I have not read all post but might have a few things that might help. We use to grow a great veggie garden each year I am a third generation Floridian up here in Jacksonville
First if you can find a Feed and seed store in your area-you can get the best seeds and plants for your areas.
On the celery-in the last weeks before you harvest put boards or something to block the light up against the plants, this is how the celery is blanched to white.
We had no problems grown cucumbers in our gardens. Mom canned them
It you want good fruit trees for your area then go to Just Fruit and Exotic web site or if you can they have a store just below tallahassee they have tropical plum and peach trees (the tallahassee nursery and the Native nursery and that is their right names have great plants
For a great book about all of our "bugs" look for the book 'Florida Critters' by Bill Zak
Hope all this helps
Sandy
