What can I do now???

[cmu]

I really want to start a garden this year, and I am wondering what I can do now to help with an early harvest (need to spend less at the grocery store since DH has been laid off)....

I live in north Florida and we get our last freeze generally in late Feb to mid March.....

Can I start some stuff inside? I need to do stuff that doens't need much maintenance....can I just stick in an Aqua Globe for a little while (I always forget to water the plants)...of course I will have to sprinkle Cayanne Pepper on the plants to keep the cat from eating them.....

TIA

[Contrary Housewife]

It's too early to start seeds indoors, even for your region, and a lot of things cannot be started successfully, they must be planted in the earth at the right time.

You can: research your region and learn what grows well in spring, and what you can plant in late summer for a fall harvest. Some varieties will do better in your climate than others.

Learn what kind of pests you can expect and what kind of viruses might affect your plants, and how to combat them when the earliest signs appear.

Get your soil tested so you know how to amend it come planting time. You may have salt to worry about if you are close to water.

If it is not too cold to be out you can start digging, remove grass, turn over the top foot or two of soil to loosen it for spring.

Start a compost pile.

It's probably too late to pick up summer clearance, so start saving for tools, a hose, sprinkler, tomato cages, extra topsoil, fertilizer, etc that you will want come spring.

[ml2620]

You could build a cold frame and probably start growing lettuce, kale, swiss chard and other cold weather plants now.

[Russ]

Get your soil tested so you know how to amend it come planting time. .

Thank you for mentioning that. So many people do not do this and a lot of county Ag extensions will do this for a minimal or no cost. It's worth it to do so you don't waste money on putting un-necessary amendments in.

To the O.P... cool weather crops can stand some frost.

I looked up North Fla extension offices and found the link below. Just click on the county nearest you.

http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/map/

Surfing through that site I found the link below. It has a link that helps you with starting a fall garden.

http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/lawn_and_garden/

Keep us updated on your progress.

[Missy]

I would try the cold frame too...

[cmu]

lol, test the soil....hmm, guess I should have metioned this....I live in a coastal county and where there isn't grass I have sand....even if the grass dies off I am left with more sand

THanks for the links and the suggestions, I am off to check em' out now!

[Thevail]

If you have really sandy soil.. compost compost compost!

A great way to get free compost in the fall/winter is to look for local riding schools/stables/farms and ask if they'll let you haul off a truck of manure. They don't have nearly as much call for it in the winter so it's easier to get. Also it lets you winter it over outside under a black plastic tarp which will help "cook" it.

[Judi Dial]

You CAN start seeds now. See

http://www.wintersown.org/

that talks about techniques you can use. It's not a large $ outlay either!

Judi

[frugal-fannie]

You might want to think of starting a raised bed with new soil.

[Dancing Lotus]

Im in central Florida and I use raised beds.

First get your soil tested.
Add whatever it is that you need.
November is probably one of the best months of the year to garden in the Sunshine State. Cool, dry weather finally begins.
The cooler and dryer weather helps to lessen the bug populations. Even so, bugs are still going to be your biggest problem. I have to fight and fight with them, so much so I had to give up organic gardening because I just couldn't keep the bugs away.

Best bets for starting a garden this month are:

Vegetables : Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chinese Cabbage, Collards, Cucumbers, Endive, Escarole, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leek, Lettuce, Onion Sets, Parsley, Peppers, Pumpkins, Rhubarb, Romaine, Rutabagas, Spinach, Squash, Strawberries, Sweet Corn, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Turnips and almost any other vegetable you desire.

Herbs: Anise, Basil, Borage, Chives, Chervil, Coriander, Fennel, Garlic, Lavender, Marjoram, Mint, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Sesame, Sweet Marjoram, Thyme and most other herbs.

You may want to google search your region to find out which crops specifically do well for your area.