When is the growing season there? looking at Putnum county property!

-- Grizz in Western Maryland (southerneagle@yahoo.com), February 24, 2002

Answers

Being from Orange County (Orlando), mid central, year round for cole crops, 10 months for hardy, 9 months for fragile. Beware of the regulations, there are too many. Also be aware that the water table is fast being depleted. Lakes I fished in 10 years ago are now motoX tracks.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), February 24, 2002.

Be aware that growing in Florida is akin to another country. The way you did it elsewhere doesn't fly here! Cool weather plants in the winter, warm weather plants spring and fall. Heat loving that also like humidity thrive in the summer. In the north central area it is almost time for the warm season crop. (Tomatoes, corn, green beans, etc) I'd wait till the 2nd week in March since we still can have a mild freeze. If you are a gambler and want a jump on the season go ahead. Look at what the farmers in your area are doing. I live near Tampa and the farmers set their tomatoes in about 3 wks ago but I am waiting till this week.

Also, I wouldn't let Mitch scare you away from this wonderful state. Anyone who considers the Orlando area and Disney scene a part of Florida ......... The real state is a georgous place to live. Sure we don't have any mountains but then again we do have much the hills can't offer. Sure our taxes are high but we more than make up the cost with our heating bill savings. And while the mosiqutoes here are the size of helicoptors the beating of their wings make the humid nights bearable ;~)

-- Diana (dvance4@juno.com), February 24, 2002.

Grizz,

How funny - you might be coming to Florida and I might be going to Maryland. Since I live in South Florida, and I have never had much luck growing much of anything, I'm probably not one to ask. But I DO know this - I planted broccoli, tomatoes, carrots, cantaloupes and some other stuff (that didn't come up) in October. We're eating the tomatoes, carrots, and cantaloupes now and the broccoli is just about ready to cut too. I will take Diana's advice and start trying my hand at the tomatoes, corn and beans in the hotter weather here. Hope this helps and all the best to you in finding a nice place here in Florida. PS - Would love to know what you find - Keep us posted. :o)

Blessings,

-- Greenthumbelina (sck8107@aol.com), February 24, 2002.

Grizz, try one of these links:

http://www.floridagardener.com/misc/floridainfo.htm http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2001/sep/us_region al.html http://drought.unl.edu/monitor/archive/2002/drmon0219.htm Also, UFL in Gainesville.

-- George (wycowboy2@yahoo.com), February 24, 2002.

The reason im asking is !! I work construction and im usally off from Oct Nov till Mar and was wondering what would grow that time of year!!

-- Grizz in Western Maryland (southerneagle@yahoo.com), February 24, 2002.

Hello Grizz, I have an aunt and uncle that live in Putnum Co. They grow most of their crops in the Fall and Winter. Occasionally, you will get frost in late December and January. They grow their tomatoes in buckets just in case the frost comes. They just move the buckets onto the porch until it passes.

I lived in Orlando myself a long time and even there you occasionally will get frost. I always planted my tomatoes in December and kept a close watch on the weather.

Sincerely, Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), February 24, 2002.

Howdy Grizz,

I'm in the Gainesville area to the west of Putnam county so our growing seasons are going to be pretty much the same.

You can have *something* growing in your garden twelve months of the year here. This time of the year you'd have frost hardy greens like broccoli, cabbages, collards, kale, turnips and the like. Bedding plants like tomatoes, peppers, and so on have been in the store for a couple of weeks now though we're not entirely safe from frost just yet so you have to keep sheets, tarps or something handy in case you need to cover up. In April you start planting the really heat loving stuff like okra, sweet potatoes, corn, field peas and so on.

Just at this moment my blueberries are in bloom, the apples and pears are blossoming and leafing out and Spring is generally breaking out all over. Except for cherries you'll be able to grow most of the decidous fruits though you'll have to use specific varities that do well in Florida. Outdoor citrus is not out of the question though you'll often need to provide protection in the winter.

Quite a lot of stuff comes ripe in June so it's a busy month in the kitchen. The really cool loving veggies that folks up North are fond of are a winter proposition at best. Frankly, I think English (green garden peas) peas are a waste of time down here but some folks like to struggle with them anyway. Don't think I've seen anyone grow spinach here but chard, kale, turnips, mustard, and collards do well.

Here's a link that you'll find useful. It's the Edis database for the Institute for Food & Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida here in Gainesville that is responsible the state cooperative extension service. It's keyword searchable so makes it easy to find stuff. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/

.......Alan.

-- Alan (athagan@atlantic.net), February 24, 2002.

GRIZ...

We too are moving to Putnam County...what area/town are you moving to?

-- BC (katnip364@aol.com), February 26, 2002.

GRIZ...

We too are moving to Putnam County...what area/town are you moving to?

Beware of land that has had Benlate applied...stuff is forever and can get in the well.

Most farms/growers have had their lawsuits settled and sealed...YOU MUST ASK for this disclosure and pray you get it.

-- BC (katnip364@aol.com), February 26, 2002.

Interlatchin is where im looking at!

-- Grizz in Western Maryland (southerneagle@yahoo.com), February 27, 2002.

What is benlate?

-- Grizz in Western Maryland (southerneagle@yahoo.com), February 27, 2002.

Grizz,

Interlachen is a nice area. It's on the road between Gainesville and Palatka and as the name implies there are plenty of lakes in the area. Of course, with us being nearly five years into a drought a lot of those sand bottomed lakes are very low or have disappeared so beware of just going by maps or photographs of unknown vintage. I presume you've come down and actually seen your property so you'll already know about all of that.

No citrus farming in the area but there is some truck farming in addition to hay, cattle and tree farming. Probably want to have a look at the Putnam county growth management plan and how it affects the property you're buying.

.......Alan.

-- Alan (athagan@atlantic.net), February 27, 2002.