What to Plant in April - Zone 9b

What to Plant in April - Zone 9b

Items in BOLD indicate crops I intend to grow, though everything is already planted with the exception of new beans being put into the ground.  

Beans: Bush, Pole, Lima
Cantaloupes
OkraNew Zealand Spinach
Malabar Spinach
AmaranthOrach
Roselle
Yard Long Beans
Peanuts
Cow Peas
Southern Peas
Sweet Potatoes

Planting Anasazi Beans

Anasazi beans were first planted by the native people of the Four Corners region of the United States. Anasazi beans are versatile and flavorful.

While I've never tasted Anasazi Beans, I have the privilege of having received a handful of these exotic looking heirlooms.  I am finding a lot of conflicting info on whether they are bush or pole beans so I have to plant accordingly, leaving the ability to trellis if needed, but planning on planting them as bush beans.  

Putting them in the ground today, hoping they produce abundantly and are as delicious as mentioned.  

Eggplant & Basil Planted

I planted Oriental Fingerling Eggplant & Italian Genovese Basil seedlings this morning.  I found large ceramic pots (with trays) at IKEA for $7.99 each yesterday.  I bought 4 and filled them with soil builder, then transplanted the eggplants into the center and 3 basil plants around each.

I googled eggplant companion plants and everything I read suggested planting basil with eggplants keeps aphids away as well as attracts bees for pollination.  It's suggested to hand pollinate eggplants as the flowers don't often attract bees on their own.

I'm hoping to get out and plant my anasizi beans today too, but we shall see.

UPDATE 3/23/13:  I planted Chantenay Red Core Carrots in the free space in the pots.

Asparagus Update

I planted asparagus seeds on 2/21/13.  I watered daily and waited.  And waited and waited and waited.  I had all but given up hope.  Tonight I bent down to take a look at the little weed seeds that were growing (hoping they were somehow asparagus) and that's when I saw three of the tiniest asparagus seedlings growing.  The are, naturally, nearly impossible to see, so there may be more that I've overlooked.  From 2/21 - 3/20, a LONG month of waiting, and my patience has finally paid off.  I only planted 10 seeds to begin with, so here's hoping the germination of the remaining seeds is successful so I can grow my absolute favorite vegetable!

Fastest Sprouting Green Beans

So far the Jade Bush Green beans are the only green beans that have sprouted.  Most of the seeds I planted are already poking through the soil, some with their first true leaves.  I have seen some root formation on the pintos I planted, but nothing like the Jade Bush beans.

Growing Rattlesnake Beans

Rattlesnake beans are kin to pinto beans (a family favorite!) and are said to grow extremely well in hot humid areas, like St Pete.  I dug out a spot of lawn today, added St Pete Soil Builder and trellised some bamboo poles then planted 4 rattlesnake bean seeds per pole, with one between each set of poles and two little "not sure if they will germinate" looking seeds in the center.  Hopefully in a month or two I'll be harvesting my very own Rattlesnakes!

Growing Pigeon Peas

Found a great site discussing the benefits of using pigeon peas as a permaculture plant.  http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/pigeon-pea.html

My neighbor has a large pigeon pea plant and has given me seeds so today I went out and planted them all around the citrus tree bed.  :)