Florida Growers Thread - Page 9

flipt · November 25, 2007

Rena, here in Miami I've planted out transplants as late as mid-December. The best time is during October and early November. That will usually give a nice harvest prior to the bugs getting to you. I usually grow until about the end of April - but after that the bugs are just too much and the heat is getting up there to where it's hard to set fruit. The exception is cherry-types, as Anne said, which can be grown with due diligence just about year-round, though I don't do it. I opt for hot peppers and melons in the late spring and summer.
Flip

Rena · November 25, 2007

I keep growing transplants then something comes up and I have to start over. I have some seed started and I did plant a few cherries. The year round season thing has me mixed up and so I keep thinking I am early then late

gardenhappy · November 29, 2007

I'm from Michigan until last September,lol,i am sooooooooooo mixed up!!! Acording to farmers almanac,we can still plant fall plants,next great planting date is December 4-5th favorable days for sowing grains,hay,flowers,then Decenber 6-7th plant carrots,beets,onions,turnips,potoato's,lettuce,col lards and leafy veggies. Dec8TH- 10TH , DO NO PLANTING, -Dec 11-12 plant corn,beans,peppers,and all other above ground crops.13TH -THRU 14TH GOOD DAYS FOR KILLING WEEDS,then 15-16 corn,peppers,tomato's EXTRA GOOD for peas,cucumbers,cantaloups,and vine crops,and all other above groundcrops,farmers says first frost will be January 29th,I guess we'll all ahve to see if this is true.My peas,squash,green beans,and tomato's are doing great right now but i am going thru the fertilizer!! Anyone make their own here in Florida?? What works best for all of you?? I'm organic.

annecros · November 30, 2007

The sweat bees have found my tomatoes and are out in force! Makes me happy, but I wouldn't trust a seed I saved for anything in the world. Guess learning to bag is in my future, but sheesh, not sure if the climate will cooperate. The sweat bees tell me when it is time to plant southern peas.

Fruit set progressing nicely, thanks to my tiny, shiny little friends.

annecros · December 6, 2007

I guess everybody has been busy in the garden lately! Plenty of fruit set now, and the cherries are coming in - I've got a bowl full of Gardener's Delight on the kitchen table right now. Had to murder two more hornworms this week. I have a few more ready to set out, but it is almost getting too late.

MargeH · December 6, 2007

Its funny what 100 miles or so north can do. I have started seeds for the dwarf project because I know that they will stay short enough to remain under the lights until early Feb. and I am going through my seeds now to decided what I want to plant around Dec. 20. We can get cold enough to kill them in late Jan. So I won't put them outside until mid-February. And because I grow in pots, if we have a late cold snap I can still bring them in at night.

I am still picking tomatoes from my fall plants, but I have started pulling out some plants. My Earl's Faux was the first to go and I have pulled four others this week. I expect to have them all gone so that I can clean out pots by the middle of January.

___
Marjorie

flipt · December 7, 2007

I've been pretty busy lately as Anne mentioned some of us might be - battling tylcv as 4 more plants have been affected for a total of 10 (out of 50) virused plants since early Oct. All have been replaced but three - they have multiple maters on them so I'll let them ripen before I pull them out.

I've got lotsa fruit on some plants (30+ on the best one) and many others have just started fruiting recently. Out of the 50, only 5 or so original plants have yet to fruit and several newer plants are catching up.

I've been munching on Galinas for the past two weeks. Two other cherries are loaded - Green Doctors and Black Cherry - and almost ready for picking.

Overall, I've been disappointed with the way my plants look - battling leaf and virus problems, etc etc. - this has been my weakest effort in some years.

Anyway, here's a pic of a part of one of the gardens. Hope everyone is doing well!
Flip

Rena · December 7, 2007

Nice Garden!! Your plants are spaced so nice!

annecros · December 9, 2007

sheesh, flipt. I wouldn't be upset about those plants at all. You are much neater than I am.
Are we having a "wet" dry season or what? Not that I am complaining or anything. I have only hand watered since last June, and by now I should have drug my hoses and sprinklers out. Hopefully, this will bode well for the state's drought problems, crossing my fingers. The down side is foliage disease - yuck. I love roses as well, so I am sensitive!

Finding fruit set I didn't even know I had - but resisting posting pics until I have something to really torture the rest of the world with! High today of 82 - paradise for both me and the bugs!

gardenhappy · December 9, 2007

I found our forum again!!! I have been getting tomatos now for about a week,lots of them comming on and will be starting new plants next week,here in Lithia we have not had any rain!!! I have to water every day,cloudy today but no rain. Now that i have got rid of the mole crickets my gardens are looking great!!!!

I hve been looking thru all the new catologs,have got about 9 so far,LOL,i need to swap and not buy 1 more pack for a while!!

Shipping and packs have gone up

annecros · December 9, 2007

gardenhappy, do they let you water every day? We have restrictions that are very restrictive - to say the least. I hate it, I feel I should be able to water a food crop any time.

Hubby rolls his eyes at me as well - but oh well. He married me for better or worse!

gardenhappy · December 9, 2007

No one has said anything

I don't run a sprinkler -i give each plant a good long drink every morning first thing then fertilize 1 time a week with fish emulsion from gallon jugs of water,the deep drinks are from a garden hose,non of my friends have said anything and they see me out there all the time,

,i never thought about it

,being from Michigan thats never a problem.We live 25 miles from town,we're out in the boonies.

MargeH · December 9, 2007

No rain here in Sarasota, either. Right now our water restrictions are one day a week with sprinklers. No restirctions with a water hose that you are holding. They are talking about restricting car washing. I don't know if that will also mean watering plants with a water hose.

Because I grow in pots, I fill a gallon jug and give it to each plant. When they are really growing I may have to do that more than once a day. Most of my plants are on the way out, now, and aren't requiring as much water. I have started seeds of all of my dwarf and shorter varieties because they will stay shorter under my lights longer. I will be starting seeds for the others just before Christmas. Planting outside will be mid-February.
____
Marjorie

flipt · December 10, 2007

Hi all - Rena, Anne - I like to keep the gardens weeded and spaced out between plants and the one pictured isn't looking too bad. But, one of my other plots that has another 15 or so plants (and also looks neat and weeded) has many under-performing plants. I sprayed with Messenger this weekend; maybe that'll give them a boost.

My third plot (12 plants) has more recently planted plants and have only just begun to fruit so the jury's still out on them - most look decent but a few are looking weak.

The weather here has been hot for December (lows 68-70 and hi's 81-83 and kinda humid. I hand water in all of my gardens. Sure hope we get some cooler weather soon as the plants would really like that!

Flip

annecros · December 10, 2007

I agree, we need to be a bit cooler. And honestly, I have been surprised at the rain we have been getting here in my little microclimate on the Broward/Miami-Dade line. It rained before daylight today, and is raining again as we speak. The plants could really use a shot of cool, dry air. It would freshen them up a bit, I think.

It seems like we were unseasonably warm into December last year as well. I remember sweating on Christmas Day, and cooking on the grill.

November 29, 2007	#123
gardenhappy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: PLANT CITY Posts: 255	seasons I'm from Michigan until last September,lol,i am sooooooooooo mixed up!!! Acording to farmers almanac,we can still plant fall plants,next great planting date is December 4-5th favorable days for sowing grains,hay,flowers,then Decenber 6-7th plant carrots,beets,onions,turnips,potoato's,lettuce,col lards and leafy veggies. Dec8TH- 10TH , DO NO PLANTING, -Dec 11-12 plant corn,beans,peppers,and all other above ground crops.13TH -THRU 14TH GOOD DAYS FOR KILLING WEEDS,then 15-16 corn,peppers,tomato's EXTRA GOOD for peas,cucumbers,cantaloups,and vine crops,and all other above groundcrops,farmers says first frost will be January 29th,I guess we'll all ahve to see if this is true.My peas,squash,green beans,and tomato's are doing great right now but i am going thru the fertilizer!! Anyone make their own here in Florida?? What works best for all of you?? I'm organic.

December 9, 2007	#130
gardenhappy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: PLANT CITY Posts: 255	forum I found our forum again!!! I have been getting tomatos now for about a week,lots of them comming on and will be starting new plants next week,here in Lithia we have not had any rain!!! I have to water every day,cloudy today but no rain. Now that i have got rid of the mole crickets my gardens are looking great!!!! I hve been looking thru all the new catologs,have got about 9 so far,LOL,i need to swap and not buy 1 more pack for a while!! Shipping and packs have gone up

December 9, 2007	#132
gardenhappy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: PLANT CITY Posts: 255	watering No one has said anything I don't run a sprinkler -i give each plant a good long drink every morning first thing then fertilize 1 time a week with fish emulsion from gallon jugs of water,the deep drinks are from a garden hose,non of my friends have said anything and they see me out there all the time, ,i never thought about it ,being from Michigan thats never a problem.We live 25 miles from town,we're out in the boonies.

November 25, 2007	#121
flipt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Miami, Fl Posts: 59	Rena, here in Miami I've planted out transplants as late as mid-December. The best time is during October and early November. That will usually give a nice harvest prior to the bugs getting to you. I usually grow until about the end of April - but after that the bugs are just too much and the heat is getting up there to where it's hard to set fruit. The exception is cherry-types, as Anne said, which can be grown with due diligence just about year-round, though I don't do it. I opt for hot peppers and melons in the late spring and summer. Flip

November 25, 2007	#122
Rena Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Warm Springs, GA Posts: 1,421	I keep growing transplants then something comes up and I have to start over. I have some seed started and I did plant a few cherries. The year round season thing has me mixed up and so I keep thinking I am early then late

November 30, 2007	#124
annecros Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: West Park, FL Posts: 219	The sweat bees have found my tomatoes and are out in force! Makes me happy, but I wouldn't trust a seed I saved for anything in the world. Guess learning to bag is in my future, but sheesh, not sure if the climate will cooperate. The sweat bees tell me when it is time to plant southern peas. Fruit set progressing nicely, thanks to my tiny, shiny little friends.

December 6, 2007	#125
annecros Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: West Park, FL Posts: 219	I guess everybody has been busy in the garden lately! Plenty of fruit set now, and the cherries are coming in - I've got a bowl full of Gardener's Delight on the kitchen table right now. Had to murder two more hornworms this week. I have a few more ready to set out, but it is almost getting too late.

December 6, 2007	#126
MargeH Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 224	Its funny what 100 miles or so north can do. I have started seeds for the dwarf project because I know that they will stay short enough to remain under the lights until early Feb. and I am going through my seeds now to decided what I want to plant around Dec. 20. We can get cold enough to kill them in late Jan. So I won't put them outside until mid-February. And because I grow in pots, if we have a late cold snap I can still bring them in at night. I am still picking tomatoes from my fall plants, but I have started pulling out some plants. My Earl's Faux was the first to go and I have pulled four others this week. I expect to have them all gone so that I can clean out pots by the middle of January. ___ Marjorie

December 7, 2007	#128
Rena Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Warm Springs, GA Posts: 1,421	Nice Garden!! Your plants are spaced so nice!

December 9, 2007	#129
annecros Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: West Park, FL Posts: 219	sheesh, flipt. I wouldn't be upset about those plants at all. You are much neater than I am. Are we having a "wet" dry season or what? Not that I am complaining or anything. I have only hand watered since last June, and by now I should have drug my hoses and sprinklers out. Hopefully, this will bode well for the state's drought problems, crossing my fingers. The down side is foliage disease - yuck. I love roses as well, so I am sensitive! Finding fruit set I didn't even know I had - but resisting posting pics until I have something to really torture the rest of the world with! High today of 82 - paradise for both me and the bugs!

December 9, 2007	#131
annecros Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: West Park, FL Posts: 219	gardenhappy, do they let you water every day? We have restrictions that are very restrictive - to say the least. I hate it, I feel I should be able to water a food crop any time. Hubby rolls his eyes at me as well - but oh well. He married me for better or worse!

December 9, 2007	#133
MargeH Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 224	No rain here in Sarasota, either. Right now our water restrictions are one day a week with sprinklers. No restirctions with a water hose that you are holding. They are talking about restricting car washing. I don't know if that will also mean watering plants with a water hose. Because I grow in pots, I fill a gallon jug and give it to each plant. When they are really growing I may have to do that more than once a day. Most of my plants are on the way out, now, and aren't requiring as much water. I have started seeds of all of my dwarf and shorter varieties because they will stay shorter under my lights longer. I will be starting seeds for the others just before Christmas. Planting outside will be mid-February. ____ Marjorie

December 10, 2007	#134
flipt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Miami, Fl Posts: 59	Hi all - Rena, Anne - I like to keep the gardens weeded and spaced out between plants and the one pictured isn't looking too bad. But, one of my other plots that has another 15 or so plants (and also looks neat and weeded) has many under-performing plants. I sprayed with Messenger this weekend; maybe that'll give them a boost. My third plot (12 plants) has more recently planted plants and have only just begun to fruit so the jury's still out on them - most look decent but a few are looking weak. The weather here has been hot for December (lows 68-70 and hi's 81-83 and kinda humid. I hand water in all of my gardens. Sure hope we get some cooler weather soon as the plants would really like that! Flip

December 10, 2007	#135
annecros Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: West Park, FL Posts: 219	I agree, we need to be a bit cooler. And honestly, I have been surprised at the rain we have been getting here in my little microclimate on the Broward/Miami-Dade line. It rained before daylight today, and is raining again as we speak. The plants could really use a shot of cool, dry air. It would freshen them up a bit, I think. It seems like we were unseasonably warm into December last year as well. I remember sweating on Christmas Day, and cooking on the grill.