Spring Garden Guide for Southern Gardens
Use this guide to learn what to plant and when. It has the most popular spring crops as a starting...Winter Garden Guide for Southern Gardens
Use this guide as a place to start. Listed are general crops to grow for...In The Garden October 3, 2025 Planting fall crops
End of spring crops still in. Planting fall crops.
Growing Borage
Borage (Borago Officinalis) A delightful annual herb known for its bushy growth and vibrant, edible bright blue flowers. This versatile plant serves as a magnet for bumble bee pollinators in garden plots. Borage offers a range of culinary and medicinal uses. The...Seed Starting – Transplant or Direct Seed?
Learn which seeds are best started indoors and which are best direct seeded. A practical guide to seed starting, transplanting, and planning by frost dates.
Greens Growing Guide
Learn how to grow greens for baby leaves or full-size harvests, including spacing, harvesting tips, and simple ways to keep greens growing longer.
Growing Herbs
So I thought I would clarify a few things about herbs. Some herbs, such as sweet basil and cilantro are annuals. That means they will go to seed at some point during the season. When this happens the plants usually stop growing new leaves. Many things can trigger the...Growing Turmeric
Growing Turmeric Attain turmeric root Turmeric doesn’t propagate seeds and is grown from rhizomes (root cuttings). Therefore, all you need is one organic turmeric root, which you can buy at a local nursery or online. Break up the rhizome Break off the fingers...Seed Viability
Learn how long garden seeds can last with good storage. This seed viability guide includes common vegetables and general storage life.
Hardening Off Transplants
Learn how to harden off transplants before planting them outside. Gradually exposing young plants to sun, wind, and temperature changes helps prevent transplant shock.
Calendula Resina
Calendula Resina Calendula Resina Calendula is highly prized by gardeners and herbalist alike due to the versatility of this flower. To be more accurate, we should call calendula by what it really is – a flowering herb! Speaking of names, sometimes calendula is...Growing Florida Cranberry (Roselle)
Recipes Roselle Jam Ingredients: Rosellas Sugar Water 1 teaspoon of butter The juice of 1 lemon The Recipe: Separate red calyxes from the seedpods Wash and drain each seperately. In a saucepan, add seeds and water until the seeds are just covered. Tip: (Add a little...Stuffed Cabbage
Stuffed Cabbage 2018-01-10 11:00:23 Yields 8 Delicious, hearty comfort food. I make this every year when I harvest my cabbage. I make a triple recipe and freeze individual portions. This is the best pr packaged frozen meal you can get! Write a review Save Recipe Print...Squash, Pumpkin Zucchini Growing Guide
Waltham Butternut Butternut Squash yellow squash zucchini2 Pumpkin squash In Florida we plant out summer squash (yellow squash, zucchini) Feb. – March and Aug. – Sept. Winter squash (pumpkin, butternut) Feb. – March and...Cold Hardiness Chart
Use this cold hardiness chart to see which garden vegetables are frost-sensitive, frost-tolerant, semi-hardy, or hardy in cold weather.
Monthly Planting Guides for Florida Gardens
Download monthly planting guides for Florida gardens with transplanting and direct sowing recommendations for North, Central, and South Florida.
Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce
Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce 2017-04-26 16:21:56 Serves 4 If you love squash, in fact even if you don't: you'll Love this! Write a review Save Recipe Print Ingredients 1 med. butternut squash ( about 2 cups) 3 tbsps olive oil 4-8 sage leaves 1 1/2 cups...Seed Saving Guide
Garden Guides Seed starting/Saving Vegetable Growing Guides Herb Growing Guides Insects Recipes About Me Seed Saving Guide Crops – The chart is organized alphabetically by crop type, all the way from amaranth to wild arugula. Species – The species column...My Seed Growers
Timm Elliot has been growing a variety of seed for me for about 3 years now. He also has the passion to preserve rare varieties and adapt them to our Florida environment. He does this on a small residential lot, mostly in raised beds. He is always...Enjoying the Bounty
The other day when I was deciding what to make for dinner, I realized just how much food I grow. That’s what gave me the idea for this post. While I was looking around, this is what I came across: In my pantry I had, white potatoes, red potatoes, sweet...Pickled Radishes & Carrots
Grow your own Carrots and Radishes! Pickled Radishes & Carrots 2017-02-03 10:12:27 Great way to preserve those garden fresh veggies. Write a review Save Recipe Print Ingredients 10 Radishes sliced thin 2 medium carrots sliced thin 10 garlic cloves left whole 1 tbsp...Homemade Sauerkraut
Homemade Sauerkraut 2017-02-03 09:47:57 Small batch sauerkraut. Can be made in large batch, just double recipe for a gallon and so on. Write a review Save Recipe Print Ingredients 3 lbs cabbage: no green leaves, white inside leaves only 1 1/2 Tbsp kosher salt 2 Quart...Roasted Turnips with Parmesan
Roasted Turnips with Parmesean 2017-02-03 09:22:04 Easy way to enjoy fresh garden turnips. Write a review Save Recipe Print Ingredients 2 lbs. (4-5 medium) peeled & cut into bite sized chunks 2 Tbl. spoons olive oil Salt & pepper to taste 1/2 cup parmesan 1/4 cup...2016 Fall Garden
Growing – Harvesting Potatoes
Florida Planting Guide
Florida Yearly Vegetable Planting Guides Growing vegetables in Florida and in the south, is a little different than gardening in many other parts of the country. Because Florida has long growing seasons, mild winters, hot summers, and several planting windows...Growing Parsley
Growing Parsley Biennial herb (Petroselinum) grown as an annual. Its many horticultural varieties are grouped as curled leaved (var. crispum), fernleaved (var. filicinum) and Hamburg or “rooted” (var. radicosum). Though the leaves of all are used for...Growing Thyme
Growing Thyme The common name for Thymus,a genus of aromatic herbs or shrubby plants of the Mint Family, long cultivated and valued as both ornamentals and sweet herbs. They have small lavender or pink flowers and are planted in the rock garden and the border for...Growing Spinach
Growing Spinach Soil Spinach prefers a well draining soil with a neutral pH and won’t be happy in a pH lower than 6.0. Because it is such a fast grower, it is also a heavy feeder. A fertilizer high in nitrogen, the first number on the fertilizer package, will help...Growing Rosemary
Growing Rosemary Common name for Rosmarinus officinalis, a hardy evergreen sub-shrub grown chiefly for its aromatic leaves which are used in culinary seasoning and which yield an oil once used in medicine. Small light blue flowers are borne in April or May, in loose...Growing Peppers
Cal Wonder Bell Buran Bell Sweet Banana Hatch Chile Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. (usually mid Jan. in zone 9) see How to start seeds Germination temperature: 80-85 degrees 6-21 days to germinate (moisture & temperature could effect germination...Growing Oregano
Growing Oregano Also known as Pot Marjoram, Origanum vulgare is a perennial herb and a native of the Mediterranean region. The plant grows to over two feet tall and has oval grayish-green leaves that are frequently used in pizza, spaghetti and marinara sauces, plus...Growing Lettuce
Growing Lettuce Lolla Rossa Lettuce Webbs Wonderful Rossa di Trento Romaine Germination Notes Lettuce fails to germinate at temperatures above 80 degrees. To grow lettuce during hot weather, start indoors at 70-75 degrees for good germination. Grow...Growing Lemon Balm
Growing Lemon Balm Common name for Melissa officinalis, an aromatic, sweet herb of the Mint Family grown in the herb garden for seasoning, and also used in liqueurs and historically, as a medicine. It grows to 2 feet tall and has small 2-lipped flowers in late summer,...Growing Dill
Growing Dill An Old-World annual or biennial herb (Anethum graveolens) of the Parsley Family, grown for it’s leaves bitter seeds which are used for flavoring the popular dill (cucumber) pickles. Dill grows two to three feet tall. It may be planted in spring or fall....Growing Cucumbers
Growing Cucumbers Suyo Long Cucumber Highly productive! trellised cukes Creamy Cucumber Salad pickle size pickles Direct seed or start indoors 3 weeks before last frost. Germination temperature 75-85 degrees. Sow ½”-1” deep. Space 36” on ground (not recommended),...Growing Cilantro
Growing Cilantro/Coriander An annual or biennial herb (Coriandrun sativum), of the Parsley Family, grown for it’s aromatic seeds which are used for flavoring liquors and confections. The plants, which grow about 2 feet high, are cultivated in rows about 18 inches...Growing Catnip
Common name for Nepeta cataria, a hardy perennial herb of the Mint Family, with pungent fragrance which is highly attractive and exciting to cats. Catnip grows to a height of three or four feet, and features downy, light green foliage with small lavender flowers that...Growing Tomatoes
Garden Guides Seed starting/Saving Vegetable Growing Guides Herb Growing Guides Insects Recipes About Me Growing Tomatoes Cherokee Purple TomatoCherokee Purple tomato Cherry TomatoesChadwick Cherry Egg Yolk TomatoesHeirloom Egg Yolk Orange BananaOrange Banana Red...Growing Potatoes
You can order seed potato pieces from an online catalog, but i use store bought organic potatoes and they do just fine. This is what I do. If I can find some potatoes that are already growing sprouts I will buy those. But if not I buy whatever kind of...Growing Ginger
Type- yellow common ginger Ginger loves: sheltered spot from wind, filtered sunlight or indirect, warm weather, humidity and rich moist soil. Doesn’t like: frost, direct sun, strong winds, soggy wet soil. When to plant: Plant rhizome pieces (part with...White Bean, Kale and Sausage Soup
White Bean, Kale and Sausage Soup 2016-11-23 06:29:57 This is my favorite soup! Just serve with bread and salad for a delicious healthy meal. Write a review Save Recipe Print Ingredients 1/2 lb. Italian sausage casing removed or bulk 2 Tbl. spoons olive oil 1 small...How To Propagate Herbs
Green Tomato Chow Chow
Green Tomato Chow Chow 2016-06-30 13:40:11 Yields 6 This is so good it makes me want to pick all my tomatoes green. Write a review Save Recipe Print Ingredients 12 green tomatoes, cored and quartered 3 medium green bell peppers, seeded and chopped 3 medium red bell or...How to Start Seeds
Garden Guides Seed starting/Saving Vegetable Growing Guides Herb Growing Guides Insects Recipes About Me How To Start Your Own Seeds I really enjoy starting my vegetables and herbs from seed. Every time I see that first sprout coming up I feel like I am seeing a...Braised Kale
Braised Kale 2016-03-08 14:22:09 Very fast and easy way to cook kale. Write a review Save Recipe Print Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 1/2 cups thinly sliced onion 1/3 cup thinly sliced garlic 10 cup loosely packed chopped kale (about 2 pounds) 1 cup chicken...Broccoli Soup
Broccoli Soup 2016-03-08 14:07:37 Serves 2 Great easy recipe for all that broccoli. Write a review Save Recipe Print Prep Time 10 min Cook Time 10 min Total Time 25 min Prep Time 10 min Cook Time 10 min Total Time 25 min Ingredients 1 pound broccoli cut into pieces 2...Growing your Own Food does Not have to be complicated or intimidating.
Learn how to grow thriving southern vegetable gardens. Heat tested advice for zones 8-10.
Pasta Pomodoro
Pasta Pomodoro 2015-10-27 09:52:46 Serves 4 This is a go to for any night. Quick and easy but still made with fresh healthy ingredients! Write a review Save Recipe Print Prep Time 15 min Cook Time 15 min Prep Time 15 min Cook Time 15 min Ingredients 1 lb. angel hair...Stuffed Seminole Squash
Stuffed Seminole Squash 2015-10-27 09:06:36 Serves 4 Write a review Save Recipe Print Prep Time 15 min Cook Time 45 min Total Time 1 hr Prep Time 15 min Cook Time 45 min Total Time 1 hr Ingredients 2 Seminole Squash (1lb. each) halved crosswise, seeded and bottoms...Seminole Pumpkin Squash Soup
Seminole Pumpkin Squash Soup 2015-10-27 08:39:20 Easy delicious soup Write a review Save Recipe Print Ingredients 16 oz Seminole Pumpkin 1 large can chicken stock 2 TB butter 1 large onion (chopped) 2 cloves garlic (chopped) 8 oz mushrooms (chopped) 2 carrots...Crop Rotation Guide
Use this simple crop rotation guide to rotate legumes, roots, leaves, and fruiting crops for a healthier garden and better soil balance.
October Gardening
October is the month for planting many fall and winter crops. Learn what to plant in October and get helpful tips for carrots, radishes, lettuce, peas, and more.
Getting Ready for Fall Gardening
I know it’s only the beginning of July. I start many seeds this week for fall. That means I better get organized! One way that helps me is too create charts and drawings of what I will be growing and selling. It gives me peace of mind once it is down on...40 Uses for Aloe Vera
40 Beneficial Uses For Aloe Vera Pamper yourself to a soothing body rub. Slice aloe leaves lengthwise and use the inner sides as a biodegradable body scrub in the shower. Treat burns from minor mishaps in the kitchen—from grease splatters or hot utensils. For more...The importance of “Good Soil”.
I can’t stress enough how important the soil is in organic gardening. The question I get the most is about what kind of soil to use. There are many different types out there so it can be quite confusing. I am going to assume I am talking to organic...Safe Seed Pledge
The Safe Seed Pledge: “Agriculture and seeds provide the basis upon which our lives depend. We must protect this foundation as a safe and genetically stable source for future generations. For the benefit of all farmers, gardeners and consumers who want an...Vegetable Container Garden Guide
Use this vegetable container garden guide to choose container sizes, spacing, and light needs for growing vegetables in pots and small spaces.
Time to Plan Our Spring / Summer Gardens!
Now is the time to plan your spring and summer garden. Learn how to map beds, track sun, plan supports, and get seeds started for a successful season.
Growing Sweet Potatoes
Growing Sweet potatoes Planting & Growing from Slips. Sweet potato grown from slips generally need at least 4 months of frost-free growing. I grow and sell Georgia Jets which is an early variety need about 90-120 days from transplanted slips until the full size...Transplanting tomatoes
Heirloom Tomato Salad
Heirloom Tomato Salad 2014-10-16 12:40:55 Write a review Save Recipe Print Ingredients • 1-2 lbs of heirloom, red, purple, orange, yellow tomatoes, diced • Stir in 1 diced onion, salt & pepper to taste • Stir in extra virgin olive oil, enough to coat. • Stir in same...Caprese Salad
Caprese Salad 2014-10-16 12:20:53 Write a review Save Recipe Print Ingredients 10 ¼” Slices of tomato 10 ¼” Slices of mozzarella cheese 4 Basil leaves roughly chopped 2tbls Balsamic Vinegar 2tbls Extra Virgin Olive oil Teaspoon chopped oregano (optional) Instructions...Fall Garden Guide
Fall / Winter Garden Guide Since we have a Spring and Fall growing season here, I find I need to have Spring and Fall garden beds. What I mean is some of my Spring crops are still in when I am ready to plant for late Summer and Fall. The same goes for my...Refrigerator Pickles
Refrigerator Pickles 2014-10-15 13:29:40 Quick easy way to make pickles without the canning process. Write a review Save Recipe Print Ingredients I don’t always use all the pickling spice but I use all the garlic or more. 8 1/4 cups cukes sliced 2 cups white vinegar 2...Growin’ Crazy Acres Heirloom Seed Farm
The farm is coming along. I now know what it is like to maintain property and crops, a lot of hard long hours and work! I have to say though, it is the most rewarding thing I have ever done. Here is a few pics of the progress. Stay tuned for...Plant Most Fall Crops in August Through September
It may still be hot, but now is the time to plant many fall crops. Learn why timing matters and where to find the full fall planting guide.
The Value of Heirlooms
Insects Damage & Control
Garden Pests & Controls Be sure to walk your garden daily! This way you will catch any pests or disease early and you can treat accordingly. There is a much better chance of preventing infestations if caught early. Below is a list of common Garden Pests . I have...Vegetable Crop Yields
Use this vegetable crop yields guide to estimate plants per person, expected harvest, and spacing for common garden vegetables.