Viewing post #536579 by dyzzypyxxy

You are viewing a single post made by dyzzypyxxy in the thread called Preparing for Spring Vegetable Garden.
Image
Jan 10, 2014 10:10 AM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Jean, if you have room inside, I start seeds of my fancy tomatoes about now, as well as peppers and eggplant. They'll be really a nice vigorous size when it's time to set them out about late February. I buy Momotaro and Mountain Magic seed from Tomato Grower's Supply.

I'm also starting another round of broccoli from seed now. It's really important to stagger planting of broccoli because it matures so suddenly, and doesn't hold at all once it's mature. Found out that one the hard way - first year I planted it, I happily bought a 9-cell pony pack of transplants and put them in on the same day. I had 9 mature heads of broccoli all in the same week, about 7 weeks later! My neighbors loved it!

Otherwise, David's right on, most of my veggie gardening happens in winter. Once we get towards May and it's really hot outside, I start tapering it down for the summer. Basil and eggplant are about all I try for through the hot months, but my back yard is mainly shady in summer anyway, so . . . I put plastic over the raised bed to solarize it and keep weeds from growing, and take a break.

I started seed of broccoli and one Earth Box of Momotaro tomatoes back in October. The tomatoes have already set fruit, but I fret over them when the nights get cold. I've been ok keeping my tomatoes producing through the coldest months, but it's taken a lot of covering, and filling the water reservoirs with warm water before bedtime. You've got to keep them above about 55 or they stop setting fruit, and may stop blooming too.

In my raised bed I planted seeds last month of lettuce, kale, mizuna (a mustard green) and some short carrots. You can keep planting all those through January, usually. The lettuce always seems to be a gamble for me, depending upon how warm the weather gets between cold fronts. I had the whole bed go bitter and start to bolt on me last year. You're a bit cooler up there than me, so you'll do better with all the cool-season greens.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill

« Return to the thread "Preparing for Spring Vegetable Garden"
« Return to Florida Gardening forum
« Return to the Garden.org homepage

Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )

Today's site banner is by mcash70 and is called "Queen Ann's Lace"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.