Counting down to spring…..

Now I'm not sure how you left your garden after last summer but I always put mine to "bed" cleared of old plant debris then covered with a thick layer of compost and topped with another thick layer of mulch. The mulch keeps most of the soil from washing away during the heavy rains that we may have had during the winter. So all that needs to be done to "wake it up" is put another thick layer of nutrient rich compost on it and give it a good tilling.  Compost is the best organic way to give your new plants the "shot in the arm" they need for a good healthy start.  

As I'm sure you already know you can save ton of money growing our own vegetables and they taste sooo much better than store bought veggies. (and they're chalked full of a lot more vitamins too!)  If you're a tomato lover like me (and at $3.99 per lb) you'll save big bucks just on them…  Mmm Mmm there's nothing like biting into a big juicy home grown tomato.

Here's the tricky part for me and a lot of people, tomato plants are big and take up a heck of a lot of room in the garden and with limited space what can you do?  Well…you can do container gardening and put them all around your patio (just make sure there is a hole in the bottom of your container) or to utilize space you can even try the upside down tomato garden. The bushier type tomatoes like Cherry Tomatoes do really well in them and you can hang them just about anywhere.  

I challenge you to step outside the box this year and try growing a new variety…like the Cherokee Purple or the Orange Oxheart? They have a wonderful less acidic taste and I think you'll be surprised at the great Salsa's and "Mater Sandwiches" you'll enjoy.   

So go dust off our old tennis shoes and get ready cause the count down is on!