Planted Peas

I have seen a lot of information on the internet stating March is the perfect time to plant English Peas here in St Pete.  I'm leery because in my past experience the peas don't do well in heat.  Despite it all I decided to plant out the rest of my 100 Miragreen pea seeds today.  Several went out by the chicken coop and the rest went in the pea patch.  I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

Best Seeds Your Money Can Buy

I'm on the hunt for the best seeds available.  Looking for a reliable seed company with great germination and great plant performance.  I've tried growing seeds of all types, from many different seed companies.  From what I've experienced, the most reliable seeds for germination, growth and production has been Botanical Interests.  I have only had the opportunity to grow their Italian Genovese Basil and their Royal Burgundy Beans but both produced exceptionally well, sprouting very quickly, growing tall and lush.  The Basil was VERY productive and delicious.  While I only planted the Beans on Monday (3/4/13 - That's 5 days ago) they are already 6" tall and very healthy looking.  I can't wait to see how well they produce in the front yarden.

Have you seen their seed collections?  I would order almost every one of those if I had an income!  I have kids, live in the South, grow in the ground and in containers, love flowers and edibles, have kids and am married to an Asian man.  About the only collection I wouldn't need is the tomato collection!

Though I haven't seen it for myself, I was told you can find BI seeds at Nature's Food Patch in Clearwater.  It's too far for me to drive so I'll take my friends word for it.  All I know is I have never seen them sold in any store local to me.  But hey, a woman can dream, right?

This year, for my anniversary, I got 6 cubic yards of the city's soil builder (compost).  Maybe next year I'll be able to talk my wonderful husband into ordering seeds from Botanical Interests. :)

Plant Layout - Far Left Raised Bed

Here's the mock-up of what (and when) I have planted in the Far Left Raised Bed.

Growing Corn in Central Florida

Currently, up to 85 percent of U.S. corn is genetically engineered as are 91 percent of soybeans and 88 percent of cotton (cottonseed oil is often used in food products). It has been estimated that upwards of 70 percent of processed foods on supermarket shelves–from soda to soup, crackers to condiments–contain genetically engineered ingredients.  

As a grower I can understand why GMO corn was developed and why it is one of the largest GMO crops nationwide.  I've tried growing corn many times and am always disappointed when the worms eat the plants before we do.  However, as a human being and someone concerned with my families health I no longer buy sweet corn from the grocery store.  I've been trying to grow my own corn for years and have never had good results.  With the addition of 4 new beds in the front yard I am going to plant some corn seeds to see how well they produce.  I have spoken to many gardeners here and they have all said the same thing.  "The bugs get the corn and we never get ears."

I was recently told that it IS possible to grow corn here.  As it was explained, when the silks emerge you place a small drop of oil on the tip of the ear and that prevents worms/bugs from eating the ears.  I've got the space and the time (and the determination) so I'm going to give it another try.  Hopefully the worms don't bore down into the growing tip of the stalks this time and destroy plants by preventing them from growing.  Note to self:  Research how to prevent that organically.

Update: I planted Golden Bantam Corn every 8 inches in my 12' bed today (18 seeds).  I will plant a second row in a week or two.

Planted Sweet Potatoes

My Soil Builder was delivered this morning. I was so excited I went out and started moving it just as soon as I dropped my oldest off at school.  I hauled load after load to the raised beds I installed this weekend and then planted 48 sweet potato halves in the largest of the beds.  I also filled most of the nursery pots I had lying around with Soil Builder and planted my transplants in them.  Tomorrow, if I can manage to move, I may go out and plant more green beans in at least one of the open beds.  

Side note, I planted TONS of okra seeds.  My family does not like okra, but they are beautiful plants with beautiful flowers so I want to place them around the yard.  If you are a friend of mine and like okra, you may end up hating me after harvest season comes!

Look at all that steam!

6 cubic yards of Soil Builder!

St Pete Soil Builder

I'm doing it!  I'm putting in my order for 6 cubic yards of St Pete's Soil Builder.  I've been eyeing the soil builder for quite a long time now, but was unable to find any reviews or opinions online regarding quality or germination.  After joining a local gardening group I discovered a few folks have ordered it and LOVED it.  So I put my order in this morning.  Now I need to go lay out the rest of the beds ASAP before it gets here!  Yay!

Planting Sweet Potatoes - The Plan

I'm very excited to build my sweet potato bed today.  I have 34 lbs of sweet potatoes to plant. And that is after giving some away!  I've been considering digging up a large area of the grass to plant them, but time is not on my side for that project.  I have been brainstorming and it finally hit me!  I have several more 4x4 raised bed kits waiting to be installed (and taking up space in my laundry room) so I thought, "Self, why not use those kits to create a custom bed?"  LIGHTBULB!   I can't believe I didn't think of this sooner.  I have tons of landscape fabric in the shed just waiting to be put to good use.  All I would have left to get is the soil.

THE PLAN

1.  Lay out landscape fabric in area I have selected

2.  Build raised bed (4' x 12')

3.  Fill with soil (TBD)

4.  Grid out 12" squares (temporary - for planting only)

5.  Plant

6. Grow

7. Harvest

8.  Eat & Enjoy!  :)

I found this video discussing growing whole sweet potatoes vs slips and think this is how I will be planting this year.