jimfnc: That's a really low chilling area so you may need a super low chilling type listed in your links like Sharpblue. But anyone from FL should check out Sweetcrisp. A new introduction from the FL breeding program. It is listed as ~200 hrs. Often these chilling numbers start out high and are dropped when enough experience comes in. Sweetcrisp has by far the best berry of any I've tried. I've only fruited it one year but was blown away by the eating quality, very sweet and crunchy. I'd bet it will bloom. The key is if it will leaf out in spring. Up here in my greenhouse it holds it's leaves right through winter and is starting to bloom now.

Raybo, Celery should be mounded up with loose dirt at least 6 inches on the stalks to blanch the stems. Celery is mildly poisonous and blanching helps reduce the level of toxins. The leaves make excellent flavoring for soups and stews. Celery is a cool season crop best grown either in late fall or early spring. It can handle short periods of sub freezing temps down to 22 degrees, but this seriously slows down growth. Do NOT grow celery in the heat of the summer, it will not be happy. Knowing your climate, you could probably grow it successfully from either December or January seed start. It is best started in cell trays with 2 or 3 seed per cell. The above tip about taking 12 weeks from seed to transplant is pretty close. I've managed to transplant at 8 weeks but the plants are small. My suggestion would be to fill an earthtainer 1/2 full of a very rich soil mix and set the plants to grow. When the plants are nearly full size, fill the earthtainer up with peat moss to induce blanching. DarJones

AZ is hotter than FL but its a dry heat thus so many less insects and fungal issues. Same for many parts of CA. Grapes grow awesome in Phx. We grew lots of yummy seedless grapes there. I really wish I could grow those types there. There is a bunch of blackish purple grapes growing wild all over our property. They have seeds and don't taste all that great. I let the chickens eat them. Maybe they are better for making jams? Anyone know of any seedless varieties that will grow in zn 9a (NE FL)?

As a child, our front yard was bordered by Surinam Cherries...The only thing with them is that they DO get wormy if not treated, but make the most amazing jellies! I'm also a huge fan of figs. I do have a Loquat tree that I LOVE! I've learned (on here) that they can be pruned not only to allow sun through (I have pineapples growing around mine) but you can do the "bonsai" thing with them as well. I also love my dwarf bananas. I chose RajaPuri because of the compact size. I started with one sick little plant that someone at ACE hardware was throwing out...he said it was dead. Well, no it wasn't, but it WAS almost dead...waterlogged. Six months later, I now have 9 banana trees! I'm really glad to hear about the nuts that grow here. I used to have pecans in Lake Wales, but they never fruited heavily and the goats got most of the ones we could reach anyway! One should always have a citrus tree. They're fantastic for more than just fruit. I keep a pineapple orange (my favorite) and a Meyer Lemon (dwarf) that does beautifully. I also use the rinds as a disinfectant (I use everything for everything, lol) in my kennel, as well as a deodorizer! One thing about figs: They're pollinated by wasps, so if anyone grows them, cut them in half before biting into them...or you'll never eat another one! Just like Surinams, figs are used by the pollinator to lay their eggs.