It currently looks like the winter of 2024 has finished a bit ahead of schedule, at least in panhandle Florida. The storm systems which are still heaping snow and ice on the northern tier states are producing showers locally.
Those showers, hopefully minus the destructive winds, are producing copious flowers, both wild and domestic. That rain will also produce a bountiful spring vegetable garden, healthy shrubs and a generous fruit crop for those who have prepared.
On the top of the list for the managed landscapes of north Florida are the installation of annuals and bedding plants. The moderate temperatures make the hand labor much less a chore, but the mosquitoes and no-see-ums are already out looking for their first meal.
Annuals offer an almost infinite variety of color, texture and plant forms which can be used to brighten landscape beds and add a splash of color to a porch, deck, or patio if placed in containers. A few also make good cut flower selections to enhance interior environments.
Spinach planted in December is now producing a bountiful quantity of leaves. This healthy menu choice will soon give way to the warm season crops being installed in March.
In this region, most annuals flourish for one season, but not a year. Warm season annuals can be damaged by frosts or freezes so they should be planted after the potential for frost has passed, but with enough time to reach their peak maturity.
March is also an ideal time to plant many bulbs in the home garden. Some like caladiums can be planted all year round but run the risk of damage if they sprout early and are not protected from a late frost.
Warm season vegetable planting is a priority activity for March. Depending on how the remainder of spring goes, transplants may offer the best possibility for success.
This is especially true for tomatoes. Almost all locally available cultivars will not set fruit during the heat of summer.
Other warm season vegetables, such as sweet corn, okra and cow peas, can be planted now from seeds as they are much more tolerant of the higher summer temperatures. Unfortunately, later plantings are more likely to be afflicted with excessive insect pressure.
If planting vegetables which grow on vines, such as cucumbers or running beans, consider placing a trellis in the growing bed. The structure will provide steady support for the vegetables and keep them off the soil where decay can reduce yield.
Whether new to vegetable gardening or an old hand, the garden’s location is very important for several reasons. Any of these can drastically affect the outcome.
Site selection can influence the amount of sun, a critical component to success. An absolute minimum of six hours of sunlight is required for most vegetables.
Another consideration for the site is water availability. A few weeks without rain will wither any hope of a productive garden if supplemental irrigation is not available.
Lastly, the type of soil in the growing area should be suitable for vegetable production. Organically rich and well-drained soil, which is slightly acidic, makes for a good plot.
One more tip for the spring gardener, whether ornamentals or vegetables, is to monitor for insect pests. While there are many beneficial insects, there are also those which can quickly damage or destroy the home gardener’s effort and the relatively mild winter makes this much more likely.
With the warmer weather, the cool season vegetable production will be coming to an end shortly. Many will soon flower and then die, but they will be replaced by warm season vegetables.
There is always plenty to eat in the area’s vegetable gardens.
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