Newbie with a few questions...

8 years ago

Hello all,

I live in Tallahassee, Florida and I am wanting to start growing an organic produce garden, herb garden, as well as purchasing a few animals. As a beginner, I have quite a few questions. Thank you in advance.

On the North Florida Gardening calendar, it reads "squash,summer. March-April and August-Sept."

Does this mean that I should plant in March, and again in April, August and September?

Can I plant the Squash in the same plot?

Do I need weed mat, and do they make organic weed mat?

I would like to plant in plastic baby pools. I have read that I will need to drill holes in the bottom for draining, but is that enough or will I need to elevate the pool?

Are there certain plants that cannot be planted in the same plot? (I.e. when it reads "peppers", can all peppers be planted together?)

On the Gardening Calendar for my area, the only fruit listed is strawberries. What other fruits can be planted here?

Can I plant flowers and greenery in the same plot with produce?

I particularly would love to plant ginger and avocados, but they were not listed on the Gardening Calendar. Is it possible to grow them in my area?

Any tips for creating rich organic soil and keeping bugs, birds and others out of my garden?

I appreciate you taking the time to help me.

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Comments (4)

User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I'm not in your zone, so I can't answer all your questions, but no, you can't grow Avocados in Z8b. You can grow butterfly ginger, and you can grow edible ginger in pots, but tropical gingers, no. I suggest visiting a locally owned garden center and asking about which fruits you can grow in your area.
xentar_gw
8 years ago
Chestnut Hill Farm sells a few avocados that can reportedly take as low as 15 degrees. IIRC, I've also heard of a few individual stories where avocado trees have survived between 10 and 14 degrees. A 'Fantastic' avocado, reportedly the most cold hardy avocado, apparently survived a few degrees below 10 degrees, for example.

I have two cultivars myself, a 'Joey' and 'Pancho' that have just gone through their first winter, just covering them with a tarp when it got below about 32 degrees. The nursery I got these from told me to just cover the grafts in sand during cold spells, because the rootstocks aren't hardy. Some people permanently bury the grafts on avocados for areas that get below 25 degrees. .

Regarding the long-term sustainability of a cold-hardy avocado, I would say that it's a gamble, but the numbers could be in your favor if you choose the cultivar wisely and baby it for the first few years. When there is one of those freezes that hits 10-13 degrees or less every 20-30 years or so, your tree (along with any other borderline subtropical plants) would potentially be wiped out. If it provides you with 15 or 20 years of good fruit, then you can say the investment paid off. If you buy one now and we get one of those bad winters this year or the next, not so much. Check out your temperatures over a period of years, usually reported from local airports.
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Cody Z
8 years ago
Hey whita,

I'm also in Tallahassee. Also thinking about planting in plastic pools, haven't done it yet. I started some avocados last summer and they made it through the winter on my porch. I don't except them to ever get to a fruit bearing size but my little girl has enjoyed watching them grow from a seed. Maybe we can exchange info sometime.

Cody
bea (zone 9a -Jax area)
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
"On the North Florida Gardening calendar, it reads "squash,summer. March-April and August-Sept." They are giving you a range - in the spring you can plant anytime in March through April and again August through sept.

As for keeping birds and bugs out of your garden - it ain't happening in Florida. You shouldn't have too many issues from birds but you will from bugs. When I first started gardening in this state I found out (mostly through this forum) that if I wanted to harvest anything I better spray regularly. I use Spinosad one month and neem the next. And I check my plants every few days for caterpillars. Last year I forgot to do that and one week later they devoured a newly planted tomato plant.

I also fertilize twice a month even though I use a lot of composted manure. As Sandy as the soil is here nutrients just flush away. And you water a lot too. Pretty much daily unless it rains.

Newbie with a few questions...

Comments (4)

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xentar_gw

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bea (zone 9a -Jax area)

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