North Florida Gardening

[PlainJane]

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Seedlings are basking in the warm indoors for a couple of days as it’s too cold in the garage even with the heating pad.
Tomatoes, couple of peppers and some eggplant. I love this stage!

[MissS]

They look so nice and healthy. It's wonderful to see some nice young plants growing again. Perhaps spring is on the way.

[PlainJane]

Very happy with cool weather crops so far. This is Vitaverde F1 cauliflower and a mix if different snap and snow peas including Opal Creek and Shiraz.

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[GoDawgs]

@GoDawgs, I don’t get it.
Here are my Red Bull:
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And here’s the L.I.I. you sent me:

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The plants grew fine, just itty bitty sprouts that wouldn't fill out. As they say around here, "Maybe I ain't holdin' my mouth right."

Are you getting this really warm weather we're having? 83 today. Warm for a few more days them colder again. This is exactly why I quit trying to grow cauliflower for a spring finish. Up, down, up, down....

[PlainJane]

@GoDawgs, yes - our temps have been yo-yo-ing all over the place these last weeks. Doesn’t seem to phase the Brussels sprouts or cauliflower though. The first set of pea plants are starting to look a bit tired. I’m thinking of starting some beans soon; have you started any yet?

[GoDawgs]

No beans yet. After suffering loss of seed by planting beans in soil that is too cool. I learned my lesson a good while ago. Beans usually go in near the end of April. This year that could be moved up to mid April, temps depending.

Peas will be planted next Wednesday. I got one of the two beds worked up yesterday and will do the other one today as well as getting the t-posts in for fencing.

Today I'm starting another pack of scallions and planting more radish seed.

[karstopography]

We had good winter season here. After an extra warm December, January and February have been mostly good for Cabbage family crops and other cool season crops. December wasn’t really a problem with the warmth, just odd. I’m still figuring out what I like to grow in the winter and how to best grow it. Part of vegetable gardening seems to be how to correctly time and maximize the opportunities your particular climate offers. Little microclimates are out there and someplaces tend to have frosts easier and sooner or later than others.

I don’t mind taking some risks on timing, seeds aren’t exactly expensive. I don’t know about North Florida gardening, but a lot of people where I live tend to garden like they are two or three zones to the north, wait too late or miss out on great winter opportunities. One neighbor I had put tomatoes in his plot in April and he basically missed out on a month or more of prime production. If I lose $10 of bean seeds because I planted a week or two too early, it isn’t the end of the world. No guts, no glory.

[PlainJane]

Agree, @karstopography, I push the envelope all the time. Lol, I just started a few more cauliflower.
We are only a block from the St. Johns River and have a distinct and unique microclimate. Definitely still figuring it out.

[PlainJane]

Tomato kids out for a stroll. Two weeks to plant out!

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[PlainJane]

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Purple cauliflower and carrots.
Last cauliflower planting; this year I segregated by color

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[PlainJane]

Fennel, Shiraz peas, Red Bull Brussels sprouts, bag o’leeks.

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[PlainJane]

Last couple of Vitaverde F1 green cauliflower. This is forgiving and very easy to grow.

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[karstopography]

I love bulb fennel @PlainJane . Any particular planting schedule or tips to share for growing that fennel?

[worth1]

I love bulb fennel @PlainJane . Any particular planting schedule or tips to share for growing that fennel?

Me too.

[PlainJane]

@worth1, @karstopography, I start the fennel seeds along with my other cool weather crops, so generally speaking November here. Sometimes I’ve transplanted to a grow bag and sometimes I’ve used the big galvanized tubs, depending on what’s free. I should try growing it in spring in part shade and see how it does.
This is plain old ‘Fino’.

[GoDawgs]

Not a fan of fennel but it sure makes a pretty planting! The rest of your stuff is gorgeous too.

[bower]

All your plants look so happy... I hope you're enjoying the weather as much as they do!

[PlainJane]

Thanks @GoDawgs! Finally - a vegetable you don’t grow lol!

[PlainJane]

All your plants look so happy... I hope you're enjoying the weather as much as they do!

How nice of you @Bower, and yes, these last couple of weeks have been heavenly.

[PlainJane]

‘Purple Crush’ cauliflower from Renee’s Kitchen Garden seeds.
Very nice flavor and holds its color when cooked. Nice big heads.

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