How can I convert this garden into consistent productivity?

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
jlprintz Deland, FL(Zone 9b) Jul 06, 2015

I live in Central Florida where soil conditions are poor, heat and humidity are intolerable, rainfall is unpredictable, and fungal/viral/insect pests proliferate ("a tropical paradise"). About 3 years ago I filled in my 18' x 32' pool with local "topsoil." I added about 16" of layers of wood chips and leaves, mushroom compost, peat moss and sandy soil. I've had mixed results so far with a variety of edible plants. Bananas, blackberries, blueberries, cowpeas have done well. Kale, bok choi, onions survive. Zuchini did fabulous first year and thereafter have been devastated by pickle moths. Tomatoes produced poorly one year then root-knot nematodes (I think) prevented them from producing any fruit the next year. Is there a list of fruits/vegetables that will grow in these conditions with minimal assistance?

Thumbnail by jlprintz Thumbnail by jlprintz
Post #10107180
Quote
sallyg Anne Arundel,, MD(Zone 7b) Jul 08, 2015

University of Florida has nice botanical information that I have used a lot. One hopes that they can steer you toward the most successful crops. But it might be hard to sort through "advice on how to grow anything you want" and find what grows best.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/features/fruitvegindex.html

Offices
http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/map/index.shtml

Post #10108040
Quote
CBLynn Cedar Park, TX Jul 08, 2015


I'd strongly recommend yard long beans, snake melon (armenian cucumber) and sweet potatoes. All of these have embraced the growing heat of summer in central Texas. I don't spray my plants with anything, but none of these are showing much insect or disease damage. The snake melon is interwoven with a cantaloupe that is nearly dead from powdery mildew and hasn't shown any sign of developing the fungus.

I'm still rather new to gardening, but I am going to look for more vegetable varieties from areas like Thailand and the Phillipines to use for summer gardening rather than the more delicate traditional varieties.

Post #10108072
Quote
kittriana Magnolia, TX(Zone 9a) Jul 10, 2015

Minimal assistance? Probably not. Growing crops was always work, so many years that one crop does great, the rest dies - Just to change in a new year. Bugs and diseases go thru cycles, and can overwhelm you even after the hard work. The neighbor may have a great garden and yours fizzle and die and nothing different was done. Your area and your soil may be unique to your spot, and advice from a gardner 50 miles away cause you problems. That said,q Good luck!

Post #10109358
Quote
1lisac Liberty Hill, TX(Zone 8a) Jul 10, 2015

CBLynn-I've been gardening for 20+ years in Central Texas and I too have had really good luck with Asian Veggies, especially those from Thailand. However, we don't have sandy soil here.

Post #10109447
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Ask-a-Dave's-Gardener Threads

Go to all Ask-a-Dave's-Gardener threads
BACK TO TOP