Wow! Lookin good! I am jealous, I planted cukes in May but they didn't do well. May try again once we get our new boxes in the ground (hopefully this weekend).
I was reading up on asparagus - does it really take a few years before you can harvest? I'm not sure I have THAT much patience yet. But I love eating it!

I started my asparagus last June or so from tiny seedlings I took from my Pennsylvania garden. It does takes about 3 years in PA to produce, but seems to be growing much faster here. I have not determined if the plants will survive in the long run though since this is not a good climate for them. I will mow them down in January and hope for some spears in Feb. or March. Its a bit of an experiment, I only have about 14 plants.

Just beautiful, thanks for the photos. You are way ahead of most gardeners in getting a tomato.

My tomatoes have blossoms but I think they might need cooler nights to set fruit. Wait and see.

I've had little success with cukes, good for you.

Very nice doc! What's up ;-) Where are you? How cool are your nighttime temps now? I'd love to start but it's just too hot yet where I'm at....

Thanks flanative, tomncath & naplesgardener. Our home is in Clermont. Night temps have been in the low seventies. Hoping for a few degrees lower soon so that we get more fruit set. I'm somewhat a newbie to FL gardening, but I'm enjoying learning the ropes. I was a bit concerned before moving that our veggie gardening here would be a bust. So far we have been really pleased, but it is certainly different and has required some adaptation! Trying to stay organic.

Are the egg-shaped tomatoes 'Black Plum'? They look interesting. Your plants look bushy for this time of year. I guess it's because you got a head start. Thanks for posting the photos.

Yep, those are Black Plum, little round ones are Black Cherry.

i seethe with vegetal envy.

Hi ill-mannered, I look at your blog postings all the time. Have you to thank for some info on "Sunshine Blue" which you noted in your discussion of blueberries. I have mine in pots and they are doing awesome! Thanks.

Hi Cfldoc. Your garden looks great! Here in zone 10 I usually plant in late September or early October. So you can grow asparagus in zone 9? Does it do well? I love asparagus but think it may be hot for too long here in South Florida as well as humid. Of course, I know you guys get brutally hot temps in Central Florida as well. Sometimes we'll have low 90's here and I'll notice mid to high 90's in your neck of the woods. Wonder if I could treat the asparagus as an annual by planting in September, letting the plants grow over the cooler months, and harvesting in the late spring? Or do asparagus need a long growing season? Also, Cfldoc, I was to Clermont many years ago while chaparoning a school field trip to Disney. I recall some gorgeous scenery which consisted of lovely rolling hills with rows and rows of orange trees. We were there just a few years ago for another reason and the town seemed much bigger and I didn't see those lovely orange groves. Do you know if they are still there? Curious Sheri :)

Bluesky--forget about asparagus in zone 10. Really. I planted a bed of asparagus in Mass. years ago so I have some experience growing this wonderful veggie. They must have cold temperatures in the winter so they can go dormant. Then in the spring when the spears come up they need cool weather because when the heat comes the spears will branch out very soon after appearing from the ground causing them to get too woody to eat.

When I first moved to Fl. I tried to grow a small test area of asparagus just to see what would happen. Well, it wasn't long before I pulled the plants out to put in something that will actually thrive here.

Christine

I think even Zone 9 is pushing the limits for asparagus but so far doing okay. I added some pics from my August cut. So Sheri, Clermont is now more homes than oranges!

Thanks for sharing your veggies with us. You may be new to FL, but obviously not new to gardening! Please share your organic growth methods. I need to keep learning about edibles from you guys that are pros. So many of you here on this forum and the rest of us want to get better! I just saw IMA's nice yields too. Than-you!

Anna

Cfldoc, that's pretty neat that you are growing asparagus with all your heat and humidity. What variety do you use and do you just grow during cooler months? Thanks. Sheri

Sheri, it would not be possible to grow asparagus as an annual. In one year, the plants are just not large enough to produce edible size spears. In PA it took 3 to 4 years of growth to produce edible spears. Here the plants are basically growing twice as fast. Our plants are about 16 months old. Really a dormant season is necessary for asparagus to grow properly. Here I have read that in northern, and possibly central Florida it might be possible but it is a challenge. James Stephens book "Vegetable Gardening in Florida" suggests trying to mow the plants down in January and August. Normally the spears are produced pretty much all at once in early spring, you pick them for 5 or 6 weeks and then let the plants grow to store energy in the roots for next year's crop. I'm trying to force a sort of dormancy by withholding water as much as possible for two weeks in July, two in August and then cutting all plants down. This year they re-grew and actually the wife and I had a couple of handfuls to eat. They are growing now, I will mow them in January and see if we can get any harvest in Feb. or March. Since the climate here is really not what they like, the plants may gradually decline and I will lose them, but I'm giving it a shot. These plants were supposed to be an all male "Jersey" variety but they were evidently not true to variety since we had seeds and seedlings in my PA garden which I moved here. We use a lot of compost and make sure they are well watered most of the time. Don't know if it will end up working or not!

So, since your don't have an email address posted I'll have to ask here, Ph.D., M.D., D.O., or...?

O.D.= eye doc=Doctor of Optometry by vocation, amateur backyard farmer by avocation!

I might be brave enough to plant a few asparagus although from what you say it's quite doubtful they'll grow well in our zone. But I'm the lady who managed to get Globe Artichokes to produce in Zone 10 so maybe my (green thumb) will kick in again! lol

Well doc, for a newbie to Florida it's obvious you brought more than some "amateur" experience with you ;-)

Thanks for the chain. I've added my thoughts on Central Florida vegetables over at piercefarmstead.com if you're interested.