March Garden Guide: The Ultimate Guide to Florida Gardening

[@MagpieMarconi]

Having Florida specific gardening videos, advice, and discussion is so helpful! Love the channel!

[@WildFloridian]

Glad you like them!

[@wildflowers8966]

Everglades Tomato Tip- I always eat them right off the plant, but first I squish out the seeds and throw them right into the dirt before I eat the remainder of the tomato! Now I have tomatoes popping up all over the garden with zero effort! A++

[@ckeeley4366]

I put my okra in the air fryer with olive oil and spices and it is crunchy, very delicious!

[@lilmak889]

Hi Jackie, do you have hummingbirds? Could you do a video on them? When do they arrive in the area, what are the best plants to plant and how many plants does one need to be able to support a hummingbird without making nectar substitute? 😊 please 🙏 😁

[@Collington23]

My favorite new Florida pollinator plant is the Bidens Alba (Spanish Needles) version by Proven Winners. It’s called Campfire Marshmallow and the bees love them just as much as the naturally occurring native. I have three in my garden and they’ve been blooming since January, the bees love them, and they’re beautiful.

[@Collington23]

Love that you mention the pink and yellows tabs, they’re my favorite. Also, best Florida food forest tree for me has to be the loquat. They’re making fruit prolifically in my area right now and they’re delicious and beautiful. Plus they have naturally occurring pectin which means that they’re very easy to make jelly with.

[@bethanys8076]

Thank you for this! I’ve been trying to get into gardening, and these videos are very helpful. I’m looking forward to April’s Garden Guide!!

[@C3Voyage]

For tomato beefsteaks, I hope to have my parthenocarpic varieties within the next couple years. No pollination required and higher production. To keep bugs off, use organza bags at blush. Beefsteaks are a must grow for most. I'd also suggest other winter squash in the moschata/mixta family vs seminole. The taste is better.

[@em286]

I'm gonna start my sweet potatoes today. My seminole pumpkin vines survived the winter and are already weaving their way thru my back yard! I love this time of year. Thanks for all the great tips! 😎

[@steph6337]

Same! I started them early, just taking a chance, so glad I did!

[@christinamoeller1451]

The March overview was very helpful to know what are good vegetables and flowers to start growing.

[@WildFloridian]

Thank you ☺️ 🥰

[@paulinswfl8218]

Here in Englewood, FL it's nice to finally have some decent weather. This winter was terrible. My go "to's" during the summer are beans, okra, and a few different Asian greens. Also jalapenos and serranos. I need to try the Everglade tomatoes. I can't find them anywhere. Not a fan of growing sweet potatoes because once you plant them, that's pretty much all you can grow in that bed from my experience over the last ten years.

[@juliannegill5486]

Roselle - love it. So easy to grow and the jam and tea (hot or cold) is amazing!

[@cindyfulk8853]

Great March tips! Thanks. You mentioned cabbage. I only grow it in the winter. It is our best producing vegetable in our winter garden! No worries about a couple frosts or freezes. They withstand it. And NO BUG ISSUES. 😃We plant it every couple weeks thru September and October. Usually start harvesting late January and thru March.

[@cindyfulk8853]

Oh, I am in Lake Co. zone 9B

[@lifeoutnumbered]

Ive learned Thai or other tropical asian of vegetables varieties do really well here.

[@lynns.fischer7026]

What a great episode. So full of information. Thank you!

[@WildFloridian]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@teachwithwoolf]

I love your channel so much! I’m in Tampa (hey neighbor!) so it’s incredibly helpful. I started a garden this year and your videos have helped me so much. You keep it interesting, don’t drag on, and I love the pictures and labels you include.

[@johngault8688]

Be prepared to freeze and/or dehydrate you banana yields to make them worth the effort. Another Blue(ish) flower this time of year is Spiderwort and the bees love it...and of course it's a weedy native -- forgive me, but I love weeds!!

[@melanielinkous8746]

I'm in Zone 9 in north central Florida. Noodle Beans and Jack beans are very easy to grow here. I don't have much luck with traditional green beans. Great content!

[@yari139]

For y’all that don’t know, roselle is the same as sorrel or flor de Jamaica. So you can use it to make sorrel drink if you’re from the Caribbean, or agua de Jamaica if you’re Mexican. It’s so good. And I like to call the pink tab trees Florida’s cherry blossoms. 😂

[@WildFloridian]

Thanks for sharing the name alternatives! 😁 and I love the pink tab as Floridas cherry blossom!

[@Lilagar1]

LOVE growing Roselle! I've made jelly, Zobo, Roselle Sour Gummy Candies, Florida Cranberry Relish (AKA Jamaican Sorrel Relish)Roselle Thumbprint Cookies and Roselle "Fire Cider"

[@kevinmenard6395]

I live on the border of 9b/10a and have grown spring slicing tomatoes for years without having to give in to the bugs. Make no mistake, by the time we get into July they're cooked, but a little BT every 10-14 days goes a long way!

[@Florida882]

I started chef choice tomatoes last year. Not only did they grow all summer they are also restarting new ones around in the yard

[@WildFloridian]

OoOo 🤩 I have not heard of those. I’ll have to check them out! Thank you for sharing! 🥰

[@robertselvig8835]

your comment about tomatoes rang a bell for us to grow smaller types for salads

[@lisataylor4384]

Your videos have become my Friday morning coffee ritual. Thanks for another great one, I always look forward to them! An added suggestion for my Southern neighbors is blue porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis). It’s a host or nectar for many butterfly’s and is also a bee magnet in my garden. Blooms are edible and leaves can be brewed into tea. It flowers fully in summer but here in zone 10a will partially bloom all year. Make sure it’s the native variety, not Stachytarpheta cayennensis, which is invasive in FL.

[@brianpendez5340]

It has medicinal properties as well from what I’ve read. Definitely worth having in my opinion.

[@st2778]

Thanks so much! I have Seminole pumpkin seeds, but those dang vine borers....

[@muriellockhoff9560]

Thank you for your visit of vegetables and information I love watching ❤

[@MSgt_Boon]

I have my okra and plan to start them this week. Love my okra. All time favorite. Fried, but like it stewwed too.

[@WildFloridian]

I have never tried fried okra… sounds yummy!

[@MSgt_Boon]

@@WildFloridian whaaaaaat 😂 your from Florida and no fried okra? You are missing out. It's my favorite

[@WildFloridian]

@@MSgt_BoonI know!!!! It’s cus I ate like a Midwesterner growing up… not like a Floridian 😅

[@KEENDARLING]

Tropical sage is so pretty!!! The pink is gorgeous Also one of my yard/house rules is no mowing in late February and all of March the yard will Give us wild flowers and food for pollinators! It's fun to see what will Come up! Thanks birds I've had some interesting flowers come up. A skullcap , and other flowers I never planted but was happy to welcome to my yard! Black eyed Susan etc

[@Freedom2025-x2b]

Outstanding, informative and energetic video! My 4th year of gardening in my backyard and following you. So many choices across the Bay from you to choose from! 😊😊😊

[@howdyEB]

I'm so excited it's getting warmer. I planted pigeon peas and they've been producing flowers since the end of December. The bees really love them. It's been one of the few things to really make a lot of blooms for me right now. I have marigolds and a few other things, but the pigeon peas are doing awesome.

[@rowenadinsmore1]

I love Thai basil, when they flower, bees are all over it.

[@lindapedersen-hylka7170]

I planted Puerto Rican black beans last year & they did great. I'm going to be growing them again & trying a few different kinds of beans also. I grew sweet potatoes last year too, wow, they did great. I'll be planting them again. I'm expanding my butterfly garden. I have started a good variety of native flowers which I'll be transplanting into the garden. I have a small garden in the front which is just for the butterflies but after learning from you, I'm now incorporating them in the back with my vegetables. I have noticed the big difference with the pollinators. I'm getting the last of my lettuces & kale now. I'll miss them. This was the first time I've grown them & it was so great just going outside & picking my greens for the day. I just harvested the last of my carrots thinking that was it for now but will try them again as you suggested. I have the shorter variety. Thank you so much for all your knowledge. I'm now a real gardener, growing my own food & sitting outside & just watching all the wildlife I've invited into my garden. My life is now more active & peaceful. I love your channel (and you}.

[@cameroonkendrick6312]

I live in Lake Worth and our last frost was last year. We don’t get them anymore apparently

[@freddking4389]

I have much to do today and rest of weekend to get caught up.

[@WildFloridian]

I hear ya! So much to do now! :D

[@MsAuraMatic]

Greetings from Jacksonville. This year I am definitely going to try Seminole pumpkin.

[@WildFloridian]

I hope it is as easy and abundant as it has been for me!

[@Lilagar1]

I'm in Columbia County and they grow great here. One hint- I have a chain link fence and grew them next to it. As the vines grew I tied them to the fence. Seminole pumpkins are delicious

[@olgamunroe1408]

So greatful for your chanel🍅

[@chrisz.9974]

I just pruned my everbearing mulberry following your video. I hope I didn’t kill it 😅

[@melanielinkous8746]

It will be positively LOADED with fruit in a couple of weeks. They love aggressive pruning.

[@WildFloridian]

You are in the scary time before they put out their first buds. Hang in there!

[@nonyadamnbusiness9887]

Interesting strain of Seminole. I've never seen one that didn't have straight ridges. I've had the best of luck with Roma type tomatoes, like Amish paste. They've produced the greatest weight of tomatoes before summer killed them.

[@Leekle2ManE]

If getting dill or fennel starts from the store, get more than one, at least 3. And plant them in different areas. When the black swallowtail butterflies find your plants, they will "decimate" all the sprigs you want to use. Having multiple plants spread around gives you a little more time before you have to just sit back and just enjoy the flutterbys.

[@vdove605]

Love, love, love your channel! I first learned of you when doing my butterfly garden & did fairly well. Any tips for growing lemons in containers? In Condo living I'm bound to very small area, so trying to do lemons & herbs, plus small butterfly garden! Thanks for all your tips! ❤

[@WildFloridian]

Yay!!! And thank you! I’m so happy your butterfly garden did well. I’m not the best at growing things in containers. The only citrus I’ve grown in a container is a calamondin. And I wasn’t great at it.

[@roca547]

Thank you. Really useful and informative information. Brilliant channel. I am thinking about experimenting with soy beans / edamame and peanuts, have you had any experience with these in zone 10? Wishing you a bountiful harvest and good health to you and your family.

[@yesidtac7863]

Excelente clima

[@2021-j2d]

Any recommendation on where to get real French Tarragon seeds or plants?

[@marilynearl6887]

How do you use papaya as a cabbage substitute?

[@yari139]

You can use the green papaya in a slaw or salad. There are tons of recipes online for green papaya since it’s a very common ingredient in Caribbean and SEA cuisine. Stewed green papaya is also a thing.

[@crystallynn7627]

What soil do I use for raised beds please

[@selenatorres1522]

Central Fl here. Where can you find sweet potato slips? Sold out everywhere 😞

[@joyplant653]

Hello, where can i get seeds for the seminole pumpkin?

[@WildFloridian]

Check out Southern Exposure online. They sometimes list it under the squash section and not with pumpkins.

[@sewpretty13]

I watched several of your videos yesterday. Thanks for all the info! It's wonderful. You mentioned in one of them about using papaya as a cabbage substitute? Do you have a recipe or a general idea on how? Do you shed it?

[@WildFloridian]

We use it to make coleslaw 😁 we have a grater and cut into strips. Then just take any coleslaw recipe and replace the green cabbage with papaya

[@petabread91]

I have a question. When do the swallowtails start coming into Pinellas county? I started a whole bunch of dill from seed a few months back and they are huge but with no caterpillars. Just curious as I don't want the dill to go to waste as I don't like pickles 😅

[@WildFloridian]

I’ve been seeing black swallowtails and spice ish swallowtails this last week. Hadn’t seen any before. So they are starting to arrive now. It make take them a bit to find your plants if they haven’t frequented the area before

[@kn325]

Where do you get vegetable seeds?

[@WildFloridian]

Most are from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange

[@sewpretty13]

How do you fertilize your mulberry? Thanks

[@melanielinkous8746]

I never fertilize mine. They're happy in our Sandy soil.

[@WildFloridian]

I don’t actively fertilize my mulberries. But I have added wood chip mulch and clippings at the base… more to keep weeds out.

[@joannejalan]

Is there anywhere in the St. Pete or Tampa area to get Seminole pumpkin seeds?

[@WildFloridian]

Not that I know of. Check out online Southern Exposure

[@2021-j2d]

Would you use Neem oil spray, soap or peroxide soray? I’m noticing little knots near my peppers that I didn’t get when I started my garden last year. I’m stumped and sad.

[@myahm9054]

Where do you buy all your seeds from? I am having issues finding certain varieties in local nursery’s in st.pete. I don’t mind buying online, though I’m trying my best to find where I can get the majority of the best variety for hot hot southern florida

[@WildFloridian]

The vast majority are from Southern Seed Exchange online. They specialize in varieties and if you read the descriptions, you’ll find ones that state they were bred for Florida 👍

[@perspectiveiseverything1694]

My (expensive) ever bearing mulberry died. 1st year great. Each year less. 5th year it didn't come back after winter. 😢😢

[@Jacq892]

I had one roselle with one bud and it dried. Can I reseed it?

[@matthewthomason715]

what flowers do you recommend for Humming Birds? Brooksville FL

[@WildFloridian]

So many! Firebush, tropical sage, coral honeysuckle, would be a few!

[@rowenadinsmore1]

I can't get corn to grow in southwest Florida. It always get eaten by bugs or rats!

[@desireeugarte9575]

I can't seem to grow corn to save my life. They won't pollinate well. The last crop was teeny and this one is growing outside the husk What am I doing wrong?

[@capsaiyan]

Just FYI capsaicin doesn’t bother insects, these stink bugs will eat ghost peppers for breakfast 😭

[@pamelamiller3578]

Is your 2024 book available?

[@WildFloridian]

Yes! 😊 I have still have 2024 planners available.

[@pamelamiller3578]

@@WildFloridian I got the website to order, thank you.

[@rowenadinsmore1]

AND bugs