Really nice Silvia! Really. What do you use for fertilizer? Your corn is growing so quickly. I presume that the crates are to keep the melon vines off of the ground. I had never seen a set up like that. I bet it works really well.

I can see that it won't be long before you are eating that striped zucchini. It looks like the plant will be a good producer.

Christine

everything looks like it's growing so well...mine is very pokey :\ I am trying melons/watermelon again this year, armed with Bt if necessary...do you use the crates for keeping the vines aired out and the [hopefully] melons off the ground? i love the zuke-- looks like a neat variety!

--shelbey

Superb.

So great to see the Costata growing in florida; that's my favorite variety but it was a failure in fla last year. Yours looks perfectly healthy.

Hi Christine
I use Nutracote 13-13-13 for all my garden needs.
I have three varieties of corn, I am also using them for my Jeminez pole beans.
I am actually going to eat "Tom's Butterstick zucchini" first, that one is loaded and ready to eat.
Borage is still going strong, even with the heat. Everyday there is tons of bees around it.

Shelbey
I always prepped melons, watermelons, pumpkins off the ground. Otherwise, when it rains they can rot.
Is better to do it when they are small, later they can get heavy.
I have other melon on a trellis, that works too.

pnbrown
Costata and Delicata squash are some of my favorites. And I am growing them both this season. Along with others as well. When they will all be producing, I will review them.

Silvia

superb. i am particularly envious of your corn. my luck with it has been, to put it mildly, much worse... i got my first cuke today! and the damage to my peaches from whatever it was that attacked them seems minimal. great time in the garden, no?

WOW Sil, great looking gardens. I spent a week with grandchildren visiting (in the pool 24-7 as you can imagine) my gardens sure show my absence, but spending time with the grandkids was so worth every second!! They are from Chicago, so visits are few. Still, my tomatoes are screaming for attention. I love the way you use crates to give melons/squash etc. a lift! Very clever. I really want to come visit your fab gardens one day. You make me drool!

Hawaiian Currant is looking superb, by the way! The kids had fun picking all the cherry and grape tomatoes as they ripened....sigh, they are gone now, back in cold Chicago...will post a photo link from their visit later.

Add me to the list, that is very clever way to keep anything off the ground. I was thinking about spagthetti squash or butternut. You are full of good ideas. How do you keep the zuchinni bug free, BT? I tried growning it without it, with no sucesss. Maybe I should do the seeds earlier, like Feb.

Hi Michael
I am glad about your peaches getting better.
I will show pics of the corn when ripe. Have purple, red, and yellow big kernel variety. They are all edible, absolutely the best!

Hi Cindee
So nice to have your grandchildren visiting you. I lived in Chicago for 7 years, around Lake Shore Drive. I know how cold and windy it is!
We are harvesting the Hawaiian Currant tomato too along with others.
I do hope you can come and visit us some day.

Hi Katkin
You have to think about all the possible ways to protect the crops from insect damage and disease.
In the beginning of my gardening in Florida (since last May) I followed the calendar. But I found out it is better to start a little earlier, that way you beat some of the heat and bugs. Of course you have to be ready to protect from the freezes. I use the same plastic bins covered with garbage bags and everything made it.
I do use a mild solution to spray on the crops prone to disease or insect damage. It has Spinosad and Dr Bronner's Castile soap. I just put drops in a spray bottle and use it once a week.
My garden is going to be one year old this May, I planted Seminole pumpkin then. I had a good harvest, you can use it as a squash or pumpkin. And can also substitute for Butternut in recipes. If you are interested, I have a lot of Seminole seeds, I can send you some.

Silvia

Beautiful Silvia, I can't believe how quickly everything recovered, you sure know what you're doing ;-) That's a really cool idea to use the crates to get the vining crops off the ground, is that hay or straw you're using for mulch?

We're picking the garden but this time of year I'm suffering the down side of being a peninsula on a peninsula, water everywhere and the dew every morning combined with afternoon watering = lots of fungal problems, so doubtful I'll be posting pictures for a while, working hard on my SWCs to get away from afternoon watering.

When should I start the Seminole pumpkins? We do want to eat them a squash....

Tom

Hi Tom
Willy is in St Pete at the Indy races with our neighbor. He said yesterday was so hot that he must had drunk 30 bottles of water at $3 a pop!

Start the Seminole pumpkins now, last year I would of start them early but I didn't have a garden till May. You will be happy to find out they are a workhorse. Like the flavor too. A lot of people said the best!

Those crates are used a lot, remember I told you that was how I covered the tomatoes on the ground?

Tom, I don't know the difference between hay or straw. I got it from the Feed store. I asked for hay, and they said that is what the use for their horses. I got my cattle panels from them too. $20 for delivery! How can I go wrong with that.
I put the hay in the raised beds and containers. Where the melons are I have eucalyptus mulch.

Say Hello to Cathy. And keep posting. You have tons of good ideas and information!

Silvia

I'm envious and inspired. And don't banana flowers look like something out of a Dr. Seuss book!

Hi Silvia,

Wish I'd known Willy was here, I have a neighbor that gets VIP tickets into everything free, I'm just more of a NASCAR fan than INDY....

How long are the vines for the Seminole pumpkins? Since I have such a small space to work with I have to grow vertically, so a 30' vine would be a problem....

I'm sure you got straw at a feed store....

Tom

Hi Susannah
I do love banana flowers! Especially when you can see the progress to a tiny fruit. Can't wait till the others ripen. They are about the same time planted.

Hi Tom
Our neighbor won a raffle ticket to be on tv with the drivers, on the pit, etc. etc. And he let Willy go instead of him. He was so happy!!! Sunburn, too.
If I have known that you are a Nascar fan... I won a $500 to the Nascar Store in a sweepstakes.
I got a few t-shirts for myself and let Willy pick the rest.

Seminole pumpkins vines are long, but you can trim them to any size you want. That is what I did. I planted 3, I would suggest to plant 1. They are strong and productive.

Silvia

i'm bringing a bunch of seminole seedlings to the deland swap, if anyone is interested. they're from a reliable strain.

Oh boy! Now that's a potager! I hope tampafred sees this...

Gille,

What do you do to keep the raccoons away from your fruit?

What a beautiful yard and garden!! I always enjoy seeing your wonderful pictures!! Your dogs are just adorable!!Thanks for sharing!!

Michael
I am going to make a "surprise" little package for you and Bill. Unknown strains! lol

Nicky
Thank you! I am glad you liked it.

watermelon
My backyard goes to the Orange Blossom Trail. There is a lot of wildlife. Having a 6 ft fence helps, I have not seen anything since we moved in.
Besides, there is a pet door and my dogs are always patrolling. :o)

Will/Silvia,

Beautiful!

That banana blossum reminds me of Audrey from the movie "Little Shop of Horrors". Feee-eee-d me Seymour!

Beautiful garden - before long you'll take out the remaining grass and just have wonderful things growing! First class - I like it a lot!

Hi puglvr
Thank you. After the freezes there is the relief that everything is blooming.
Fruit trees are a joy when they start producing fruit.
We had the Loquats and they were good. I did share some with my dogs, taking the seeds out first.

Hi Kathy
We have little bananas showing today. Remember how bad they look before? We were surprised to see the flower.

Willy says Hi.

Tampaart
Thank you - You guessed it right! This is the beginning. We have ongoing projects...

What a wonderful garden!