#zone10 — Public Fediverse posts

The plantain flower is already getting attention from #pollinators. I think I read that bananas & plantains need to be pollinated by bats to make fruit. I should fact check that. Either way, there are tons of bats in the neighborhood. #zone10 #Florida #GrowYourOwn #gardening #tropicalfruit

@gardening Our older patch of kale is finally showing signs of pest damage, so it's time to do a full harvest. They never did bolt, though... I can't remember if this is unusual or not. You would expect brassicas to bolt by May in #Zone10.

One thing I learned recently is that seeds are often selected from late-bolting plants because it's a desirable trait. We've had this kale growing since January and probably began harvesting in February. Four whole months of harvesting without bolting.

A gift from the community garden. Fresh coconut water 💦 #Florida #Zone10

Interesting selection of warm season #seeds from this Native Seeds Search in #Arizona. I think I have enough seeds for the summer, but the varieties here were fascinating to look through--a lot of things I've never heard of before. Some Texan and Mexican varieties that would probably work really well here in #Florida.

#gardening #Zone9 #Zone10
https://www.nativeseeds.org/collections/popular-warm-season-varieties

Interesting selection of warm season #seeds from this Native Seeds Search in #Arizona. I think I have enough seeds for the summer, but the varieties here were fascinating to look through--a lot of things I've never heard of before. Some Texan and Mexican varieties that would probably work really well here in #Florida.

#gardening #Zone9 #Zone10
https://www.nativeseeds.org/collections/popular-warm-season-varieties

Interesting selection of warm season #seeds from this Native Seeds Search in #Arizona. I think I have enough seeds for the summer, but the varieties here were fascinating to look through--a lot of things I've never heard of before. Some Texan and Mexican varieties that would probably work really well here in #Florida.

#gardening #Zone9 #Zone10
https://www.nativeseeds.org/collections/popular-warm-season-varieties

Interesting selection of warm season #seeds from this Native Seeds Search in #Arizona. I think I have enough seeds for the summer, but the varieties here were fascinating to look through--a lot of things I've never heard of before. Some Texan and Mexican varieties that would probably work really well here in #Florida.

#gardening #Zone9 #Zone10
https://www.nativeseeds.org/collections/popular-warm-season-varieties

Interesting selection of warm season #seeds from this Native Seeds Search in #Arizona. I think I have enough seeds for the summer, but the varieties here were fascinating to look through--a lot of things I've never heard of before. Some Texan and Mexican varieties that would probably work really well here in #Florida.

#gardening #Zone9 #Zone10
https://www.nativeseeds.org/collections/popular-warm-season-varieties

This is the biggest #mushroom cluster so far. Sorry, I can’t stop posting about this! It’s just so beautiful and fascinating.

Also, I’ve been looking through the mushroom hashtag and it’s mostly people identifying wild mushrooms which is great but it would be nice to see what others are growing and how it works in different regions. My buckets really started popping once the humidity returned, which is the point—growing what works easily in our climate. #gardening #zone10

This is the biggest #mushroom cluster so far. Sorry, I can’t stop posting about this! It’s just so beautiful and fascinating.

Also, I’ve been looking through the mushroom hashtag and it’s mostly people identifying wild mushrooms which is great but it would be nice to see what others are growing and how it works in different regions. My buckets really started popping once the humidity returned, which is the point—growing what works easily in our climate. #gardening #zone10

This is the biggest #mushroom cluster so far. Sorry, I can’t stop posting about this! It’s just so beautiful and fascinating.

Also, I’ve been looking through the mushroom hashtag and it’s mostly people identifying wild mushrooms which is great but it would be nice to see what others are growing and how it works in different regions. My buckets really started popping once the humidity returned, which is the point—growing what works easily in our climate. #gardening #zone10

This is the biggest #mushroom cluster so far. Sorry, I can’t stop posting about this! It’s just so beautiful and fascinating.

Also, I’ve been looking through the mushroom hashtag and it’s mostly people identifying wild mushrooms which is great but it would be nice to see what others are growing and how it works in different regions. My buckets really started popping once the humidity returned, which is the point—growing what works easily in our climate. #gardening #zone10

This is the biggest #mushroom cluster so far. Sorry, I can’t stop posting about this! It’s just so beautiful and fascinating.

Also, I’ve been looking through the mushroom hashtag and it’s mostly people identifying wild mushrooms which is great but it would be nice to see what others are growing and how it works in different regions. My buckets really started popping once the humidity returned, which is the point—growing what works easily in our climate. #gardening #zone10

@pct What kind of problems are you having? We’ve had the same set of green onions growing for a long time now. I would just reset them after amending the soil and they’d continue to grow. Recently, I put them in a pot and they seem to like that because it’s easier for me to control moisture. I believe these were originally store-bought. It’s been so long, I can barely remember. #gardening #OllasByOsa #Florida #Zone10

I had to undo the relationship between pumpkins and Thanksgiving in my mind. (Sounds dumb when I say it out loud—silly US marketing propaganda.) I would try starting these plants in the summer for fall harvest bc they’re supposedly “heat tolerant” but summer is actually the worst time to grow anything in this region. The pest pressure is much too high. Growing them in the spring during milder weather, when everything seems to want to grow and bloom, was a much better decision. #gardening #zone10

This is the best progress I’ve made attempting to grow Seminole Pumpkin so far. This is only the first pumpkin to develop so I shouldn’t proclaim success this early on, but already this is much better than I’ve been able to achieve in the past. #gardening #Florida #zone10

I post a lot about pigeon peas because they are the most prolific, low-maintenance legume I grow. They thrive in poor soil and drought, and don’t require trellising. This was my first time growing a rainbow variety that I got from Cody Cove Farms, which I also post about a lot because I’m so impressed with his experimentation cultivating #Florida heirlooms. Helpful also for TX, SoCal and other hot & arid places. #legumes #Zone10 #gardening @gardening

I post a lot about pigeon peas because they are the most prolific, low-maintenance legume I grow. They thrive in poor soil and drought, and don’t require trellising. This was my first time growing a rainbow variety that I got from Cody Cove Farms, which I also post about a lot because I’m so impressed with his experimentation cultivating #Florida heirlooms. Helpful also for TX, SoCal and other hot & arid places. #legumes #Zone10 #gardening @gardening

Yay, one of our new mulberry trees is putting on fruit for the first time. A year ago, I was tooting incessantly about planting #perennials bc I was struggling in the veggie garden. Now, the veggie gardening is back on track AND we have more self-sufficient perennials growing. I haven’t done a single thing to this plant since putting it into the ground.

The second mulberry tree in front of the house (different variety) is just beginning to put on new leaves. #gardening #zone10

The cycle begins again. These are the first cotton flower blossoms since the fall. I’ve taken a break from my #spinning hobby as other things have taken over my interest lately. I’m excited to return to it whenever the time is right. In the meantime, the plants I started last year are ready to produce again and I’m starting new seedlings as well. #gardening #NativePlants #zone10

Thanks to advice from you helpful folks on this app, I learned that my woodchip-heavy #compost would make good mulch for my fruit trees. I started with the mango, adding some organic fertilizer to the base, topping with compost and fallen leaves from the tree. There are plenty of prolific established mango trees in our neighborhood that produce with no help. Ours is young and last year a lot of the fruit fell before it ripened. Let’s see what happens this year. #gardening #TropicalFruit #zone10

Thanks to advice from you helpful folks on this app, I learned that my woodchip-heavy #compost would make good mulch for my fruit trees. I started with the mango, adding some organic fertilizer to the base, topping with compost and fallen leaves from the tree. There are plenty of prolific established mango trees in our neighborhood that produce with no help. Ours is young and last year a lot of the fruit fell before it ripened. Let’s see what happens this year. #gardening #TropicalFruit #zone10

Thanks to advice from you helpful folks on this app, I learned that my woodchip-heavy #compost would make good mulch for my fruit trees. I started with the mango, adding some organic fertilizer to the base, topping with compost and fallen leaves from the tree. There are plenty of prolific established mango trees in our neighborhood that produce with no help. Ours is young and last year a lot of the fruit fell before it ripened. Let’s see what happens this year. #gardening #TropicalFruit #zone10

Thanks to advice from you helpful folks on this app, I learned that my woodchip-heavy #compost would make good mulch for my fruit trees. I started with the mango, adding some organic fertilizer to the base, topping with compost and fallen leaves from the tree. There are plenty of prolific established mango trees in our neighborhood that produce with no help. Ours is young and last year a lot of the fruit fell before it ripened. Let’s see what happens this year. #gardening #TropicalFruit #zone10

Thanks to advice from you helpful folks on this app, I learned that my woodchip-heavy #compost would make good mulch for my fruit trees. I started with the mango, adding some organic fertilizer to the base, topping with compost and fallen leaves from the tree. There are plenty of prolific established mango trees in our neighborhood that produce with no help. Ours is young and last year a lot of the fruit fell before it ripened. Let’s see what happens this year. #gardening #TropicalFruit #zone10

I love these giant mustard leaves! But of course I can’t remember what variety they are because I threw away the empty seed packet and didn’t take notes of any kind. I want to say “broadleaf” was in the name. #TypeBGardener #gardening #Zone10

Big old carpenter bee loving on our pigeon pea blossoms. I don’t remember seeing them in our yard before. We always have European honeybees and sometimes American bumbles. These guys are so big, I was able to spot a pair of them from my bedroom window. #pollinators #gardening #Zone10

I’m really savoring these days when we can still have our brassicas. Kale and collards are some of my favorite foods. I’m already doing some planning for my summer garden, which is the toughest time to grow in my region. It’s really sad because it’s so hot and would be the perfect time to eat watery lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers but those things just become infested around here after May. #gardening #Zone10

Our plantain tree is alive but very unhappy about the temperature over the last week. I don’t think it got below freezing around here. It would touch down to maybe about 34°F before sunrise and then the sun would come out and warm things up again.

I’m really not one to stress about these things. You won’t find me running around in the cold trying to cover trees with blankets. Kale, collards & mustards are unphased. Tomatoes didn’t seem to mind too much, either. #Florida #gardening #zone10

We’re about to pass through another cold snap here. It will be in the 60s during the day and will drop into the 40s at night, with an expected low of 37°F on Friday night. This is very good for controlling the mosquito population. And this may be the last time it gets this cold before the spring, so we really need it. #zone10 #Florida #weather

Pigeon peas, plantains & papaya
#zone10 #EdibleLandscape #Florida #gardening

Another thing I’m very happy about is the way I sought the path of least resistance by turning toward tropical perennial food plants such as pigeon peas. We’ve been growing them for years, but I expanded the variety of perennials in our garden when I noticed how much easier they are to grow than tender annuals. Now, we’ve got a whole lot of both and it feels great. #gardening #zone10

I noticed that our bougainvillea has found its way to the top of one of our papaya trees creating this image of tropical winter bounty. @gardening #zone10 #Florida #EdibleLandscape

@gardening First small pigeon peas harvest of the season. I wait until they’ve dried on the branch to harvest because the pods are much easier to open. Then I store the dried peas in mason jars. We also eat some of them green.

This is a great time of year for gardening here. It’s when we can grow tomatoes and brassicas without pest pressure. In spite of these being the darkest days of the year, it’s one of the easiest times to grow in this climate. #zone10 #Florida

Difficult to photograph, but the pigeon peas are prolific as usual. They are sweet and tender green now. I do my big harvest once they’ve begun to dry. Plantain tree is in the background struggling through the dry season but getting help from the large olla at its roots. @gardening #Florida #tropical #zone10 #gardening #EdibleLandscape

Another cotton thread. Hehe I didn’t even mean to make a pun. I checked the tree today and notice many bolls had burst, with more to come. I’m pretty amazed at what this plant has produced in just six months, from seed. 🧵 #Zone10 #NativePlants #Florida #FiberArts

The ivy gourd (aka perennial cucumber) has begun flowering. I transplanted it into the ground a few weeks ago. It seems to be struggling a bit, especially for a plant that many claim has invasive tendencies. It’s our dry season, so that’s probably why. I’m interested in seeing the fruit appear. #zone10 #EdiblePerennials #Tropical #Florida

The ivy gourd (aka perennial cucumber) has begun flowering. I transplanted it into the ground a few weeks ago. It seems to be struggling a bit, especially for a plant that many claim has invasive tendencies. It’s our dry season, so that’s probably why. I’m interested in seeing the fruit appear. #zone10 #EdiblePerennials #Tropical #Florida

The ivy gourd (aka perennial cucumber) has begun flowering. I transplanted it into the ground a few weeks ago. It seems to be struggling a bit, especially for a plant that many claim has invasive tendencies. It’s our dry season, so that’s probably why. I’m interested in seeing the fruit appear. #zone10 #EdiblePerennials #Tropical #Florida

The ivy gourd (aka perennial cucumber) has begun flowering. I transplanted it into the ground a few weeks ago. It seems to be struggling a bit, especially for a plant that many claim has invasive tendencies. It’s our dry season, so that’s probably why. I’m interested in seeing the fruit appear. #zone10 #EdiblePerennials #Tropical #Florida

The ivy gourd (aka perennial cucumber) has begun flowering. I transplanted it into the ground a few weeks ago. It seems to be struggling a bit, especially for a plant that many claim has invasive tendencies. It’s our dry season, so that’s probably why. I’m interested in seeing the fruit appear. #zone10 #EdiblePerennials #Tropical #Florida

The final stage of the Thai red roselle (or sorrel). I’ve already begun collecting seeds to plant late winter or early spring. #gardening #zone10 #GoneToSeed

Pigeon peas are the most prolific legume we grow and they require no water or fertilization—even in our sandy soils. It’s one of the few things we grow that provides actual sustenance for us. We get so many peas that we can dry them, jar them and eat them for months. In Spanish speaking countries some call them grandules. These are also the peas that go in Jamaican rice & peas. #PerennialGardening #Zone10 #Florida #TropicalPlants #MiracleFoods @gardening

Pigeon peas are the most prolific legume we grow and they require no water or fertilization—even in our sandy soils. It’s one of the few things we grow that provides actual sustenance for us. We get so many peas that we can dry them, jar them and eat them for months. In Spanish speaking countries some call them grandules. These are also the peas that go in Jamaican rice & peas. #PerennialGardening #Zone10 #Florida #TropicalPlants #MiracleFoods @gardening

thankful for the collard greens.

Producing volume for months. Direct sown using seeds stores in fridge (at least 10 years). No bolting to flower despite the heat extremes.

highly recommend for #zone10 #foodSecurity #gardening

Double infusion today. @deadnettlez inspired me to start a roselle oil infusion. I didn’t even realize this was a thing. The plant’s antioxidant properties make it great for hair and skin, apparently. I mean, I think I care more about the fact that it makes the oil #pink than anything else. I’m using coconut oil as my carrier. On the right, another batch of sun tea. #roselle #zone10 #TropicalPlants #HerbalRemedies #plants

Double infusion today. @deadnettlez inspired me to start a roselle oil infusion. I didn’t even realize this was a thing. The plant’s antioxidant properties make it great for hair and skin, apparently. I mean, I think I care more about the fact that it makes the oil #pink than anything else. I’m using coconut oil as my carrier. On the right, another batch of sun tea. #roselle #zone10 #TropicalPlants #HerbalRemedies #plants

Double infusion today. @deadnettlez inspired me to start a roselle oil infusion. I didn’t even realize this was a thing. The plant’s antioxidant properties make it great for hair and skin, apparently. I mean, I think I care more about the fact that it makes the oil #pink than anything else. I’m using coconut oil as my carrier. On the right, another batch of sun tea. #roselle #zone10 #TropicalPlants #HerbalRemedies #plants

Double infusion today. @deadnettlez inspired me to start a roselle oil infusion. I didn’t even realize this was a thing. The plant’s antioxidant properties make it great for hair and skin, apparently. I mean, I think I care more about the fact that it makes the oil #pink than anything else. I’m using coconut oil as my carrier. On the right, another batch of sun tea. #roselle #zone10 #TropicalPlants #HerbalRemedies #plants

Double infusion today. @deadnettlez inspired me to start a roselle oil infusion. I didn’t even realize this was a thing. The plant’s antioxidant properties make it great for hair and skin, apparently. I mean, I think I care more about the fact that it makes the oil #pink than anything else. I’m using coconut oil as my carrier. On the right, another batch of sun tea. #roselle #zone10 #TropicalPlants #HerbalRemedies #plants