North Florida Gardening

[PlainJane]

So, [mention]GoDawgs[/mention], you have to confess how the casserole turned out.

[GoDawgs]

We just finished lunch. "Ladieeeeees aaaand Gentlemennnnnn.... We have a WINNAH!" I made a half a recipe using the three Millionaire eggplants I had which weighed a total of 1 lb 2 oz, just shy of the 1 lb 8 oz of a true half batch. But it was good and now sports a 5 star rating in the eggplant section of the three ring recipe binder.

I'll post the recipe later in the What's Cooking forum. And I think I'll also post the marinated eggplant recipe. It's so good piled on top of grilled bread.

[PlainJane]

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Pepper haul today.
Should have picked most earlier but have been too busy with tomatoes.
Biquinho Yellow, Peach Fantasy, Jalapeno Brown and Lemon Drop.
Hottest are Peach Fantasy and Lemon Drop. Mildest is Biquinho Yellow. Jalapeno Brown in between...

[Ginger2778]

I grew/am growing lemon drop. Unreal productive. I've been putting them and some chili's into the dehydrator, then flaking them for seasoning. They are outstanding. My nephew took some and made a curry with them, and fresh garlic, put into a paste, then stir fry with added coconut milk. He's not a gardener, but he's going to grow some.
You have quite a nice pepper bounty there.

[PlainJane]

Thank you Marsha [mention]Ginger2778[/mention]. Most of them went to my Indian coworkers last evening as I had way more than I could use.
Yes, Lemon Drop is a monster! My one plant is from last year; I cut it back in February and off it went.

[PlainJane]

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Ha!
Have thwarted the dreaded pickle worm to the extent of 2 cukes so far. This is Itachi F1.

[PlainJane]

Harvesting ahead of the storm.
Louisiana Long Green eggplant.

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[PlainJane]

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Well, summer gardening in Florida is a tad slow, but things have picked up lately.
Experimental fall tomatoes are finally out, fava beans planted, pole beans starting to bear and got the cool weather seeds sown.

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[Ginger2778]

It looks wonderful! I'm jealous that you are having cooler weather.

[Barb_FL]

Looks great. I just sowed some broccoli seeds. If there is a break in the rain tomorrow, I will sow some lettuce seed. Today total washout.

[Ginger2778]

Looks great. I just sowed some broccoli seeds. If there is a break in the rain tomorrow, I will sow some lettuce seed. Today total washout.

Castle Dome? Thats what I sowed. Please Barb, I know they are a heat tolerant variety, can they do with only 4 hours/day, of full sun?


(I'm getting tired of the 3 day soaker.)

[PlainJane]

Looks great. I just sowed some broccoli seeds. If there is a break in the rain tomorrow, I will sow some lettuce seed. Today total washout.

Yea, I ran out of steam and didn’t get to the lettuce and spinach. Maybe tomorrow!

[Barb_FL]

Looks great. I just sowed some broccoli seeds. If there is a break in the rain tomorrow, I will sow some lettuce seed. Today total washout.

Castle Dome? Thats what I sowed. Please Barb, I know they are a heat tolerant variety, can they do with only 4 hours/day, of full sun?


(I'm getting tired of the 3 day soaker.)

i would think so because they are still getting light on the other times; I use to grow it under my shade cloth for a lot of the time. Last year, I grew 5 heads per Earthbox by my A/C conditioner and remember using tomato cages to shade it during the intense part of the day. How are the plants doing? Larry (from TV) who grew 400+ heads a year grew it super early and I followed his advice that as soon as I saw a tiny head forming I hit it with heavy nitrogen (Neptune's Harvest Fish Emulsion).

Your broccoli should take off with all the rain.

Did you get your tomatoes planted in the EB yet? I have 12 EB done; the 6 that I put on dollys or wheels are under my porch.

[Ginger2778]

DF22F08D-94FA-4C84-B92F-C80EDB6D9E5F.jpegHa!
Have thwarted the dreaded pickle worm to the extent of 2 cukes so far. This is Itachi F1.

[mention]PlainJane[/mention] have you seen what I do to keep out pickle worms? Barb taught it to me, it's photoed here. I got tulle -10 yards of it($1.49 per 5 foot wide yard at Jo-Ann Fabrics) and I clothes pin it on at night. Pickleworm moths are nocturnal. I take it off every morning to allow new growth of the cucumbers without curling, and for airflow to keep fungusy mildew off.

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[PlainJane]

Yes [mention]Ginger2778[/mention] - I did see that. I have some lightweight ’insect barrier‘ cloth that is very similar I can use.
Biggest issue now is whitefly on the pole beans; I have to refresh the sticky traps.

[PlainJane]

This year’s list:

KARMA Pink
KARMA Peach
Thorburn’s Terracotta
KBX
Aker’s West Virginia
Solar Flair
GWR Wild Thyme
Summer of Love
Mary Reynolds
PPP x PPC
Little Lucky
Butterworth’s PL (think the seed is mislabeled so we’ll see)
Rawlings
Big Cheef
Daniel Burson
Copper River
Claude Brown’s Yellow Giant
African Queen
Cherokee Green
Chocolate Stripes
Honey Drop
Malachite Box
Atomic Sunset
Peppermint
Lucky Cross
Green Bee
Wild Thyme Purple
The Thong
Piedmont Pear
Aunt Ginny’s Purple
Polaris

[PlainJane]

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A few weeks ago.

[PlainJane]

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The avocado tree is settling in. This is Wurtz (aka Little Cado) and I’ve allocated a 6 x 12ft space for it. We’ll see!

[PlainJane]

First try for Brussels Sprouts though I always grow other cole crops. I put in 4 plants and they nicely staggered themselves for harvesting.
Leeks from seed were easier than I thought they’d be; should have done more.

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[GoDawgs]

Good luck with your Brussels. That another one of those that hates the spring temp swings here. They start producing sprouts but the sprouts never head up into nice tight sprouts, just a loose mess. I love Brussels but have given up trying to grow them.