Florida Growers Thread

[annecros]

captnkirk,

As Flip noted Marianna's Peace and Aunt Gertie's Gold are just must grows. Tasty and very productive. I am also fond of Earl's Faux. Silvery Fir Tree is my favorite early - and I have never lost one to TYLCV - but that just may be coincidence. I grow SFT exclusively in containers - and it just seems to go right on producing all Summer. Some people are not fond of the flavor, but I like it well enough for an early and use them as "giveaways" to the neighbors when the really good long season toms come in.

Flip,

Good news on those varieties. I am looking forward to them. I want the oxhearts for canning, so we'll see how that goes. Will be interested to hear how some of your new ones do - what part of Miami do you live in? I am in West Park (just south of Hallandale Beach Blvd.) and the Dade County line runs across the lot behind me.

It is all empty lot to my west and south, so fighting whitefly is pretty much a losing battle. And, the darn iguanas! I had a big run in with one late spring that I haven't been able to capture and dispose of yet (thus the avatar), and just saw an even bigger one two days ago. They really set back my squash and melons. I hope they don't get into my tomatoes this year - I really will have to go to war then! I plan to keep the dog in the yard as much as possible.

I'll keep sowing backups, and donate what I don't need to a neighborhood church. I almost don't want to do a plant count - I would have to tell my husband how many I have, and then he'll call me crazy and complain about the beds he has to build!

[flipt]

Anne,

Sounds like I've got the same situation at home - my wife and kids think I'm totally whacked on my tomatos (and I have to build my own gardens!). I'll also be growing lettuce, beans, radishes, peppers and herbs.

I hope you can rid your place of the iguana. I see them now and then but none are currently residing close enough to bother me. Nothing like more pests to deal with.

I'm going to spray every day until I plant out in hopes of delaying some of the whitefly activity. What's really irritating about the whiteflies is my neighbor across the street does not have them in his tomatos. My brother lives a few miles from me and he doesn't have any either - maybe I'll start growing at their places.

I live in South Dade County. If you're familiar with it, I live off Old Cutler Road and SW 144 St in the Village of Palmetto Bay just south of Pinecrest.

Flip

[gardenhappy]

Ann,
Did you get any of the seeds i sent to you in? Flamingo?? ...
I had a flare up of my Psoriatic arthritis and ended up in rehab for a month so i lost most of my gardens to heat!!!! I was wondering how they did in the heat if you got any of them in.

[MargeH]

Good to see everyone isn't letting the virus stop their tomato passion.

I noticed that my first fall tomato was starting to turn this morning. It is on one of my Cheeky plants that I am growing for the Dwarf project. Unfortunately the plant is also my first to show signs of TYLC. I probably won't pull the plant because there are 4 more tomatoes on it and I know it won't stop the spread of the virus if I do pull it.

Flip, I have that same situation with the virus. I have a friend up the street who grows my seedlings and he has never had TYLC.

I went overboard with peppers this fall. I have 4 different kinds of sweet peppers, 2 plants of each. All of them have set nicely already. I probably will be giving away peppers instead of tomatoes. I have found that the combination of the heat and humidity interfering with setting and then the spread of TYLC that I don't get as many tomatoes in the fall as in the spring. I did plant one Sun King to try it again. It is supposed to be resistant. I planted it 2 years ago but started it late and didn't get many tomatoes. The tomato was just OK but it was still better than storebought. It never showed signs of the virus. I also went heavier on cherries. All of them are setting when some of my larger tomato varieties just keep dropping blossoms.

____
Marjorie

[annecros]

Hey Cheryl - sorry to hear about the psoratic arthritis. I have CREST Scleroderma, and my rheumatologist has psoratic arthritis, so I know a flair can be absolutely miserable. The Omar's and the Thai Pink Egg are from seed you sent - I am saving the Flamingo, Millionaire and one or two others that you sent for the Spring rotation when it will be warmer. I didn't want to subject them to TOO much heat until I built up some seed. The Thai Okra did very well, the iguana chomped most of the squash blossoms but I got a few tasty ones. If you see anything on my grow list that looks interesting, drop me a PM. I have an envelope set aside for you. Some of the varieties listed I am low on until about January or so, but I will put anything you want on a list and keep with your envelope. Speaking of peppers, do you remember a "Red Hot Cherry" that you sent me last year? Hubby loved it, but I neglected to save seed. Actually, I think I set aside a fruit to save seed, and he chopped it up for an omelet one morning while I was sleeping in!

I wish there were something we could all do about the virus - I feel really sorry for the commercial growers down here.

Flip,

I know that area very well. I set up my first household as an adult in Homestead when my husband was in the military. Many, many years ago, 25 or so, and pre Andrew. Great tomato country. There was a fantastic u-pick on Krome Ave at the time.

Hi Marge, it looks like most of the Florida gang is here. What do you have planned for Spring? I guess I should volunteer some space for the Dwarf project - it looks really interesting and they have lost some of their Australian off season growers.

Edit to add: We killed a Hawk Moth in the HOUSE yesterday after letting the dog out when she was up in the middle of the night. I am going to spray my seedlings with Bt for Hornworm today. Ugg.

[flipt]

Hi Marge, nice to hear from you! I'm glad also that there are folks that grow tomatos in spite of the virus. I've got 10 hot pepper plants (6 vars/12"-15" high) in pots on the patio and the sweet peppers (also 6 vrs) just popped up yesterday.

Anne, all those u-picks along Krome are gone now. There's still several fresh veggie stands and we go out there now and then to get corn and eat some bbq.

I'm trying not to plant out too early but my seedlings are getting quite large indoors. In fact, I planted a German Red Strawberry and a Marianna's Peace in my one earthbox today. I'll probaby plant several more containers (large pots) tomorrow.

I prepared one of my gardens today, amending the soil somewhat with organic dolomite and composted manure. Also, had to trim back some trees to allow for more sun. This spot gets less full sun than my other two gardens. I'll plant out in it sometime next week.

The other two gardens need to be finished up with weeding this week.

[annecros]

Yeah, I am transplanting 8 Albany Georgia Heirlooms tomorrow. They are just too big.

We are supposed to get a little relief from the heat - high mid 80s, low mid 70s - so hopefully with a lot of water they will be OK.

Sometime during next week, will be setting out another dozen or so transplants.

We shall see.

[MargeH]

Anne, I feel for the growers around here, too.

The man who invented the Earthbox is a tomato farmer from Manatee County. I went to a program last year where he gave a demonstration of how to plant an Earthbox. After the program I was talking to him about TYLC. He said that most growers are having to grow resistant varieties now. He said that UF was working hard in their breeding program and that a new variety was about to be released that was supposed to have better flavor.

I will probably go to their store in the spring for supplies for my Earthboxes. They also sell seedlings and had several resistant varieties for sale last year. I tried a couple different ones but wasn't that impressed with their flavor. They never showed visible signs of the virus and did produce more tomatoes that most of my other varieties, though. Because he was enthusiastic about that new variety last spring, I hope he will have seedlings of some different resistant ones with better flavor to try.

The Dwarf project has been a lot of fun. I found one in the Cheekys last year that Craig grew out this spring. It is a large green when ripe. It seems to be one worth continuing to stabilization. I know that Craig would love help from any of the Florida growers. He has a bunch of new crosses that need homes. The loss of the Aussie growers is a real shame and I hope that it doesn't diminish enthusiasm for the project.

_____
Marjorie

[flipt]

Marge - I'd be glad to grow out some of the dwarf types. If you can get someone/Craig? in touch with me maybe I could help (whiteflies notwithstanding).
Flip

[MargeH]

Flip,


PM Craig and let him know you are interested in helping. Make sure he knows when you need seeds, though. Because we aren't on the NH schedule, he needs some specifics on when you start your seedlings. Take a look in the Dwarf project section at the new F2s he started in the spring and let him know if any of them strike your fancy.

_____
Marjorie

[gardenhappy]

Hi Anne,
I will see if i have any more of the cherry hot peppers.
you can use those to stuff with cheese,meat,rice,tomato's... Then throw them under a broiler or in the grill,yum,yum!!!
We also loved those,I'll send some others that we really loved along with those seeds.
I'm growing out a bunch of new tomato seeds for the hoop house and we are doing a science project of using "BIOMASS" to heat a greenhouse this winter,anyone here tried this?
I was sent some "TAGALOG",tomato seeds from the philippines,very good staple in their markets my friend says. After missing the late summer garden season I'm raring to go for the fall/winter season.
We grew some of the Vining tomato's on fence post wrapped in chicken wire and they did really well.

Also grew some cherry tomato's in tree holes and they did well this past spring early summer.Helped keep the roots moist,while they still got plenty of sunshine.

Chocolate cherry grew like crazy and produced really well on the 12'' pots and in the ground.One of the favorite we passed out to sample.

Many we grew in 5 gallon pails and 24' pots with stakes",red current" and "spoon" we grew in 12' baskets and got a very good crop from each

The cherry tho that did outstanding for us in the ground was "SUN GOLD",tons of wonderful sweet flavored tomato's.
I would put bowls of them out to sample and sell plants every time!

Green Zebra,did well also,black krim wowed people,many loved the flavor of this.

One of my favorite Plants was silver fir,such a beautiful plant!! Next year this will be in the DISPLAY GARDEN!!!
I had this in the big garden so I have no seeds but what a lovley plant and I loved the flavor of these in salads.


Heidi did well and German Red Strawberry did very well.

Finally we grew 1 plant of Giant Vining, from tree branch to the ground on a rope,it was doing great and then it got burned up in the heat when i was unable to care for all of them.

Everything else was comming on so good and doing well for a mid summer crop and then Boom over night every joint in my body inflammed, O,well,I'm alive and there is a new season here!!!!!
All in all I think it would have been a great season if I could have been watering and feeding all of them!!!

[annecros]

Cheryl,

I have plenty of Silvery Fir Tree seed. I really do like them, and they are so pretty to look at! Consider them in your envelope. Have you grown Paul Robeson yet? I have some of those as well to spare - but not sure what you are growing. I guess it would be appropriate to send you a pick list.

I am out of Sungold, but may have some Green Zebra laying around. Also have a couple of other interesting things.

I hate that you had a bad spell. Growing the plants in the trees is a fantastic idea. Makes all sorts of sense.

Picked six hornworms today. I hate them. Everybody got an extra sturdy dose of Bt as well today.

22 in the ground, twice that many (at least) backing up, and a new bed open next weekend. Hoping for a good tomato year. So far, so good.

I also have a surprise for you - a really big shrub. Have you ever heard of "Confederate Rose"? Sometimes it is mistakenly called "Rose of Sharon" but it is a different plant, that is a close kin to hibiscus. Beautiful. Do you have a fence line you would like to cover in bloom? Interesting flower - blooms and then gets darker during the day. Easy to root cuttings as well. It does not die off at all in my climate - might in yours. You won't believe how tiny the seed are - they are a lot of fun.

[gardenhappy]

Yes!! I would love a row,we have over 3 acres in pasture that 1 side boarders our side yard,now to keep the horses off of them! The kids state project (getting seeds from all 52 states ended with 47 states responding,and 17 countries!!! Many are steady pen pals now! What a fun time for our children
One of my little ones was sent"DINNER DOUBLE PLATE HIBISCUS" with a really sweet letter about her state TEXAS! Would you want to try some of these? I also have "PHILIPPINE GIANT SWEET PAPAYA .We are going to try to make the sides of the front yard display gardens lush tropical-with banana trees,papaya,pineapples,yucca,Pulmeria, climbing roses,and confederate rose would fit right in!! I have a few Southern Magnolia seeds if anyone wants any and tons of candleabra shrub(candle stick)beautiful yellow blooms.One of the new projects the kids are doing is trying to get as many yucca varieties as they can this year.We are growing cactus as well and using for cooking and other things.
We have about 40 tomato plants in right now and I hope to be trying about 100 in the hoop house.All my Basil survived and are large woody bushes now after a good cutting back in August.My lemon grass also survived.Did I send you any lemon balm from Thailand? It's alot like ours but hardier,more woody stem and firmer leaves not the soft texture of ours and a deeper green,hairless leaves.
It goes really well beside basil and tomato's and is really good with yellow tomato's ,sliced and a few fresh sprinkles of this lemon balm and fresh cracked salt and pepper,also very good with fish and in cocktail sause. It shaded my tomato's from the full heat and was very heat resistant.

Yes,I had Paul Robeson in the large garden,but one that burned up in the heat.I would love to try it again.
I also had beautiful pleated,Zapotec .This one in our ground had a slight tangy taste,with rich tomato flavor.We loved it.

I would love more Green Zebra,would you like some: Banana legs,rio grande,red robin,floradade,super sioux,white beef steak,alacrity,tommy toe,ruslan,Helen's,belgian pounder??

I have learned the hard way to only grow a couple of each seed.I was doing so well physically that i signed up for trails and now i have let people down So I will not be doing any more trails just in case,just projects that won't effect others if the Chemo does not work and put me into remission.
I have sent northern seeds up north to friends who will put them to good use.
Yes,all the okra we grew did very well and the childrens cotton,WOW,did it do well,green,magneta,brown,cream -all and such beautiful blooms!!!! I think okra,eggplants and cotton all have a place in the flower garden as well,their blooms are stunning and silver fir in a moon light garden among grays,silver and white would be outstanding as a border hedge!!!! In baskets as well!! Have you ever grown this in 12 to 16 inch baskets? I think this plant could be a huge market seller in baskets,the silver fir leaves alone are stunning as a tomato plant.I would like to boarder these in a square knot garden on the outside square edges with basil in between and endive lettuce in the triangles at each corner,the middle would have 1 large rose and then the fill in small square around the rose mother of thyme. Moon flowers growing on a tepee around the rose would be a great all season garden,in the fall,swiss chards in every color and red russian kale would be beautiful next to the silver fir tomatos! And can you imagine red giant mustard next to those beautiful silver fir leaves!

Horn worms have been bad here this fall to!!!
I give the little ones a nickle a worm,then their ducks get them,speaking of the boys"lovley ducks" They got them as day olds this spring and they wander all over,never touching a plant at all,only bugs,then just as my GReen Giant tomato's were getting ripe,they ate them!!!!!
I could not belive it I had never tried these sooo,banished the ducks,the boys and now every time they let them out they even eat HOT PEPPERS!!!! The female layed 38 eggs and refuses so sit on any of them She's to much of a free spirit duck and if they did not love them so much they would be in my roasing pan! But they are good to throw the grubs,hornworms, and beatles to. Let me know of any more seeds you would care to try.First frost this year is suppose to be around January 21?-I hear wet fall/winter for Florida and Michigan is suppose to get another very bad long winter,lots of snow and very cold once again,so glad I'm here!!
We are a blessed lot to live in Florida!! Happy growing !

[captnkirk]

Well lost a few more plants to tylcv this week.I have lost more this fall to tylcv than last fall.A freind of mine just down the road from me has lost alot also.The champion2 plant i got that is risistant to tylcv is doing ok,just hope the tomatoes are tasty.Well gotta run chack back in soon



kirk

[annecros]

40 plants in the ground, gave away a dozen plants. So for, knock on wood, no tylcv this year, but it is early yet. I still have a few backups just in case. A few yellow leaves, not bad though. I'm really lovin' the PlantTone. Enough to order some TomatoTone I think. Some of the earliest Beefsteaks are up to over two feet tall, and seeing some bloom.

Cheryl, I haven't forgotten about your seed. I just haven't had the time lately to finish getting your envelope together.

We have had great rain the last week, it's been really good for the transplants. I'm just ready for our first real cooldown so hopefully I can get some decent fruit set at the end of the month, early next month maybe.