A quick update in pictures, part II

Herbs. Parsley, cilantro, chervil, dill, mints all do great this time of year, until summer's rains start.

Banana leaf slowly emerging from the stalk.

A quick update in pictures

It must be spring...

Because my peach tree is blooming (lovely!) and I just planted my first row of Rattlesnake Beans (from Southern Exposure). Last year my beans suffered a lot from rust... I hope this year that it won't be a problem, since beans are otherwise such an easy and prolific crop. Peas are finally flowering and setting, cukes and squash have their first true leaves, tomatoes germinated poorly... eggplants not at all. But there's plenty of time before things get too hot here in late June.

I'm playing around with several ideas for containers this year, including buried pot-in-pots (seven-gallon "bunker" pot with a layer of compost, holding a five-gallon bucket) and some very large (tree pots... they must be forty gallons) filled with a fast-draining mix based on pine fines. My hope is to be able to plant, say, a large indeterminate tomato (they get ten feet here) or cuke, and surround it with another crop like lettuce or radish or chard (and, later in spring in summer, things like crowders and okra). Since the pot needs frequent watering, the run-off would be used by the surrounding plants, without the usual problems of root competition and poor airflow. I tried some variations on this idea last year, and it worked well.

Tomato Growers Supply

My latest order... I'm trying for the first time the Sweet Cayenne and Flexum. The others are proven winners in my garden...

• #9614 - Sweet Cayenne
• #9807 - Flexum Hybrid
• #9660 - Sweet Spot X3R Hybrid
• #7033 - Little Fingers
• #6313 - Sun Gold Hybrid - 30 seeds.

Seedlings...

I transplanted most of the peppers, squash and cukes today into larger (quart) containers. I also planted (in small pots) some tomatoes (Yellow Currant, Nepal), Cubanella peppers, and Burgundy Okra.

ECHO: Networking Global Hunger Solutions

ECHO: Networking Global Hunger Solutions: "Farm Day 2009
March 14, 2009 - 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Come explore ECHO's Global Farm during this once-a-year event! Experience behind-the-scenes tours and demonstrations and sample some of the amazing varieties of tropical fruit on ECHO's Farm.

Learn first-hand how ECHO provides extraordinary solutions for those working with the poor overseas.

Admission for adults is $3 in advance and $5 at the door. Admission for children is FREE. Tickets can be purchased at ECHO's Global Bookstore from February 1 - March 13, 2009."

Sigh.

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East central Florida forecast discussion
National Weather Service Melbourne Florida
920 am EST Wednesday Feb 4 2009


Discussion...


..a hard freeze expected across most of east central Florida
tonight...
..dangerously cold wind chills overnight and early Thursday...


Arctic air spilling southward into the state with upstream airmass
very dry on morning soundings. Full mixing by late this morning will
produce gusty winds through the afternoon. Temperatures will remain
only in the 40s across North Lake and Volusia counties and lower to
middle 50s across area.


Forecast remains on track and will evaluate wind and very low temperature
combinations expected tonight. Tonights cold will be aggravated by
the continuation of wind which will produce seldom experienced wind
chill readings for this area. 

Scattered...

A landmark of sorts. This is the 501st post at Gardening in Central Florida.

I sowed yesterday and today...

• Belgian White carrots
  
• Sugar Snax carrots
• di Cicco broccoli
• Dukat dill
• Jericho lettuce

I also pricked out the candytuft, gaura, geranium, and calendula seeds I planted a couple of weeks ago.

Later... Oh, I forgot... I sowed some Florence fennel, too.