Florida Growers Thread

[flipt]

Anne, we seem to be at about the same juncture with our plants. I have about 35 in the ground and about 8-10 in containers. I still have room for 5-8 more in ground. I've seen whiteflies on the plants but no signs of tylcv. I continue to spray moderately with BugbGone Max.

I have given away over 100 seedlings so far and have about 30 backups still under the lights at about 3" tall

Last week I fertilized 10-15 plants that have the yellow flowers. With that and all the rain we've got, these plants are about 2' tall now.

My potted hot peppers began real well, spreading out foilage and developing many flowers but the large amount of new, small leaves (with buds) seem to be curling and affecting the overall performance of the plant. Not sure what's causing this.

Flip

[captnkirk]

Got to try my 1st 3 champion II tomatoes .Largest was just about the size of a baseball.All the fruits on the plant are crack free and just perfect so far.I like the taste of these so far too,could be a little bit more acidy taste but i wont complain.Plant is over 8ft tall and has alot of fruit set.I plan on making this one of my fall mainstays for next year.I bet i have replaced over 10 plants this fall to the tylcv.Wish i had planted more champiom IIs to get a better check on its resistance to tylcv.I do have a few more that are just ready about ready to set out,might still have time to get fruit off of these before frost.

I think il replace some of my better bush plants wich have not set 1 fruit so far out of 5 plants.They must not be able to handle the florida humidity and heat at all.

I also have a few sungold,black cherry,bloody butcher and sophies choice yet to put out.All 1st timers for me.I orderd a few of them upside down hanging tomato planters im planning on putting them in went i get back home.



kirk

[annecros]

flipt, I had the same problem with my peppers last year. I suspected TYLCV because of the symptoms, but never had it identified.

My Silvery Fir Trees (3) in Homer Buckets are loaded with bloom, and I counted eight baby fruit this AM. Albany Georgia Heirloom is up over 4 feet tall (they were among the first transplanted this season) and showing indications of fruit set. That's going to be one big indertminate! Others in various stages, but almost all plants have at least buds, Marianna's Peace blooming well. The only small fruited toms I planted this year is Thai Pink Egg. They went in last, but are budding already.

Pretty good weather this season so far for the toms. The weather got cooler just in time for first blooms, and next week - if the forecast pans out - I should be able to turn off the air conditioning even during the day. The forecast next week looks ideal for setting toms. Had a little early foliage disease, but took care of that. Had an initial infestation of hornworms, but took care of that. No Hurricanes on the horizon. Side dressed with fertilizer yesterday, so that should be good for the season.

Knock on wood, but it might be a good year in South Florida.

[flipt]

Just a quick update from south Dade County - I've got 52 tomato plants doing fairly well. I staggered the planting over about 3-4 weeks in late Sept/early Oct. I've got fruit on Green Doctors, Galinas, J Flamme, JD's Special C-tex, Mama Leone, Black Brandywine, Prue and Malakhitovaya Shkatylka. Many of the others have lots of flowers and I'm expecting them to start setting fairly soon.
I'm trying to revive my mite?-infested hot peppers w/Neem Oil and it's been a slow process - at least they're still alive and putting out some new growth.
Just harvested some Fin de Bagnols (French green beans) and radishes. The lettuce is growing well.
On the whitefly front - I've been seeing them all along. I spray occasionally. Up until now I haven't seen the virus but I expect it will show up at some point.
Hope everyone is doing well.
Flip

[annecros]

Only one plant is showing signs of possible virus. We had another small hornworm intrusion that we nipped in the bud. Bloom, Bloom, Bloom everywhere. First fruits are setting around about. Weather has been most excellent, a little dry and had to drag out the hoses a couple of times.

I'm beginning to get excited!

[flipt]

Hey Anne,
What are those nice tomatos you show above? They look really nice.
I have one earthbox and the two tomatos in it are doing really well. Lotsa fruit on the Marianna's Peace and German Red Strawberry. Not quite as big as the ones above tho. Also, sine my ast post, another 7-8 plants have set fruit. I am also psyched!
Flip

[annecros]

Hey Flip,

That's Silvery Fir Tree, of all things, growing in freaking Homer Buckets with holes drilled in the bottom, potting mix, and a handfull of plant tone at planting and tomato tone at first bloom.

I am getting really excited here as well. The big beefsteaks are setting, and it is so early. I just knocked on wood. There must be something sneaking up behind me.

Oh, it would be so nice to be able to say "Katy Bar the Door" in about two months! I am clearing my throat.

[ewtx]

O.K. so I am new to S. Florida (I moved last summer from Houston to Miami). I planted my fall tomatoes way too early and they got very big before they managed to set fruit. Next year I will try to plant for fall in early-mid October.... Now I am getting some fruit on my fall plants but they are getting big and unmanagable. Will start with fresh plants for the spring but am just wondering the best time to plant the second planting? Any advice from other S. Florida tomatovillians would be appreciated.

[annecros]

Where in South Florida?

With the long growing season, they do tend to get big. Long veg state, depending upon where you are located, you should be in prime fruit set.

You can start Spring plants anytime from now until about January, early January I would guess. I just sliced my first ones (the Silvery Fir Trees pictured above) at Thanksgiving. Christmas is going to be doorbusters, and I transplanted in September.

I would have to have a better idea where you live to advise. Florida can be a funky state.

[ewtx]

I am in the southern part of Miami near the Charles Deering Estate..... Fruit set didn't really start until early November. I will try to plant the next set in early January.

Thanks

[annecros]

You are in mine and flipt neighborhood then. What varieties are you growing?

[flipt]

ewtx - I live about 1 mile from the Deering estate - off Old Cutler and 144 St.

I start seeds for my fall plants on Aug 15 and follow that up with a couple more seedings both 2 weeks and 4 weeks later (usually use these as fillers, backups or giveaways). I plant out between Oct 1 - Oct 10, somewhere around 50+ plants.

I don't do a separate planting for spring (like in January). I just grow the fall plants over winter and into spring until the bugs/heat get them. Mid-April's about as far as I get. If you have plants ready to go out I'd do them now - unless they're early season varieties you're gonna be in the hotter and buggier weather before much is harvested.

My smaller cherry-types are ripening - Galinas, Green Doctors and Jaune Flamme. All the rest of the plants, except for a few that were pplanted late, have a lot of fruit on them. Looking for some to be ripe in the next 2-3 weeks.

Hi Anne - this is the best weather I can remember for my fall/winter season (so far). I've seen some bugs but so far everything appears virus-free, pretty healthy and fairly loaded with fruit. Many plants have 10-15 fruits, some getting quite large. I'll try to post a few pics this weekend.

Flip

[annecros]

Hey flip,

Yep - has this been the best weather for growing ever? I can't remember a better year temp and general weather wise.

No virus here either. Not sure what is going on with that, because last year was so bad. Every plant has multiple fruit set and swelling. I started counting and got into the hundreds and stopped.

Thai Pink Egg is blushing, I've picked some Silvery Fir Tree (my early), and a couple look like they may be getting ready to break on a few plants. January I should have tons. Kelloggs Breakfast is having a banner year, Marianna's Peace is just loaded with baby clusters, JD's Special C-Tex is loaded. Even the Oxhearts are running half a dozen or so each.

Oh, and Albany Georgia Heirloom! There is a separate topic on that one.

I'll take it any way I can get it!

[flipt]

Hello again - My best plants so far - the ones with the most fruit are Mariannas Peace, Royal Hillbilly, Large Pink Bulgarian, Cherokee Purple, Ashleigh, JD's Special C-Tex, Monomak's Hat, Chapman and Linnies Oxheart
If nothing really strange happens - freeze or virus - this could be the best-ever season. (Knockin' on wood!)

[ewtx]

Hi again. I am on 166th St. just off of Old Cutler. I'm growing Sungold, Sweet 100, J. Flamee, Black Cherry, Pink Brandywine and Brandyboy. I'm afraid I bought a house with too much shade from the surrounding Oak trees, but the cherries seem to be producing o.k.. I've had a lot of bugs too, already had to contend with hornworms and some other leafeating worm that I don't recognize. But, I at least learned from experience (and now you guys) that I planted too early and should be shooting to put the plants out in October. If any of you guys in Palmetto Bay area have too much fruit (not that that ever happens) I'd be happy to help eat it!!!!

Cheers