Extending FL's Growing Season

FreyaFL · December 15, 2012

I'm pretty new to gardening in Florida and definitely new this year to planting MANY tomatoes. I was recently reading that our growing season will be running down in mid spring (March?) But, meanwhile, I get this planting guide that updates every couple weeks that tells me if I plant seeds now, I'll be harvesting in April. Basically it's been telling me every month to plant seeds now and harvest so many months out. As I've been sowing seeds and planting out a couple plants every month (started some seeds at the end of August, for instance, that are producing somewhat now) I was wondering if this would keep me in plenty of tomatoes all through the spring and into the summer if I keep it up. Or, is the SW FL heat and humidity going to put a stop to everything no matter when I plant.

I'm also starting to think about what seeds I should plant for the coming summer (or if I should even bother...) A very generous person has already offered Homestead seeds to me. I've purchased a one variety from Baker Creek that say do well in high heat and humidity (Marglobe Supreme, a determinate). I've even got two everglades going (and, honestly, these are like weeds. I took several cuttings from a friends wild plant and as soon as they rooted they started growing FAST, flowering and ripening almost overnight.) I also have Tropic growing now (tasty but tend to crack for me.) Tried Solar Fire (really like the taste of this one, but the plants didn't produce much before finishing.)

I guess I just need any info on growing tomatoes here in our spring/summer season so I don't miss out by being late. What should I do, what shouldn't I do. What I can expect or not. When to sow, when to not bother, that kind of thing.

Thank you!
FreyaFL

December 15, 2012	#1
FreyaFL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: SW FL Posts: 152	Extending FL's Growing Season I'm pretty new to gardening in Florida and definitely new this year to planting MANY tomatoes. I was recently reading that our growing season will be running down in mid spring (March?) But, meanwhile, I get this planting guide that updates every couple weeks that tells me if I plant seeds now, I'll be harvesting in April. Basically it's been telling me every month to plant seeds now and harvest so many months out. As I've been sowing seeds and planting out a couple plants every month (started some seeds at the end of August, for instance, that are producing somewhat now) I was wondering if this would keep me in plenty of tomatoes all through the spring and into the summer if I keep it up. Or, is the SW FL heat and humidity going to put a stop to everything no matter when I plant. I'm also starting to think about what seeds I should plant for the coming summer (or if I should even bother...) A very generous person has already offered Homestead seeds to me. I've purchased a one variety from Baker Creek that say do well in high heat and humidity (Marglobe Supreme, a determinate). I've even got two everglades going (and, honestly, these are like weeds. I took several cuttings from a friends wild plant and as soon as they rooted they started growing FAST, flowering and ripening almost overnight.) I also have Tropic growing now (tasty but tend to crack for me.) Tried Solar Fire (really like the taste of this one, but the plants didn't produce much before finishing.) I guess I just need any info on growing tomatoes here in our spring/summer season so I don't miss out by being late. What should I do, what shouldn't I do. What I can expect or not. When to sow, when to not bother, that kind of thing. Thank you! FreyaFL