My Edible Yard: South Florida Planting Guide for April
Though it's a bit late in April to be providing it, I thought it might be a good idea to put this information out there on a monthly basis for newbies starting their own Victory Gardens, urban homesteads, and organic front yard and back yard gardens. I've taken the information from Tom MacCubbin's, The Edible Landscape, which is now out of print.
South Florida Vegetable Planting Guide* and Gardening Tasks: April
- Plant beans (Shelling: Bush 40, Pole 20; Snap: Bush 50, Pole 20), cantaloupes (6), cherry tomatoes, cucumbers (3-4), eggplant (2-3), okra (8-12), peppers (3-5), squash (4-6), Southern peas (15-20), sweet potatoes (5-10), calabazas, chayotes, yard-long beans and other tropical crops.
- Plant anise, basil, chives, dill, borage, oregano, mint, rosemary, sage, savory, sweet marjoram and thyme.
- Trim banana foliage and fertilize monthly.
- Fertilize trees, shrubs and vines planted earlier.
- Fertilize container gardens weekly.
Let me know if you'd like me to continue this. I'll do it on a monthly basis at the beginning of every month.
Posts
13 comments:
YES Thanks! I for one would appreciate it. I found the book online...but it is a little pricey for me right now!
My husband purchased some seeds this weekend and is getting ready to plant. I think the cost of the plants at Home Depot scared him and he figured what do we have to lose with the seeds.
We will be starting out with corn, lettuce, tomatoes, beans, cantaloupe, carrots, and pumpkin(??). I would love some eggplant and berries myself but it is more than what we have now!
We are excited!
You'll have a blast, Jewel. Remember that with corn you need several rows (4-5) because it needs to pollinate. And with carrots, don't believe the package with regard to when it's time to harvest. It takes about double that time.
Your conservation info is impressive. You have already put a lot of great conservation methods in place, more than most people ever will, and I see more items are planned for the future. I have a lot of experience with solar attic fans, so when the time comes for that project please let me know if you need any advice.
Hi H-Mac,
Thanks for the compliment and thanks for offering solar attic fan advice? I do have some questions. First, do the solar attic fans really work with regard to cooling the attic and thus reducing the electric bill, and, second, since I'm in south Florida and it gets really hot down here, should I get 2 of them, 1 on each side of the attic?
Thanks for your advice.
Wow ive been using this chart for awhile now and would love a update
http://myedibleyard.blogspot.com/2009/01/busy-winter-gardening-in-south-florida.html
im really getting into sustainability, heirlooms, and organic farming. im also located it south florida any chance you want to swap seeds via mail?
Your planting guide is helpful. By the way thanks for the info on the Blueberry plants you are trying.I am considering trying some and will watch to see how yours work out for you.
John,
I would love to swap seeds. Feel free to email me directly and we'll see who's got what and so on. And I'll be sure to keep putting out the monthly Edible Yard Planting Guide.
Sanddune,
I'm going to give the blueberries my best shot. I've been reading up on how other people are doing with regard to growing them in south Florida. I've noticed a couple people have had some good luck keeping them in containers. I'm wavering at this point as to which way to do it, but with all the rain have a bit of time before I'll plant. Hopefully, I'll get them planted by this weekend.
not sure where to find your email address....
mines: sycth1@gmail.com
So glad you visited my blog so I could find yours. You are really working hard to grow a lot of veggies. Your boxes look great!
I'm a little surprised at the planting chart though... all those things seem a little late for your zone. But I have a hard enough time keeping up with my own zone so don't mind me.
I look forward to reading more and seeing how your veggie beds turn out.
Really enjoyed the story on the raw milk exchange. What a shame the government has messed us up in so many ways.
Meems
Meems,
The planting guide is suprisingly pretty accurate, especially in raised beds. I've actually still got edible swiss chard, kale, carrots purple cabbage, cauliflower, and rutabagas in the "winter" garden, though it's definitely time for me to harvest the rutabagas and carrots, get them stored, and those beds planted for the spring and summer.
Thanks for stopping by.
please keep posting the "What to plant each month." I really appreciate it.
Hi,
I love your blog! I am in Daytona Beach and I have read that the planting dates for some vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers are March-April. Is this set in stone? Is it worth a try for tomatoes and cucumbers, or should I wait for August?
thanks
Hi Mark,
I have the whole year planting guide according to Tom MacCubbin on a separate page by itself at the top of the picture of peas. Tomatoes don't usually do too well here in the heat. Remember, I'm 4 hours south of you and in a different planting zone. Tomatoes are usually planted here in September-October-November. At least that's what I do. I have some straggler tomatoes right now but only because the winter was so cold that it delayed their setting fruit.
Cucumbers you should be able to get away with. I just planted some in April and your area should be cooler than mine. Okra is good right now. Beans are good right now. Summer squash like yellow and zucchini. Sweet potatoes. Boniato which is a Caribbean sweet potato. That kind of stuff.
But please look at the planting guide page because it will tell you what to do on a monthly basis as a rule, and of course all of us gardeners find what works best for us in our own gardens.
Happy planting and I'm glad you like the blog.
Ara
Post a Comment