Spring 2020 Florida Food Forest Tour - Part 1

Spring 2020 is here - here's what's growing in my 2 year old florida food forest. In part 1 we explore the front half of the property and the chicken / duck coop. In total there's around 130 fruit trees and numerous perrenial herbs and vegetables growing throughout the property. I've put text identification for a lot of the plants in case it is hard to hear the name in the video, let me know if this is nice to have or annoying.
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If you like the content I produce and would like to help support this channel there is one really easy way and it won't cost you anything. By using one of my Amazon links below any time you begin your shopping I will get a small referral reward even if you don't buy the product listed (when an item is purchased). These little bits add up and help me to buy more garden items to make more videos!
You can use my general amazon link (amzn.to/3qjBw6K) or check out one of the tools below. These are tools I use every day in my garden and highly recommend.
Tree saw - this Silky Professional F180 has a comfortable grip and cuts through branches with ease. I use this for things too large for the pruners. To date there is no rust on it, I put a loop of paracord through the hole in tha handle to make it easier to hang. Link: amzn.to/35Mb77Z
Pruners - The Felco F-2 Pruners are the choice of gardening experts everywhere. They seem to last forever, if you are a real heavy user you can buy replacement blades and make them like new again. Link: amzn.to/3qjzgMO
Snippers - For more precise work such as cutting delicate leaves off of new starts, these Corona stainless steel snippers work great. They have a long narrow blade to get into the tight spots on your seedlings or to prune smaller plants. Link: amzn.to/2TZmk2B
Trowel - Now this isn't really classified as a trowel but the Corona Scopp is my everyday all prupose tool that I probably use more than anything else (besides the pruners). This is not the best for digging in the soil but I don't really do much of that in my food forest. This is an excellent tool for potting, which I do a lot of. It holds a lot more than a traditional trowel and is a very well built tool. I've left it out in the rain many times and no rust. Link: amzn.to/3zRa5We
Knife - This Morakniv knife has held up well, it stays sharp and while the blade has lost its bright color it has not rusted. I use this for opening bags of soil and cutting ropes and twine. This knife is fairly inexpensive and includes a belt holster if you prefer to carry it that way. Link: amzn.to/3d9IPbD
Thank you for your support and if you would like to see more of my videos in your youtube feed please consider subscribing to this channel :)

[@IncredibleEdibleLandscapes]

Great Wall of Chaya. Love it

[@laurenlynch783]

Great wall of Chaya LOL!!!

[@Chickmamapalletfarm]

It make me laugh with glee... I am defiantly a fellow plant nerd!

[@autumncavallaro569]

My Jamaican Cherry tree is my favorite plant that I've ever raised. They grow FAST! I'm currently working to air layer mine and see if I can spring some new trees from it.

[@GardeningSolutions]

I've tried air layering but haven't had any luck. I do have some root sprouts but they are difficult to replant. Let me know how it goes for you. I did find a baby plant sprouting up through a crack in my driveway, put that in a pot and now it is doing well in the ground in my back yard. Haven't had any luck sprouting seeds except for this one.

[@simonek1439]

Thank you for adding the names to your plants in the video; very instructive. Good job!

[@GardeningSolutions]

Thanks!

[@ck9411]

Very nice!! Lots of work..

[@GardeningSolutions]

It sure is!

[@CH-hm8ud]

Your soil looks so healthy, definitely, doesn’t looks like Florida soil. Good job.

[@Adnancorner]

you should plant ficus religiosa they are fantastic for producing a lot of leaves for mulching.

[@GardeningSolutions]

Thanks, I'll look into them.

[@m0sredrum]

Good luck on those sunchokes. I have good luck with them.

[@GardeningSolutions]

Thanks Kyle, they are in much better soil this time as well as the shade so I think it will work better.

[@TheIslandFarmer321]

great video! i love the variety

[@yvehirsch-smith1077]

I’m getting rid of my grass as we speak and looking into permaculture friendly/nitrogen fixing ground covers, such as perennial peanut, etc. It looks great, adds to your soil and you won’t have to have to mulch everything so heavily.

[@GardeningSolutions]

I've planted some perennial peanut but haven't been impressed yet. Maybe that's a good idea for another video.

[@ramthian]

Great 👍

[@RelicofNod]

Thanks for sharing this video on Florida Food Forest facebook group!

[@texasfoodforest8238]

Nice tour, looking forward for more.

[@GardeningSolutions]

Thanks for watching!

[@shuckydarns710]

Very nice! Beautiful location and property. Cant wait to see the updates.

[@ajourneysustainable913]

Hey buddy, looks great. The anticipation of all that fruit!

[@GardeningSolutions]

Yes every year it's a little more productive, just have to get it before the wildlife :)

[@kgtropicalflavors]

Hey. Nice and big open space. You should get an electric fence for the annoying deers. I have one, works great! Love the trees. New subby!

[@missdigioia]

Inspiring 🇯🇲💛

[@SouthernLatitudesFL]

I am hoping to learn more from you as we are just starting our year 2 of building a food forest in Brevard County.

[@GardeningSolutions]

Good to hear from another local!

[@SouthernLatitudesFL]

@@GardeningSolutions Yes. Glad to know somebody else with a food forest in my zone.

[@SouthernLatitudesFL]

@@GardeningSolutions Where was your source for the sunchoked tubers? Was it local?

[@GardeningSolutions]

@@SouthernLatitudesFL I got them from eBay, seller dobbin6668

[@SouthernLatitudesFL]

@@GardeningSolutions Thank you for the specifics!

[@im11000]

Thank you for sharing your videos Beautiful food forest 🌳 what part of FL you live in! I’m hopping in the near future to move down to FL for retirement I would love to have a large property for gardening

[@GardeningSolutions]

I'm in Melbourne, basically central Florida but on the east coast. We get to watch all the rocket launches from here :)

[@weetalk5936]

you must hv a big hose to water all these plants/trees. surinam cherry is same as jamaican cherry? do mexican sunflower grow fast.. like in a month?

[@GardeningSolutions]

No hoses needed, I am only a few feet above the water table so once plants get their roots down they are good to go. Surinam and Jamaican cherry are not the same and don't resemble each other at all. As for Mexican Sunflower, they can grow 10-12 feet a year once established.

[@spencerbass7142]

Interesting, Pindo palm. I use to see them a lot but they have made way for the more tropical self pruning palms. The fruit is very good and smells wonderful. Are your plants irrigated? You definitely have room. I have a very small house and yard full of tropical fruit trees. This winter killed my Jamaican Cherry and set back my Soursop which produced one piece of fruit last year. What part of Florida are you at? I am in Pinellas County.

[@GardeningSolutions]

I'm in Melbourne almost parallel to you but east coast. I don't use irrigation as the water table is real high here, I'm within 1/4 mile of the St Johns river and a large fresh water lake. Once my plants get their roots down it's all good :) I just water for their first few weeks in the ground.

[@NixPix]

I am expanding my garden into more of a food forrest Im in Jupiter FL I already have a HUGE mooring tree and other things started. we have one Royal Poincian and they get so big

[@GardeningSolutions]

My Royal Poincianas have grown a lot this year, I'm hoping they canopy the driveway in another year or two.

[@MS-rh2bu]

Great video! What city do you live in? Subscribed! Keep the videos coming.

[@GardeningSolutions]

I'm in Melbourne.

[@MasterKenfucius]

My Jamaican cherry tree is growing upwards. I like the way yours grew sideways instead. Did you trim the top by any chance? Also, why did you protect your royal poinciana? Who's destroying it?

[@GardeningSolutions]

I didn't, that's just the way they are growing. I have two and they are both growing the same way, bought them from nurseries so I don't know how they were propagated.

[@MasterKenfucius]

@@GardeningSolutions You don't live in Melbourne, do you? Because your house looks just like another house close to mine.

[@angelsuniverse6021]

Nice video....how long have you been there? How many acres? Where in Fl im in south n it is getting pretty hot here

[@GardeningSolutions]

Melbourne, FL on the east coast. It's 3 acres and it's hot here too!

[@kydenj28]

I was wondering if i could visit your farm for inspiration for my homestead

[@GardeningSolutions]

Yes, I hold property tours here. My contact info is at carl.solar

[@kydenj28]

Thanks itll be in a few weeks. Works been slow. So lacking money but its coming back now. So I'll email you soon

[@texmexgardener]

Roll up a cattle panel and fasten three t-posts around that avocado to protect it from deer.

[@GardeningSolutions]

This tree is pretty much destroyed. I'll do something like that when I replace it.

[@samueldalegordon5745]

Great video! Hey, do you know how Jamaican cherries are propagated? The fruits don’t have seeds, so they must be grown from cuttings, right. Anyway, I tried them and they are fantastic!

[@GardeningSolutions]

The fruits actually do have seeds, they are very very tiny. If you squeeze out a ripe one on a plate and look with a magnifying glass you can see them. That being said, I haven't successfully propagated my Jamaican Cherry plants yet although I have tried many times. I am currently trying to sprout the seeds and have some air layering going on but it has been real stubborn. If I have success I'll make a video of it. Thanks for the comment :)

[@farisasmith7109]

I start my jamaican cherry tree from seeds I got online. They had to send a note with the order saying there were seeds in the little ziplock bag because it looked like dust. But they grew really fast and now I have three trees . One is about 20 feet tall in just 3 years. And they are kind of invasive.

[@zaneymay]

I just found you on KZbin. Have you done your fall tour? It would be helpful if you mention the zones on the plants.

[@GardeningSolutions]

Fall tour is coming soon, I'll consider doing zones on the text if it isn't too much work. Thanks for the suggestion :)

[@thaminabegum2578]

Hi I need to know which part of Florida? I plant Florida lithia my All tropical plants die please i need your help which part and where good for tropical fruit good grow

[@edenhomestead5382]

Nice Job! Where in Florida are you? We have a food forest project going on in Vero Beach.

[@GardeningSolutions]

Melbourne, just a little north of you. Your channel looks great, subscribed :)

[@fernandezfarm]

👍

[@theleveretts4179]

How old is your Strawberry Tree?? We just bought one that’s about 2’ tall it’s so cute haha

[@theleveretts4179]

We’re across the state in St Pete

[@GardeningSolutions]

I have two of them, the younger one is actually much larger probably due to partial shade and better soil. The smaller one was about 3' high when I got it and 2 years later it is 8-10' high and 15' wide. The older one was also about 2' when started and is about 6' high and 8' wide after 3 years.

[@tropical-fruit-Florida]

Did you get on Chip Drop or buy your own wood chips?

[@GardeningSolutions]

I've tried chip drop with no success. What has worked is to stop and talk to the crews when they are clearing power lines in my area and be sure to offer a tip when they make the drop if you want to see them again :)

[@tropical-fruit-Florida]

I also had no success with Chip Drop. I think I'll rent a chipper and mulch up the multitude of fallen limbs I have on my back 3 acres of oaks.

[@witnesswala]

I have had good luck with talking to tree crews/arborists when they're in the neighborhood. Tipping them would certainly be a nice gesture. You can get logs also just have to communicate clearly & concisely what you would like. It makes the job easier for them as they don't have to load the chipper if you're taking logs ( which I also use as borders 🙂) & if you're receiving chips, they can dump on your land which is often closer than their dumpsite. You can also reach out to tree companies in the area and ask them. I have heard that drawing a map of the property is also helpful in communicating where exactly you would like the woodchips dumped.

[@tropical-fruit-Florida]

@@witnesswala thanks for the tips. However I decided against mulch as the trucks tear up or compact my ground and the mulch can contain pesticides/herbicides that can poison my trees.

[@MariaTorres-qo4ek]

Bueno yo pensé q Florida era todo arena yo tengo casi dos cuerdas y tengo q estar comprando tierra para sembrar

[@GardeningSolutions]

Florida is very sandy but it can be worked with :)

[@mikshikusthias7468]

All this rain we’re getting please make the update man..

[@GardeningSolutions]

Here's the 2021 update part 1: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp3QeaaPqd92mq8 2021 Part 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6Gni32Nj5akf68

[@FruitSnacksyo]

what zone are you in?

[@GardeningSolutions]

9b, Melbourne FL (east coast)

[@johnnieacosta7238]

Time for a greenhouse? Keeps all the critters out

[@GardeningSolutions]

I've got plans but no funds :)

[@musayildiz9189]

Which grow zone are you in?

[@GardeningSolutions]

I am in 9b.

[@musayildiz9189]

That’s a great zone

[@mikshikusthias7468]

Is there part 2?

[@GardeningSolutions]

Part 2 of this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHy8aoaufLSNpcU

[@adamlotyczewski6478]

if it isn't the hogs its the deer! Not sure if you will be able to keep those coconuts alive that far north

[@GardeningSolutions]

I've already accepted the fact they coconuts won't make it through a hard freeze :)

[@charlesnock2422]

Hey bro is it cool to come lend a hand on your property maybe camp a few days

[@GardeningSolutions]

Sorry no camping, neighbors would complain. Where are you located?

[@charlesnock2422]

@@GardeningSolutions lame neighbors. I am in New Jersey the garden state

[@Okorokanze2000]

I will kill for a property like that. 300 bodies is a start. Lol what’s the size of the property? And for the deers, you should barbecue one of them in front of the others. If they realize how good they smell and taste ( never had one yet) they will never return. Lol

[@GardeningSolutions]

It's a 3 acre property, took me a long time to get this and things just fell into place at the right time. When we were looking for land I was looking at 1 acre plots and this was way out of budget but it kept drawing me back in. Glad I did it as prices have gone way up (bought this during the last crash).

[@kimjones2056]

Where in Florida are you

[@GardeningSolutions]

Melbourne, East Coast