10 Top Plants for a Food Garden in Subtropical Climates- Florida Gardening

Pete Kanaris's 10 top plants for a food garden in subtropical climates - Florida gardening.
1. Chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius)
2. Moringa (Moringa oleifera)
3. Yuca / cassava (Manihot esculenta)
4. Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)
5. Sissoo / Miami / Brazilian spinach (Alternanthera sissoo)
6. Katuk (Sauropus androgynus)
7. Papaya (Carica papaya)
8. Edible leaf hibiscus (Abelmoschus manihot)
9. Cranberry hibiscus (Hibiscus acetosella)
10. Okinawa spinach (Gynura crepioides)
Plants available for purchase from Pete’s nursery by visit or by mail.
Details here: www.greendreamsfl.com/
Follow Pete!
Website: www.greendreamsfl.com
KZbin: / greendreamsfl
Instagram: / greendreamstv @greendreamstv
Facebook: / greendreamsfl
Edited by Daniel Saddleton www.hiphikersmedia.com
Robin Greenfield is a truth-seeker, activist, social reformer and servant to Earth, humanity and our plant and animal relatives. He lives simply and sustainably to be the change he wishes to see in the world. Through living closely connected to Earth, he rejects the status quo of consumerism and demonstrates a way of being in gratitude, mindfulness and presence. His life is an experiment with truth and integrity.
Robin’s public activism involves dramatic actions designed to provoke critical thought, self-reflection and positive change. His activism creates nuanced conversations on the critical issues of our time, with a focus on solutions for living in harmony.
His life’s work has been covered by media worldwide and he has been named “The Robin Hood of Modern Times” by France 2 TV and “The Forrest Gump of Ecology”.
Robin has committed to earning below the federal poverty threshold for life and donates 100% of his media earnings to grassroots nonprofits, with a focus on supporting Black and Indigenous women-led organizations.
This channel is a resource for all who seek to liberate themselves, to live in truth and integrity, and to live in harmony with Earth, humanity and the plants and animals we share this home with.
Robin Greenfield and Dear Friends share means of achieving liberation and harmony through sustainable living, simple living, tiny house living, foraging, growing food and medicine, minimalism, zero waste, earth-skills, food sovereignty, community resilience, compassionate communication, activism, Black Liberation, Indigenous Sovereignty and living in service.
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[@katjones4840]

I think it’s really cool that these plants don’t even look like food. Say you’re in a survival situation, nobody would come and take your food. People know what tomatoes look like, these things I would have no idea that it wasn’t just a normal tree.

[@elizabethw.454]

Yes! Good point

[@melindalancaster9648]

My thoughts exactly...said the same thing to my husband after watching this vid 5×...Gov always threatening us.. Their not smart enough to know that's food

[@Arieskie]

You forgot about Floridians. We have a large Caribbean population. We know our plants.

[@HisBeloved2Cor11_2]

@@melindalancaster9648 hard to tell about our government. I wouldn’t be surprised if they found a way to declare some of them invasive species and demand their destruction. 😒

[@jenjenny9968]

You people dont know. Those are usually Asian food. And they are food to us. Look at the benefits of moringa leaves. You guyz might think twice coz they are super healthy than your food that not so healthy

[@cole8059]

Can you believe we have a 'tropical' state in America!!?? !! We have dozens of papaya right now and the trees/vines/bushes have been dripping with bananas, mangos, passion fruit, dragon fruit and peanut butter fruit. I've been making my own greens powder from katuk, sissoo, sweet potato leaves, hibiscus leaves and moringa. Katuk is my FAVORITE! I also fell in love with the Jamaican strawberry tree this year (cotton candy berries??!!) and use the leaves as a base for tea with cranberry hibiscus and bidens - so delicious and medicinal. Florida is a mystical and magical land full of plants that love to connect with us ;)

[@cupofbees9413]

We’ve got loads of mangos

[@aquaseahorselove3939]

Florida wishes we could become a sovereign nation, too, and detach from this crazy country. Maybe our state will physically detach and we can float away from it. 🤣🍍🥭🥥🌺🌴

[@npeace312]

Problem is the soil or lack of it. I had a garden while growing up in Kentucky and we never had soil issues. Here in the area Pete lives, same as me, it's sand. I had to add good soil to a lot of my garden. Compost has been hard to get down for me but I'm trying. One cool thing is growing avacado trees. They grow so well here.

[@npeace312]

@@janetclark8754 Hope and pray for Hawaii

[@williamburke5560]

Florida dont like hippies go home lady..#dontNewYorkmyFlorida

[@nisimarie7779]

I’m happy to see moringa getting attention in the Western world! It’s a very common green used in Filipino cuisine. We call it malunggay, and use it a lot like spinach. If you’re curious about different ways to cook the fresh leaves, look up “malunggay” recipes.

[@BruhBruh-do5cq]

Idk why but I love how happy and enthusiastic this guy is about his plants. Very wholesome

[@bradjohnston8687]

Pete always is, part of his sales pitch too it seems.

[@jamiegrumm8641]

A great one is blue butterfly pea tea..its viney. All parts of the plant is edible ..flowers lovely ..and delicious. It is anti inflammatory..and has many many other health benefits..it makes a cold or hot tea that changes color with added citrus. Other plants we have that have lasted with almost no care black Florida pistachios..mulberry tree.. ❤

[@lovehealthmarket]

this video literally changed my life. i’m soo thankful for you and Robs relationship. I don’t know if I ever would have found him if not for your videos. I’m in zone 9b central florida, and i started my food forest after watching you document his journey of self sustainability. I also bought every single plant you listed in this video😂. I really can’t thank you enough!!!

[@vikassm]

Very nice video! I'm from Bangalore, India, where we have very similar temperatures to Miami, Florida. (Hovering between 60F to 90c most of the year) I highly recommend growing Roselle (Gongura leaves in India) used for everything from fresh dips to spicy curries & Pigeon Peas (25% protein!). I grow them hydroponically in 55ltr containers, they grow in almost any type of soil with no care. Also grow lots of herbs and spices to augment health and to prevent deficiencies, most of them will grow really well in Florida weather. Pigeon peas and Roselle leaves cooked together along with some garlic, ginger, turmeric & black pepper tastes absolutely amazing.

[@Feroal2]

How about grapes? I hear Bangalore grows a variety of “Isabella”

[@melindalancaster9648]

More like 90°-100°n Miami...60 n Fla is what we call freezing

[@bradjohnston8687]

@@Feroal2 down South we need to grow Muscadine grape varieties. Isos nursery/farm is a reliable source for the plants, Ive heard. Will be growing them soon myself in SE FL. Plant on doing cattle panel arbors for them. But along a chain link fence works if you have it.

[@Feroal2]

@@bradjohnston8687 thanks! I’m growing some bunch varieties like tari’s burgundy and dunstan’s dream. They have produced great wine grapes

[@MellisaDormoy]

Pigeon peas and cow peas grow well here in South Florida and are so delicious! We eat them a lot. 😊

[@jamurray64]

I am new to Florida, and my neighbor saw me growing mahogany splendor hibiscus and she said it's edible. I was growing it for the foliage for my bouquet. I am glad I saw this. Thank you.

[@sehatdarialam2]

Discovering this channel was a surprise for me. Coming from Indonesia, a country with only two seasons, summer and rainy, I recognize most of the mentioned plants. What astonishes me is how well these plants thrive in your region. Truly amazing!

[@koroba01]

Hello from Idaho…my wife is from China and she has grown sweet potatoes primarily for the greens, very delicious. Incidentally, we are moving to Cap Coral in September (2021) so this video will give us lots of gardening ideas.

[@qlogic2002]

We own 7 of those 10, so stoked! Edible spinach is also known as Abika if anyone is curious. Had a lovely salad tonight with perpetual spinach, Okinawa spinach, moringa, and Abika.

[@barbaramajoca4118]

Meranga is so good to cook with coconut milk with cubes meat with onion garlic and ginger

[@marthasimons7940]

One of the wonders of Moringa is that the tender young seed pods make a great vegetable. We discovered them decades ago in an Indian grocery store where they were called " drumsticks". We grow the moringa and love having our own "drumsticks " fresh from the yard.

[@GatorLife57]

Come on back to Florida.....we miss you !!! Wolf from Pasco County, FL. Thumbs up.

[@luzdeluna7386]

Happy to have 6 out of 10, our moringa trees have plenty of beautiful branches full of delicious leaves. I also have 6 huge avocado trees 🌳 plus other fruit trees and veggies 🥕🥗 🥦 the feeling of going outside to your backyard and harvest your breakfast, lunch and dinner it’s amazing.

[@biospheres]

Pete & Rob .. always my favorite teachers....green thumbs up.

[@2075vj]

I love grow my own food. Leaving Pennsylvania to move to Fort Myers soon can’t wait to be able to grow all year round. Thanks for sharing

[@g-man9684]

Hey! Welcome to the 239🙏 Hmu if you need worm castings.

[@2075vj]

@@g-man9684 Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind. Now I’m finally settled in here in Fort Myers. Will start my planting in a week or two.

[@lilyrosesoul0077]

What a great episode! Just a few gentle reminders : green papayas are good to eat in a salad etc - BUT ladies trying to get pregnant or pregnant ladies should eat only small amounts or avoid as it can lead miscarriage. If the papaya is ripe - eat in moderation as overconsumption can give a person diarrhea.Over consumption of moringa leaves is not good for people who suffer from high blood pressure. Food is medicine - but the flip side is that some herbs & vegetable & fruits can negative side effects if overconsumed or a person has some pre-existing health conditions. In south east asia where im from most of this knowledge is fading - i was lucky to have a grandmother who taught me some of this folk "medicine".

[@andreaszule1558]

You should write a book!

[@andreaszule1558]

LILY Rose Soul007👇

[@andreaszule1558]

👆

[@aquaseahorselove3939]

Agree. I’m a Florida native and I lived in Thailand for a couple of years. Their climate is very similar. The average lay person is much more educated about food and their environment than the average American. I learned a lot while I was there. America would be wise to learn from her elders (older nations), but like a teenager, she thinks she knows everything.

[@nobull772]

My grandma used to tell me young women in Vietnam would intentionally eat alot of unripened papayas in attempt abort their pregnancies, it was fairly effective they say.

[@gerrylavelle8433]

Excited about moving to central Florida west coast. It's mid-April here in Colorado and a snow storm just wrecked my fruit trees again -- year after year. Gonna dig my Chicago Hardy fig bushes up and take them with so they can live happily ever after as trees in Florida.

[@bradjohnston8687]

No need to dig up, just do cuttings, seal them up to not dry out & take those with you to start new plants.

[@gerrylavelle8433]

@@bradjohnston8687 I dug 'em up and brought 'em down here to Port Charlotte. Whoever bought our house in Colorado probably wasn't going to want to do all the winterizing I had to do to protect the figs from 15 below zero temps.

[@suuzq02]

U will NEVER get cancer or any disease You are mr healthy universe WONDERFUL explaining

[@BagoEco]

we Indonesian especially Javanese are used to eating cassava leaves. Love this channel 👍

[@BagoEco]

@Kanikapila Ho'ohanai yes, need to be wary, sure

[@BagoEco]

@Kanikapila Ho'ohanai is it something look like cassava? How's the reaction to your body after eat that?

[@BagoEco]

@Kanikapila Ho'ohanai ahh i see, thanks for share 🙂

[@hoperules8874]

Oo! I have tons of these growing in my compost!

[@craftystash8667]

I've been in West Central Florida ( Holiday) for 32yrs..we have never had luck in growing veggies.. can grow ornamentals all day long.. you've given me a boost to try again!! Thanks 😊

[@aquaseahorselove3939]

I’m in central Florida. I tried to grow a garden last year, the heat and scorching sun killed everything! My pineapples and banana trees are thriving though. Rosemary is my only herb 🌿 the heat didn’t kill.

[@ceilruxceilrux7917]

In the Philippines, we add moringa to our fish or chicken soup. Very delicious and nutritious ♥️

[@gnomelandco]

Super informative. I'm a florida native and struggle to garden in the summer. I've only tried moringa out of all these. Will definitely incorporate these into my yard. Thank you!

[@MellisaDormoy]

In South Florida in summer I grow pigeon peas, payapa, cow peas (any type of cow pea does well including black eye peas), I grow a lot of okra, amaranth (callahoo) and also all the things he says in the video. We eat Chaya a lot because it’s so very healthy for us. Everglades tomatoes grow in summer too ( shade seems best)… I am excited it’ll Soon be fall here where we can really get to gardening! :)

[@fortyfour6626]

Moringa. I worked with a guy in my lab who was from India. When he found out this was growing like a weed in my yard he begged me to bring it in. He freaking ate the bark and all. I tried it……nasty, tasted and smelled like urine. He said it’s a super food and quit being a “vussey “. Lol! I loved that guy!

[@patriciafisher1170]

It’s an amazing plant I live in Australia and have moringa in my back yard put the leaves in my salad and stir fry did not think they were smelly I just love it they have every vitamin

[@IslandsnHighlands]

Pete is a walking encyclopedia! I could watch him all day...but then I wouldn't get any plants in the ground. I guess I need some edible hibiscus, that is the only thing I'm not growing here in 10a. Rob, I have learned so much from you also, both of your channels are at the top of my favorite youtube channel list!

[@MaxItUpwithMarta]

I'm so glad you did the yuca (casava) I've grown it in my yard in Miami, FL. It is great with "mojo". I'm planning on turning my front yard into a veggie garden.

[@Rebecca.Robbins]

I just love Pete Kanaris and his Green Dreams channel!

[@angiesheirlooms]

Love that some of these can be grown up north too!! Thanks Rob!!

[@donsizemore8704]

Love what you’re doing with this project, I’m inspired in so many ways by this!

[@evidencesuggests1697]

Great information, Pete’s the man! Been following him for a year or so, and now I’ve found someone else to follow! I’m in Palmetto, manatee county, just south of Tampa. Happy gardening, keep up the good work homie!;)

[@swdy0201]

Awesome video! Now more than ever, people need to know this stuff!

[@galentine09]

Such a great video packed full of information!! Thank you for sharing!

[@henryi9738]

I'm from Miami, so I loved this video ! Got inspired too ! Thank you guys.

[@HH-iv6mf]

Pete is Awesome!!!!

[@satra270]

Thank you for putting this out for us Floridians hearing up in a couple month to have my house with plenty of backyard space to grow some of these wonderful plants !

[@jbontregor6717]

Really great video guys. Thanks so much for posting this.

[@prepared2thrive101]

Just moved to Florida from Alaska to grow a survival. Thank you for this video.

[@bradjohnston8687]

You left most of your clothes I take it? LOL Cheer to joining us.

[@CH-hm8ud]

Get gandules, it’s a type of beans you eat fresh or dry. Grow amazingly in Florida, and you an preserve it in different ways. No less important that has 11 gm of protein per cup, and they are buches who are very prolific. Good luck 🍀.

[@santhoshmohan6361]

You are such an peculiar soul Rob... Keep rocking ❤️ love from India

[@lani1738]

This video is perfect for our subtropical climate in Queensland 🥰

[@Chrissmithers9]

Thank you robin and Pete 🌿🌿🌿

[@stevenecheverria5032]

Thank you for this! Amazing knowledge

[@fredkennedy8435]

"What's growin' on?!" Love that.

[@fredkennedy8435]

This episode was great. Lots of edible plants I've never seen before. Very cool!

[@apriljmcmillan]

This video is so enlightening!! Thanks so much. I’ve never heard of several of those plants but now I want to try growing them!

[@THEJONESFAMILYCHANNEL]

Noted!!!! You are awesome!!! Thanks for sharing!

[@lilaclilac4450]

Good planting suggestions and information!

[@earlinesblack1361]

❤I’m learning so much thank you for helping us we need more information like this

[@keluargaletsgo1]

Thanks for sharing this amazing info We grow moringga, sissoo spinach, cassava and sweet potatoes as well and cook with peanut sauce so great 👍

[@aquaseahorselove3939]

Thank you for this! I made the mistake last year of following gardening advice from non tropical regions, which is most of the US. What a mistake. I’m doing things different this year. Watching lots of Florida gardening channels and trying to plant heat resistant crops. I need to embrace the tropics whether I like it or not, otherwise I’m never going to yield a harvest. I’m on the Space Coast 🚀

[@Rompelstaump]

How is it going? N.FL here. Just getting started curious what you grew and how you did it. Feel free to post an update.

[@aquaseahorselove3939]

@@Rompelstaump Over the summer I got a lot of tropical fruit trees started. Bananas, mango, papaya, moringa, fig, etc. For vegetables, okra was my best crop this summer. I had so much of it. It tolerates the heat like a champ! Lots of peppers. Eggplants, scallions, basil, cranberry hibiscus, roselle, buzz buttons, rosemary and a few other herbs. It wasn’t a lot, but it’s a start. For fall I’m doing tomatoes, bell peppers, hot peppers, squash, amaranth, perilla, celery, basil, nasturtiums, sunflowers and a bunch of edible flowers. I just ordered seeds for seminole pumpkins, I may start those, too, even though it’s kind of late for starting them. The subtropics aren’t so bad after all. 😉

[@HisBeloved2Cor11_2]

Me too. ☺️ 321 (blastoff) area code

[@aquaseahorselove3939]

@@HisBeloved2Cor11_2 Oh that's funny, I never thought of the 321 as being the blastoff numbers. 😂

[@HisBeloved2Cor11_2]

@@aquaseahorselove3939 i’m told it was intentional. When the area was given its own ZIP Code, they requested it. 🤩

[@wildedibles819]

Im trying sweet potatoes this year in Ontario I decided to try because you guys told me i can eat the leaves too :) I put a few in pots so next summer i already have slips :)

[@ayina111]

Yes, you can eat the leaves. And it's delicious to stir fry and quick steam as asian salad. And they are really fast growing, literally I can harvest them twice a week.

[@wildedibles819]

@@ayina111 yes I loved them this year thanks I have some in a hanging basket ready for summer

[@leastitdidforme]

Love this! Planning an order now! Tampa here too!

[@tekc0der]

Awesome stuff man, I am a newbie to gardening this was really insightful. Thank you!

[@debbietampasheher3682]

This was informative and fun. And beautiful plants. Ty :)

[@debbietampasheher3682]

Perfect. Thank you!

[@roneelmonesh]

Omg love your garden. I eat all those vegetables. They are soo good.

[@andreaszule1558]

Great video by the way...thank you!

[@livinginthemoment8]

Yes to moringa! :)

[@sarahfardoush338]

Very informative video. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@phayes9346]

Great show!

[@leeyoww8458]

New sub here from the Philippines 🇵🇭 💚, I so love this channel! veryyyy refreshing vids to watch

[@saulfalcone4817]

Great Info!!! Thank You!

[@sophiisanerd]

I am so happy that God gave us THIS job. It is so freaking cool

[@markaf4446]

Very cool video!!! Thanks!

[@RobinWorld33]

From Tampa! Great video!

[@fathimahassam.1278]

Kasava yuca you can also eat the leaf. Cook them like greens but not for long add to soups.

[@jpsmith9452]

Great video. Thanks.

[@lorenkaragozler8498]

Amazing thank you!

[@richardknowles9212]

the Moringa here in the Philippines is called Malunggay...it also grows huge pods that are delicious...super easy to grow..break off a limb..stick it in the ground and it takes off..really great in soups ...i love it in scrambled eggs

[@stuffplaces8424]

i love hearing the cicadas

[@dessenceofgardeningcooking9781]

Superb informations.

[@morningdew2594]

Shared from New York to friend in Florida. Great vid!

[@CraniacMax]

I have all those. great video.

[@xrptodamoon]

Awesome video man im gonna go plant shopping !

[@sunsethomescr]

Thank you for the tips😊I live in florida

[@KylaGrace]

Thank youuuu

[@iamdrludmilla]

I am a newbie at growing in Florida and this was definitely a great learning lesson! Thanks a bunch! I just panted Rossell Hibiscus but I want to try the veggie ones too!

[@AlstarPalmer]

Great information, thanks so much

[@miracleshappen4483]

I love you both, guys! Hi, from Cambodia. 🤗💖😊

[@ayina111]

Katuk is really great for breastfeeding mom. At first my baby had to bottle fed because I barely produce any milk. Then I started eating katuk, after 2 days my problem is solved. And I didn't need to buy formula at all since then

[@beckysnay1609]

Fenugreek, too.

[@AbidAli-bv2gl]

Excellent video, Rob should back to usa

[@sayladytea]

Wow. This is more lettuce than I've found for us before... And they are a lot of perennials to get us through Summer. Bro you had me at neglect. 😂😂😂

[@elgranjero2284]

Very good information.

[@Homesteading247]

Thank you 🌻🌱

[@markismark07]

Moringa is native in south asia, and it's sort of that thing everyone has been eating for tens of thousand of years there but it's only really ever eaten as a supplement or herb Try it in a curry, ideally seafood curry. It really brings out the flavour! Yucca also grows wild there, but you need to be careful as not all varieties are edible. Each year someone dies from eating wild yucca there.

[@bradjohnston8687]

Yucca has to be cook, just like the Mexican tree spinach because of Cianide

[@nunyabiznes33]

Some yucca need longer detoxification before it can be consumed.

[@erikjohnson9223]

This may be autocorrect, but yuca (cassava) =/= yucca (Spanish bayonet). Yucca root is a soap source, not edible. Its flowers are edible, as are the pods of a few varieties like Y. baccata (datil or banana yucca). The foliage is very stabby, similar to Agave but not succulent.

[@wildedibles819]

Awesome job :)

[@lilyrosesoul0077]

In south east asia - moringa leaves & pods are cooked in coconut curries/gravies or just stir fried.

[@gregveasman33]

Loved the knowledge of wild foods this is what I will be eating Shabbat Sholom

[@jeff6899]

Pete has it growin' on ! The ONLY one of those I Haven't tried over the years is #3. There are a few others, of course. I currently am not growing Chaya here in Metro Phx...I actually got some cuttings from Pete several years ago !

[@bte_permaculture]

Much love to both of ya from India ❤️

[@itsallgravy7]

Wow so helpful! I like the gluten free wrap plants the best

[@scratchoffgal2016]

New here! Sooo happy I found your channel!

[@sherinsavier5071]

I love your knowledge and input, you always have such epic videos. We live in Australia near Brisbane and it works very similar here, even where we are is more drought like...I never water sweet potatoe, cassava, okinawa, hibiscus etc. and they keep growing. Moringa seems to like a good amount of water at the beginning, first few weeks and then it also just keeps on growing. Chaya and katuk is what I like to try this year. I have done research on all the perennials they grow in Africa and other countries to always have food even with little water and clay soil. Cassava has been epic helper to break open the soil and improve the quality, so sweet potatoe. ECHO has a great video on all these perennials as well, that's how I found Katuk and Chaya in the first place. Another Australian gardener said winter melone (wax gourd) is an awesome easy grown vegetable too, instead of zucchini. Pigeon pea grows super easy here too and survives even when we had the drought. Tannier, Aibika, Haitian basked vine, Malabar spinach and yams (greater yam, winged yam, cocoyam) I like to try too this Spring.

[@TravelMamaAnnaVon]

loved this video. I live in pacific south mexico and it's impossible to find info on starting gardens down here. with a long dry season, we NEED veggies that thrive on neglect. Thank you for this!

[@csle1962]

Cool! I like you channel!

[@dotsyjmaher]

Great video...I started longevity..it grows slower than I wish... But..I use it all the time on sandwiches... Gotta look at these..THANKS!

[@RM-uc9qu]

I need to come up and get cassava, katuk and papaya!! Thanks. Roxanne Sarasota☮️

[@randomrachael420]

Happy birthday! :)

[@allie8321]

I bought a moringa tree because of this video

[@Yankee_Redneck6698]

Mmmmm.... leaves....