Garden Clippings
Edible gardening comes by degrees
By RUTH DAVIES
Article published on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2006  |
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| Photo by RUTH DAVIES |
| Tomato seeds take sprout early in a container. |
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Finally, it’s October. By early August, when the heat and humidity is getting old, I hang on to the thought that by mid-October, the humidity will be less, and the temperature will rarely run over 90 degrees.
Last week, we experienced a hint of what’s to come with lower humidity.
In an hour’s time, I prepared the planting bed for my favorite home-grown vegetable, the sweet garden pea. Only occasionally do the peas get into the kitchen. I consider them my reward for sweating in the gardening all summer.
My process, and every gardener has their own favorite method, is to dig a trench, bury horse manure, back fill and set up a growing trellis. The trellis cost nothing as I used cut tree branches tied together for the pea to climb up. Another support is a pretty green plastic coated fence. Anything that will support those delicate tendrils will work. The peas germinate better if they are soaked overnight in room temperature water. They will swell in the water, and it’s easy to pick out the “duds.” Hopefully, there will be a little rain to settle the soil. Next week the peas get planted, 1.5 to 2 inches down, 2 inches apart. In two months, those sweet treats will be ready to savor.
When starting vegetable seeds like carrots and beets in the garden that take awhile to germinate, use radish seeds sparsely sown in the row also. They germinate quickly and can be harvested before the carrots or beets need the space to grow. Nurseries sell sets of plants, and it’s just easier for me to purchase broccoli and cabbage prestarted. The reason is that the seeds need cool weather to germinate and if I tried starting them in August, they’d have to be grown inside; although my air conditioner is set to 80 degrees rather than 70 degrees, and that’s not quite cool enough.
Try growing lettuce as a border in your garden. If that isn’t possible, it grows beautifully in a container. In fact, if the only sunny spot in your yard is the patio, most all of the vegetables grown in Florida will produce in containers.
A tomato that grew in a pot last season volunteered a seedling that started in August. It’s tall, not too bushy, but there are no tomatoes. The flowers don’t set fruit until the night temperature reaches around 70 degrees. I have some patience, and eventually I’ll enjoy those cherry tomatoes on my home-grown salad.
Events for gardening enthusiasts
• The Florida West Coast Orchid Society will have its annual Orchid Show and Sale on Friday, Oct. 6, noon to 4 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 7, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Pinellas County Extension and Botanical Gardens, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo. The society will meet Thursday, Oct. 12, 7:30 with a speaker from H&R Orchids from Hawaii. A sale, raffle and refreshments will be included. Call 518-2436 or e-mail Pam Heath at pheath2@tampabay.rr.com.
• The Pinellas County Master Gardener semi-annual sale will be Saturday, Oct. 7, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Extension in Largo. More than 6,000 plants will be for sale at a very low cost. Bring a wagon to haul plants. Specially featured at this sale will be bromeliads, day lilies and cracker roses. There will be educational displays and master gardeners and horticulturist on hand to answer your gardening questions. The sale is open for Florida Botanical Gardens members at 8 a.m. Membership is available at the door. Call 582-2599.
• The Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation will host Kool ’n Fancy, an ice cream social Saturday, Oct. 7, noon, at 12520 Ulmerton Road. The theme is the 1950s complete with antique cars and The Rockers dancing the day away to the DJ’s music with Bobbi Sox and Stormin’ Norman. There will be a dance contest with prizes, 50/50 drawing and, of course, root beer floats. Wear your poodle skirt and slick back your hair. A $10 donation is requested, free with Botanical Gardens membership and for kids under 12. Call 582-2100.
• The George C. McGough Nature Park needs help to collect air potato plants on Saturday, Oct. 7, 9 a.m. to noon. This free event is open to all ages. The park is at 11901 146th St. N., Largo. Call 518-3047.
• The Pinellas Chapter of the Native Plant Society will have its Fall for Florida Natives Plant Sale on Saturday, Oct. 7, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Brooker Creek Preserve Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs. Along with wildlife-friendly plants and fall-blooming wildflowers, programs will be offered throughout the day. Visit www.pinellasnativeplants.org or call the info line at 544-7341.
• The Garden Club of St. Petersburg will have a Card and Game Party on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 12:30 p.m., at the Garden Center, 500 Sunset Drive. Lunch, games and door prizes will be included. The cost is $7.50. For reservations, call Mary Frances Lawrie at 397-8719.
Ruth Davies is a Pinellas County Master Gardener. Questions can be sent to her at editorial@TBNweekly.com.
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Article published on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2006
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