At what point do you give up on your first garden? When do you start over again? As far as I can tell August/September is the next planting time in Florida. Should I take out all the non productive plants and be getting ready to go again? The green and the flowers are beautiful. The lack of produce is discouraging, but I am going to keep on. I will back up and learn from my mistakes and then try again.But again, when do you start over?
It's so hard sometimes when gardening. Often when you start over the pay off is Great!
ReplyDeleteGood Luck !!!!!!!!
Blessins',Lib
Hang in there!! Do you have flowers on your plants?? this is a good sign if you do. Also did you plant on time or a little late?? I planted about three weeks late, I did everything from seed, and started a bit late. My plants are huge, green and full of flowers!!! I am just now getting little vegs!! Hope in a week they will be ready! Good luck!! Have a wonderful night.
ReplyDeleteRachelle :-)
I would definitely say hand in there. If your plants look great they may just be producing later. Do you have blooms?
ReplyDeleteJulie-
ReplyDeleteAs a former organic farmer and as a gardener for just my own family in our new home, I understand your frustration. As a former Foridian I get the wierdness of the planting seasons there.
If you like the green and flowers, but want to make a re-start towards productivity, try starting over with half of the garden. Also I would see if somethings that seem unproductive might still make something if you give them a nice fish emulsion cocktail. With the summer rains in FL, nutrients can leach out of the soil fast so a little fertilizer pick me up might be called for. Try to stick with organic methods as they don't leach as fast as chemical fert. I remember back in high school in FL, the only thing we grew in the ag plot over the summer was okra, but tomatoes, squash, and peppers might still do ok. When you get frustrated with the lack of gardening in the summer, just remember that you can have broccoli in December and plant sweet corn in late Jan (depending where in FL). Here in VA, many folks get stuck thinking you only plant a garden in the spring. Not so.
As an organic farmer, I frequently had to start over in areas that got to weedy, or diseased to salvage. It just wasn't worth the effort to make what was left produce, when I could get a start on something else more productive. It still hurt me every time.
Monday we got hit with a bad storm with enough hail to cover the ground and my garden was really damaged. I'm still waiting to see what will perk up.
Lib, thats what I am kind of thinking too.
ReplyDeleteRachelle, my plants are starting to look a little done in. I was getting flowers, but they never produced anything. I found out from Tracy at Line From The Vine that I might be lacking in bees. I am going to see about getting some flowers that will attract the bees.
Mrs. Trixi, the flowers start to open and then fall right off before doing anything.
Amy, thanks for the input. I am organic all the way. :) I will definatly take your suggestions to heart. Thanks! I hope your garden recovers.
Hi Julie,
ReplyDeleteI finally updated my blog. I have a post on there about my garden. I'm new to this whole thing, but it has been so much fun. Come to my page for some inspiration from a gardening newbie!