Florida Summer Garden Harvest: Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Vegetables

[@teresaminnick2252]

Love your videos for us Florida home gardeners….. on my way out to start some milkweed cuttings

[@WildFloridian]

Yay! Best of luck with your Milkweed cuttings!

[@shirleyk623]

I like your channel because I can believe you and what you say we can plant here in Florida. I'm In central Florida. I often don't believe someone in Michigan telling us what we can grow. It's true we could grow it but it would be a constant battle between the bugs and disease we have in our humid summer months. So thank you for letting me know when and what I can grow in our climate.

[@WildFloridian]

Thank you Shirley! I’m glad you find my videos helpful 🥰

[@doreenaitken5308]

i totally agree with you. Just like that one tropical depression and everything is gone. Forget the first frost. plant after hurricane season is over. lol 😂

[@KNC298]

I've been watching you for a year and have been diligently applying your techniques / advice to my 11 raised beds and a few in ground beds I have in my back yard .... you have given me the confidence to .... wait for it ...... START MY FRONT YARDEN! I now have 12 more rows of growing in my front yard !!!!!!!!!!!! I could have never thought I could do something like that if not for you. Your videos are so very helpful and encouraging. I want so desperately to yield a BIG harvest this fall!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@WildFloridian]

OMG! That is amazing!!! I'm so excited for you. And I really appreciate knowing that my advice has helped you! 🥰 I'm sending you lots of good vibes and wishing you the best in your front and back garden this fall! Also... love the name... Mr. Croissant 😂

[@renebrown995]

Thank you for posting. I guess I can lick my wounds when it comes to fighting the monsoon rains here in Florida. My garden needs much work. Much proud of myself because the cucumber plant I have been keeping in my living room and eased outside is blooming. Yea! Thank again for the encouragement 🙏 ☺ 💕

[@melissab8500]

I was feeling bad about the lack of anything in August lol thank you for this! It was going well till the squash bugs happened :O on to fall gardening

[@WildFloridian]

LOL! We’re all struggling in the summer! You got this Melissa! 😄

[@tammybinfl4755]

To eat the luffa you need the baby size. The big one will be very fiberous if you try besides it will start yellowing soon the start browning. Shake the you will here seeds and you will a luffa sponge. It is the coolest new plant i grew..

[@WildFloridian]

Thank you Tammy!!! I’ll harvest one and see if it is too far gone. But definitely noted for the future! I really appreciate the tips ☺️

[@TW-gb6mh]

You are awesome! I was expecting a huge August total from you! I laughed so hard when you did the drum roll and total. Then I remembered that I had not totaled my harvest. I had zilch for May and June, and 2 little green beans for July. But you told me to hang in there, and I did. I had 1 pound 3 ounces of okra, 1 cucumber that was 3 ounces and had no flavor, and 1 ounce of oyster mushrooms that don't like the heat. That put me at a whopping 1 pound 7 ounces! Whoo hoo! Thanks for encouraging me not to give up. September is looking better with my volunteer Seminole Pumpkins ripening. I have 7 pounds of them already.

[@erikafigueroa472]

Hello!! I’m so grateful for your channel!! I’ve been gardening for the last 3 years and more intensely the last 2 and oh boy I was doing it wrong 😖. I binged watched your channel and got motivated to prep my garden for fall, I even planted a butterfly garden 2 weeks ago and started a second one!!! Got my raised beds ready for vegetables, planted some trees that were in pots for a long long time and now I’m just trying to figure out where to create more areas for flowers and wildflower garden since I have a bunch of seed packets!!! I’m in zone 9b not too far from you and planning to go the native nursery in Tampa soon!!! So excited!! Thank you 😊 🤗

[@EK10241024]

Hey you wild, attractive Floridian. I'm in Hudson, Fl, Central West Nature Coast. I've got just over a half acre of garden space behind a commercial building I own. I've never grown anything, so this is new to me. I like you and your channel and appreciate you sharing your knowledge. Wish me luck. Next week I will start to germinate my first seeds indoors.

[@champagnegardening5182]

You are my favorite Florida gardener!

[@WildFloridian]

🥰 Thank you ☺️

[@Eryalb]

You should get a mango tree and avocado!

[@WildFloridian]

Yes! 🙌 Just told Ben we need to commit to a mango 🥭! I have an avocado… it is just hiding 🫣

[@gidget8717]

I wouldn't slap at a 2 pound harvest, ask a northern grower how much they harvest in January! 🤣 it was the thing that tripped me up the first 3 years down here. Florida growing seasons are opposite 80% of the the rest of the states. In Virginia, I dreamed of seeds and rest my bones in January. HELL, down here there is no resting and I dream of seeds in August while its pouring rain and I'm waiting for it to easy up so I can pull weeds 😆😆😆😆😆

[@WildFloridian]

So true!!! We never rest in Florida 😭😂🥰

[@RevAcres01]

Thanks for the inspiration and great motivation keeping us gardeners going.

[@WildFloridian]

You’re welcome Kim 🥰 Have a wonderful weekend

[@nauticalnads]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who cheerleads for my plants 😂

[@WildFloridian]

LOL 🙌 You are not alone 📣

[@RobinL4715]

Thanks for the positive energy! I just reset most of my beds. My jalapeños are hanging in there and my ping tung eggplant is almost ready to harvest. Getting new fall seeds started, but the deluges of rain have been crazy! I have to restart beets- I think most of them drowned🤷🏼‍♀️

[@WildFloridian]

You’re welcome Robin 🥰 Those early fall deluges have kicked my seeds butts two years in row. Just going to start more seeds 😂 How exciting about your eggplants! Already getting some gal harvest 🙌

[@juliam4303]

Make sure you don't have fire ants in the corn bed, they will def eat the seed! I transplanted mine from a tray (didn't soak first) and they took off!

[@gidget8717]

You need a neighbor with a chipper/shredder. Chip up those palms and sticks. (too expensive to rent for that amount 😕)

[@WildFloridian]

Right?!? But you know what Gidget... Mr. Cliff helped me out and hauled them away. What a sweet heart! I went out of town for a couple days and he cleaned them up for me. He is the best!

[@gidget8717]

@@WildFloridian good neighbors are worth their weight in gold!

[@jamiewhite5510]

My bananas fall over when they have a rack of bananas. Your bananas don't seem to brake off in the middle with the weight of the bananas. Can you share some tips?

[@WildFloridian]

It mostly has to do with the variety. I have grand na’an and it has a very sturdy trunk. If your plant is breaking I would stake it and add more fertilizer/compost. See if that helps

[@marilynearl6887]

I just planted Puerto Rican black beans. Will be looking forward to them

[@WildFloridian]

Yay! I hope they work just as well for you 🙌👩‍🌾

[@marilynearl6887]

@@WildFloridian since I direct sowed hope I can tell if they are black bean vs weed

[@WildFloridian]

🤣😭 I have been there! I hope you can tell the difference too!

[@caseybaumberger9146]

Have you tested the nitrogen levels in the soil where you're growing your corn? We've been trying to grow corn and it was the nitrogen levels causing us issues. We've only had one corn germinate and it was crazy yellow, we gave it some nitrogen fertilizer and it brightened right up!

[@lauriehessler8639]

Gardening is so weird sometimes. Your eggplant didn't produce and mine has been consistently producing. But my okra sprouted and then proceeded to remain 6 inches tall for 2 months 😑 I'm trying an heirloom variety of cantaloupe and I have my first few blooms so fingers crossed they are successful! I'm in Clearwater btw and yes, the rains this week have been torrential.

[@WildFloridian]

LOL! Yes it can be weird. I think my eggplants suffered from lack of sun. I think I need to fertilize that area too. Maybe I’ll throw down some bananas and some charged ash. That is super frustrating about the okra. I didn’t have a great okra year either. 🤞 I got my fingers crossed for your cantaloupe!

[@doreenaitken5308]

i had the same issue?? i moved my okra and they are still slowly growing. weird

[@doreenaitken5308]

i got 2 lbs of eggplants but my star fruit tree has produced pounds.

[@WildFloridian]

Amazing Doreen!!!

[@doreenaitken5308]

@@WildFloridian it’s nice that you show your struggles. it’s definitely real. Summer here was brutal. Heavy rains made it difficult to keep small seedlings alive. Things are looking better with the short break but the rain is back.🙃

[@muriellockhoff9560]

I hope you can help me I got golden rod plant seedling it has material around it should I remove it or leave it before putting in pot to plant thank you

[@gaffster787]

August harvest for us (east central) was mainly tropical spinach (Malabar, Brazilian, longevity), peppers, herbs and also indoor microgreens. I get double use from the microgreen seeds as we plant them in the fall gardens as well. I will complete sowing most of the fall gardens next week. Our Seminole pumpkins and luffa are looking sad this year, not enough rain.

[@WildFloridian]

I might try one of those spinach’s. Which is your favorite? Nice mix for your August harvest! Rain has been spotty. My seminoles are coming back with a vengeance… I think I already have 5. But where I live in St Pete… we seem to get more rain than even other parts. Hope the Seminole and luffa bounce back!

[@gaffster787]

@@WildFloridian Brazilian (or Sissoo) has the familiar crinkly texture and taste. I got some cuttings from a local etsy shop. Malabar tastes pretty good, grows more like a vine, semi-crinkly and we started it from seed. Longevity is supposed to be the healthiest. Some who tend to get kidney stones from other spinach's use it as a replacement in cooked spinach dishes because the raw (flat, thick) leaves are not very spinach-like. I got a cutting from a friend and now I have several big bushy specimens!

[@WildFloridian]

Thank you! I will discuss with Ben and see if he is game for another spinach alternative 🥰

[@christinemartin1127]

I'm sure you've addressed this in previous videos but I haven't seen it. I live in Florida zone 9A. Where do you source your seeds? Do you have a source specific for Florida or will any source do?

[@Hannahsunshine-]

I never found Puerto Rican black beans to grow this season but I grew purple hull cowpeas and they have done amazingly well. Would have never thought I'd be growing my own dried beans. So cool. Thanks for the videos and tips!

[@WildFloridian]

Thanks Hannah! That’s good to know. If they slow down I’ll shift to the Cherokee then 👍 Wishing you the best in your garden 👩‍🌾

[@sunnydayz4040]

I've harvested and cooked luffa about 4-5inches, you may want to peel it. The skin was a little firm for me. Now I just let them go to drying out. Gave to coworkers for Christmas last year. Luffa is pretty aggressive grower so I grow it away from the rest of my veggies. Yeah! fall gardening!

[@WildFloridian]

Thank you!!!!! I’ll harvest some and try it now. I’m finding the luffa and Puerto Rican black bean are both super aggressive! They are filing it out and leaving no space for tomatoes 🍅 😅

[@sunnydayz4040]

Oh I've been covering carrots w a board to help germination and that usually helps but I think it's too hot right now? I'll succession plant carrots but definitely covering w a board is helpful for germination 😆

[@WildFloridian]

I think mine got demolished by the 5 inches of rain. I lost spinach and carrots right after it stormed. But I agree the sun is still very intense. I like your board idea. I’m thinking I’ll let the beets get a little bigger and resow.

[@Bittagrit]

What scale do you use? We just harvested sweet potatoes, with enough to fill 4 wire shelves.

[@Jericho9696]

#gardengang

[@WildFloridian]

#gardengang Keep rocking the desert. Also Ben says hi 👋

[@sherrylingenfelter8991]

90’s since April…. Just sayin’ lol

[@lindafoster8182]

I’m kind of new to your Channel. I have a hard time keeping up with you. I’d like to write things down because my memory is horrible but you speak so quickly I can’t get the button off write it and get back to the button quick enough not to miss something. Is it really hard to have a script so that we can read what you’re saying also? I don’t have any idea how this works I just am thankful that you were there and I keep trying. Maybe slow down when you talk ha ha ha. No one changes their speech pattern. Are you going to write a pamphlet for us Floridians?

[@WildFloridian]

Awww, I’m sorry Linda. I grew up in South Florida with New Yorkers talking a mile a minute. So I just talk fast. I don’t script but you can turn on closed caption. Get getting transcriptions is time consuming or costs money. BUT… sign up for the free Florida Gardening guide for tips www.wildfloridian.net/calendar and I’m working on book right now… Plan to come out February or March. It will have lots of the tips and strategies that I use!

[@oreopaksun2512]

@@WildFloridian Book! Book! Book! Can't wait! Please, please, ask Ben to include some of his recipes! A garden/cooking/inspiration book. Love it!

[@WildFloridian]

I will tell him! I’ve asked recipes so that I can share. Whether it is in the book or in the emails, I will share 🥰

[@oreopaksun2512]

@@WildFloridian Does not have to be strictly recipes per se, what is so helpful is your knowhow on how to use the harvest: how you substitute sweet potato leaves for spinach (start low and work up), what to do with bunches and bunches of bananas (we have trouble using 3 lb bunches from warehouse stores so mind boggles), how to use mulberries, how to get kids to eat or participate in the harvest, etc.

[@greg6617]

Enjoy your channel! I’m over in Tampa and have tried purpled hulled peas and butter beans for the past few years. They come up beautifully, start producing, then the black aphids take over and I can’t get rid of them for anything. I use Neem to no avail. Do you have that problem? Tips for control? Thanks!

[@WildFloridian]

I don’t. I have a healthy population of ladybugs and wasps and assassin bugs in my gardens. I also just pull and prune things that are significantly stressed. I would recommend trying a different variety. Happy healthy plants can take some pest pressure and these plants may not be happy for some reason… heat, humidity, sun intensity. So switch it up. Hope that helps ☺️👍

[@shirleyk623]

I have the same problem. (I'm in central Florida too). When I see the aphids starting to arrive, I start spraying them with soapy water. Then soon after that the lady beetles arrive and start eating away. Now if the lady beetles don't work fast enough I will still spray the aphids until they are under control by the lady beetles and the nymphs.. I hope this bit of information helps you.

[@1993alz]

Greg, I am in Southwest FL and have the same aphid problem on any and all of my southern peas. It is so very frustrating and even spraying them daily wasn’t enough.

[@lauriehessler8639]

My cow peas are absolutely covered with black aphids! Soapy water didn't help much. Squishing them by hand was gross and not helping either.. Finally seeing some ladybugs so maybe they will help.