structure to the mix to hold moisture, reduced the direct contact each plant has with the nitrogen in the compost while still providing the needed nutrients. The plants had nearly doubled in height in a week and have many flowers. Hopefully, we’ll have tomatoes soon.

tomato plants in compost pile

Florida Gardener Book List

Posted on by rhondacarrier

I’m excited. I attended the first master gardening class today and received a pile of reference books. These included:

Growing Camellias

Posted on by rhondacarrier

We moved from Kobe, Japan to Tampa, FL last June. Gardens in Japan are designed to highlight each season. Spring was my favorite season with its waves of camellias, cherry blossoms, azaleas and hydrangeas. I’m starting to plan a garden in Tampa and I’m looking for knowledge and inspiration to help me convert a lot full of weeds to a garden beautiful throughout the year. When I realized the Master Gardener topic at the Charles Fendig Library was on camellias, I joined the group to learn how to grow them in my Tampa garden.

Eileen Hart, Master Gardener and presenter, had a table covered with beautiful blooms to highlight her discussion of camellia history, use, insects and diseases, plus propagation of the plant. The cluster of stamen at the center of a camellia is a key characteristic, although there are variations. The formal double flowers, for instance, have a tight center of petals that hide the cluster of stamen. Camellia flower sizes vary, and colors range from white to pink to red.

The camellia is a short day plant, blooming when there is less than 12 hours of sunshine each day. When purchasing a camellia plant, Eileen advised determining when it will bloom, since different species bloom from November to March. It grows best in the understory of other plants, so provide another plant to shade it during the hottest part of the day. Eileen suggested fertilizing camellias with 2/10/10 fertilizer between Feb. – Mar and 12/4/8 in June to stimulate growth and blooms. An encouraging fact for those of us that lost plants to the freezing temperatures in Florida recently, is that the camellia can tolerate freezing temperatures for short periods. Some of the leaves and blooms may be lost due to frost, but if the plant is well established, the roots and stem should recover. Another environmental consideration is its water requirements. The plant can survive a drought, but it needs at least an inch of water each week to bloom. It does not tolerate having “wet feet”; that is it does not grow in waterlogged and poorly drained soil conditions.

I was reminded today that the camellia is not just beautiful, it also has economic importance.  Camellia sinensis is the basis for most types of tea with a history stretching back over 5,000 years. Green tea has significance to us since my husband and I took tea ceremony lessons while in Japan. I will think of Eileen’s presentation, and enjoy sipping Camellia sinensis, the next time my husband makes me a bowl of tea.

I will carefully tend the seedling that I received from Eileen today. Hopefully it will develop into a full blooming camellia bush in my garden in a few years.