What we did to stop the critters from eating our growing veggies was to get chicken wire and surround the bed with that. Works well... We also had a motion detector sprayer that scared away the birds that would swoop down to eat the seeds or young seedlings. That broke so we got an Owl that hoots, hope it works as well.. Hope your husband recovers.

Oh sugar, do yourself a big ol' favor and go down the Wal Mart and get you some vegetable starts for a buck a piece. If you're determined to do it from seed, I imagine it's warm enough in Florida to direct sow everything in the garden. You shouldn't have to worry about bigger creatures like raccoons and armadillos getting at your seeds, but birds like the seeds. Similar to cindjo's suggestion, you can actually sow the seeds and then place chicken wire on top of the bed, sort of like a lid, and that keeps the animals from digging, and the plants just grow up in between the gaps in the wire. You can remove it once the seeds come up. Best of luck, we're here for you.

I totally agree with sleep33. It sounds like you might have a busy summer with hubby so don't start from seed unless you really, really enjoy that part of gardening. I assume you are either gardening because you need the produce or for the relaxation.

Go get a few plants and put them in and surround them with chicken wire for protection from critters. You'll get instant gratification and then you can spend your time on more important things instead of stressing about germinating seeds. You don't need to be worried about seedlings at a time like this.

I hope all goes well with DH.

I have a large dog pen that the dog never stays in, so I planted everything in there. Too tall for pretty much everything to get into.

Have you considered container gardening?

Praying for you!

Thank you all. Everyone on here is very kind.

How are things working out? What did you decide on doing??

Kim

Here is my update. My husband does NOT have cancer. It was chronic/acute kidney failure and he is now recovering at the Gainesville, FL VA hospital which is the best hospital we have ever been in! Thanks to God!.

I have not had any time to do anything. We have been traveling back and forth with a rental car (ugh! $$) and My seedlings have been hanging in there.

I've got the Tomato, Cheyenne Bush Squash, and Yellow Cucumber, Jenny Lind Melon , Malabar Spinach seeds, Summer Squash and some Milkweed seeds started.

I had to put them in small pots because I have not had time to get them into the ground. My garden area is not even prepared yet.

My husband should be out in a few days and I will just have to see what I can do.

I have read on some of the packages that some of them (don't remember which, I'm stressed still) do NOT like to be transplanted, but we will see what God will allow to happen when the time comes.

Thanks,

Halime

PS I have some Wax Myrtle shrubs that I planted last year and had to move during the month of November. They got very leggy and I took the advice of people on here to just "whack" them close to the ground. THEY ARE LOOKING BEAUTIFUL. Nice and bushy and green.

Yay! I'm glad!

I've actually had no experience with most of the plants you're growing (don't know what to do with squash and don't even know what a milkweed is! :)) but I hope everything works out ok with them. I, too, was running behind this year. Sheer ignorance on my part, but I am suprised how quickly my peas and spinach have caught up. Even bought some herbs yesterday.

Kim