Peppers are finally turning RED: Vegetable Garden Update

Hey guys! I just wanted to give everyone an update on how my vegetable garden is doing as summer comes to an end. I think we have only a few more weeks of good weather, so hopefully I'll still be able to harvest a good amount before the cold settles in.

I'm sad to say that the tomato garden is no more. Tomato plants are pretty sensitive to cold weather and they MUST have sunlight in order to survive, so I guess the few days we've already had of rain and cloud did away with the heirloom, cherry, and grape tomato plants. Here is a picture of my last summer tomato harvest.

Tomato harvest

I had an excellent haul of tomatoes this year, and I definitely want to expand next year's crops and grow  roma varieties too. Luckily my tomatoes did not contract any diseases, although a few of my tomatoes cracked a bit.

My peppers, on the other hand are still going strong! My habanero pepper plants are still doing well and some peppers are even starting to turn red-orange. I picked a few when they were still green, and they were already spicy, but I'm thinking leaving the peppers on the vine.

Habanero Pepper

My bell peppers are also doing well, a few of them are starting to turn red as well. Bell peppers are still coming up in  a few plants, so I hope the weather stays warm enough to allow them to grow.

Bell pepper

Gardening is a great experience and I am glad to share my stories with you. Leave your comments below!

Anyone's Garden Still Going Strong?

Growing Tomatoes in the Garden

Sadly, summer is coming to an end, but my garden is just starting to come alive with red tomatoes, bell peppers, and spicy habaneros. Its exciting to see all my hard work pay off; everytime I step out to check on my garden, there's always something that's ready to be picked to make lunch. The cherry, grape and heirloom tomatoes are all looking great, I can harvest about five tomatoes every couple of days. The habanero peppers, are also doing well and maturing, but they have'nt turned into the red-orange color, so I am trying to exercise a little patience and wait until they are red until I pick them, but its really hard!

The green habaneros are still pretty hot; I used one just yesterday to make spicy beef quesidillas. Habanero plants are perrenials, which means that as long as the weather is hot and sunny, the plants will still produce peppers. But because the weather is getting colder, I'm afraid the frost will come to soon and kill the plants off before the habaneros are able to mature fully. Last year at this time, most of my habanero plants were turning red already and I was harvesting them by the handful, but for some reason the habanero plants are just now getting started. I'm still happy, though, that my garden is thriving now, and hopefully this cold air will recede a little for a few weeks to allow my plants to continue growing.

Gardening can be something of a crapshoot; you may plan for the best, but if the weather takes an unexpected turn for the worse, or there is  a sudden increase of pests you didn't foresee, your garden is toast. So instead of feeling worried, I'll say that I am grateful that my garden is still going strong :)

Is Organic Food More Nutritious?

Sample of organically grown tomatoes and pepper from the garden

Last week, several major news media, including USA Today, reported that  researchers, including Stanford doctor Crystal Smith-Spangler, have determined that organic foods do not contain more vitamins and minerals than conventionally grown foods. Researchers did find that organic foods are 30% less likely to have pesticide residue than conventionally grown food. The researches looked at 240 studies from 1966 to 2011 concerning the nutrition value and pesticide level of organic foods, and found that organic foods do not have a significant health advantage. The reason the researchers conducted this study was to be able to advise their patients on whether they should buy organic food, which is often 25% more expensive than other foods.   I found this article interesting because it is often just assumed without any scientific data that organic is healthier, and to be honest, I still stand by that. 

Pesticides are used to kill organisms. WE are living organisms. We may not have complete scientific data on the effect of small traces of pesticides on our health, but I would rather be safe on the safe side and avoid excess chemicals. It may seem our world revolves around science, but common sense is important to survival, too, and its common sense to not want pesticide residue on your food.

Organic foods is not only better for your health, but also better for the environment. Organic farming processes are more eco-friendly and help preserve the soil, water, and air quality than conventional farming practices. Organic meats are safer than other meats, because they are less likely to have residual growth hormones or antibiotics,which can disrupt normal human metabolic processes. And organic just taste better (in my opinion!). Organic foods is a better and safer choice; go ORGANIC!



Popular Items!

I Think This is Ready to be Picked!

Sadly, summer is coming to an end, but this is also the time when my tomato and pepper plants are ripening and ready to be picked. This particular bell pepper plant eventually turns red, but it was already grazing on the ground and it was so big, so I decided to pick it!

I didn't think harvesting bell peppers would be difficult, but my mom kept peering over my shoulder and making sure I didn't ruin the vegetable; it seemed as if I was performing surgery! 

Usually I use bell pepper to make stew or soup, but I decided to make stuffed bell pepper with beef instead. I've been trying to watch my diet, and it is really hard to cut down on carbs, because it is so prevalent, and super-filling. The stuffed peppers is low on carbs, tastes great, and fills me up. 

Check out my site: http://www.atomatogrowsinqueens.com/urban-organic-gardening-blog.html

If you know any other bell pepper recipes, leave it in the comments below.

Grow Big Beautiful Fruits and Vegetables!

Large heirloom tomato growing in my vegetable garden

Growing big, beautiful fruits and vegetables took a lot of effort and trial and error. I spent hours searching online for ways to increase my harvest and I discovered that I wasn't treating my soil right for it to support abundant growth. As you know, after every growing season, the soil loses vital minerals and nutrients, but what I didn't know is that I needed to actively treat and care for the soil for it to be fertile again. I've tried different types of plant food and fertilizers, but one thing I found that ABSOLUTELY works is Miracle Gro Organic Choice Garden Soil. Check out my article: Grow Bigger and More Delicious Vegetables in Your Garden! for how to use this wonder product.

Grow Your Own Pharmacy In Your Home Vegetable Garden!

Basil is a great medicinal herb that can be used to treat  colds and fevers.

With health care costs high and the risks of modern-day medicine becoming more known, people are starting to look at herbal medicine as a viable alternative in treating common illnesses. Of course, herbal medicine has been around since the dawn of mankind, but only in the past few decades has Western medicine begun to integrate ancient herbal medicine in practice. Herbs can be used to treat illnesses such as colds, fevers, stomach pains, and inflammation. Some herbs have even been implicated in certain cancers. Growing medicinal herbs in your garden is a great way to promote a healthier lifestyle and a closer relationship to the environment. Check out my slideshow for a list of medicinal herbs you can try growing: Medicinal Herbs

My Organic Bell Pepper and Habanero Vegetable Garden

Hi, just wanted to share with you a video I posted showing how my bell pepper and habanero plants are doing. It takes about 3 months for these peppers to start coming up so I am excited to start seeing them in my garden. Check out my website- A Tomato Grows in Queens where I share my thoughts on organic gardening and tips on starting a vegetable garden

Easy-to-Grow Vegetables: Habanero Pepper

Habanero peppers forming in my vegetable garden

Habanero pepper plants are popular vegetables to grow in the garden and require little expertise  Habaneros are one of the spiciest pepper species in the world, with a Scoville scale ranging from 80,000 to 600,000! Sunlight, water, and care-- that's all habaneros need to grow, and because habanero plants are perrenials, they can continue to grow and produce hundreds of habaneros, as long as the weather conditions are warn and growing conditions are good. Check out my webpage, 'How to Grow Spicy Habanero Peppers' for fun facts and tips on growing this hot treat. 

Vegetable Gardening is on the Rise!

Across the United States, more people are starting vegetable gardens in their home. Growing your own fresh organic fruits, vegetables, and herbs promotes healthy eating habits and saves you money in grocery shopping. Most importantly, growing your own organic food gives you a sense of peace knowing your food contains no pesticides, herbicides, and other artificial chemicals that may be harmful to your body. If you want to see a vegetable garden grown in New York City of all places, check out my Squidoo page- Urban Gardening Right in Your Backyard!.