Hello from Florida

[nelgkel]

I am new to this site, joined a few months ago, but have never posted. I have wanted a garden for a LONG time, but my hubby just decided he wants one too...so yippeeeee now it won't be so difficult to get him to help me. We live on the Spacecoast of FL...
not sure if we want to do square foot gardening, raised beds or workboxes?? Any suggestions for FL heat and bugs!
We are getting ready to build a composter too...we got a bunch of hens back in April! what fun that is!!! http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=54234 this shows our coop that we got for free from CL... looking forward to getting to know everyone.
BLessings

 

[TanksHill]

Welcome nelgkel!! Your coop is fabulous. What a transformation. Great way to recycle as well.

g

 

[Denim Deb]

Wow!!! What a difference! I'm sure you're going to love it here!

 

[JRmom]

Holy Cow! What a great coop. Score!

Gardening in Florida can be a challenge, mainly keeping it watered enough (although this last summer was a bit too rainy at times), and getting your soil built up. My tomatoes did wonderful this year, but I'm really looking forward to spring and getting another garden started. I'm spending this fall and winter concentrating on building up the soil and planning my space better. I'm also going to try some container gardening since my space is limited.

 

[nelgkel]

Thanks Deb, Tank and JR.. the coop was a great find! Lots of work later it looks awesome!
Been researching gardening and I think I may just try Growboxes! The farmer we bought our chickens from , his gf does gardening workshops...
Looking forward to getting to know you all.

 

[TanksHill]

Raised beds are pretty popular no matter where you live. I am in sunny San Diego but have a horrible gopher problem. I build beds with wire on the bottom and the fill them up. The first year I put straw on the bottom to take up some space then added compost and manure. Each year after I just amend the soil as needed.

Anyway they work great. Might be a good solution for you.

g

 

[dragonlaurel]

I would focus on gardening in the early spring through the early summer, then fall into winter. Even with heavy mulch, the extreme part of summer is too much for lots of food plants.

It took me too long to start ignoring what the seed packets said, but a friend with a beautiful garden there finally made it sink in. Those seed packets state the planting dates and sunlight requirements - for people gardening in average conditions-. There is nothing average about gardening in central Florida heat.

The best spot for growing stuff in the yard turned out to be under the oak tree. It was a littler cooler there and the dappled light was loved by all my container plants. The oak leaves also made the best soil on the property for planting in the ground.

Planting on the East or North sides of buildings can help plants that have trouble with the heat, since they are protected some in the mid to late afternoon. Growing some crops in winter is much easier, as long as you can cover them quickly on the coldest nights. Cabbage, broccoli, peas, spinach, collards, kale, mustard and stuff like that prefer growing in the cool weather.