17 Sep Mon 2018
Benefits of starting a FALL Tropical Organic Container Garden in South Florida!
Why most new comers to South Florida succumb to fail growing their own organic food at their home backyards?
Before you GROW your own , remember to LEARN and KNOW the ways of Urban Tropical Farming that are different from the UP NORTH ways of Urban Farming.Here are few suggestions to make your gardening adventure a SAFE and Flourishing experience :
South Florida falls into the USDA Zones of 10-11..The climate is HOT Sub Tropical with temperature average as high as 100 Fahrenheit during the summer and 75 during the Fall..A warm temperature is the best friend for growing Tropical Fruits and Veggies like Florida Spinach ( Kalaloo,Southern Veggies like Collard Greens , fruits like Papaya and herbs like Cuban Oregano.Sounds like you are learning a new language?Take some classes to get acquainted with the best veggies ,herbs and fruit plants..Learn and Know Before you Grow!
2- The soil in Eastern Florida is SANDY ..Nematodes are rampant and other challenges like weeds and pests make it even more challenging to grow direct into the Sandy Soil..The Alternative is :Container Gardening.
3-Before you start growing in VOC and other "chemically saturated " containers '(such as arsenic,DDT and God knows what toxins ), my suggestion is start simple and small and SAFE why choosing FOOD GRADE CONTAINERS...I personally recycle food grade containers and avoid the NURSERY kind of VOCcontainers that are dominant at the Garden Centers..Remember that commercial growers and nurseries use N-P-K 20-20-20 fertilizers to boost growth of plants and sometimes they also spray them with toxic Pesticides ..If you are chemicals allergic , then beware and try to grow your own from organic seeds .Google "Round Up and chemical toxins from Farm to Table" to learn more!
3-South Florida Growing Season follows the Hurricane Season which ends in November and starts in June..To avoid losing your backyard Food Garden to TROPICAL etc..storms and flooding , opt to grow instead in Containers.It is SAFE and practical..You may save them from Hurricanes by moving them into INDOOR safety , when a severe Tropical storm approaches!
4-Visit your LOCAL HARVEST event calendar to learn more on local classes offered at the Tropical Florida USDA Zone..As they say here in the Tropics:"One Ounce of Knowledge and Prevention is better than Tons of Medicine."In other words Be Prepared and KNOW Before You Grow ..alone..Consult with Farmer Tone...