Florida Keys

[BrianPat1]

HI All!

Just wanted to start a conversation about growing tomatoes in the Florida Keys. I need some help! Any suggestions on what varieties to try?

[SusieQ]

Welcome to the Junction from Michigan! You may want to start your thread re growing in the Florida Keys in the "Tomato Talk" section. You can click on that section from the Home page and start a new thread there. More people may see it.

I know there are quite a few Floridians here who may be able to offer suggestions.

[Ginger2778]

Hi Brian, start with the Winter Tomatoes in Florida thread, and then go to the Earthbox fertilizer comparisons 2020 thread. Super good info for us Floridians

[eyegrotom]

Welcome to the Junction. Lots of people here from Florida that can help you out.

[Whwoz]

Welcome to the Junction from Down Under

[Nan6b]

Welcome from Pennsylvania!

[MissS]

Welcome to the Junction. Ginger2778 has given you great places to start. Enjoy the forum.

[MsCowpea]

https://www.keywestwatch.com/2014/04/gr ... uld-it-be/

This a pretty good little overview of growing tomatoes in Key West.
Definitely some challenges. Because of the coral rock and salt water intrusion
I think most use containers. If you are an experienced container grower than one thing you have to consider is the different planting dates that we have in Southern Florida. I think you would be disappointed with the results if you planted in mid Feb. though maybe people squeak by with planting a short lived determinate tomato. I prefer indeterminates and grow them in the fall and spring. Our southern season is more like Sept to March. (Give or take). The summer is too hot, rainy , and buggy. They have garden clubs down there , and Master Gardeners at the extension office—maybe they could help.

And I have no connection to Earthbox but you may want to consider one or two — that is what they used in the article and if you follow the directions they are pretty foolproof. The thing is I would only buy them online when they offer free shipping. They work out to about $30 to $35 if you buy 3. And last for a long long time.

You can also get them if you go to the Ellenton , Fla Earthbox Research Center. No shipping costs then. I prefer organic fertilizer but that is your own preference.
I posted some picture of that place under Earthbox/ Container category.

Maybe other S Florida gardeners will chime in as well. Everybody has there own methods and experience.

Good luck.

https://earthbox.com/learning-center

[hdrider]

Welcome and good luck with your learning from some of the best.

[AZGardener]

Welcome to the Junction!

[brownrexx]

I just spent a week in Key Largo 2 weeks ago and before I went I was excited to think that I could pick up a few home grown tomatoes to bring back to Pennsylvania. I went to two different produce stands down there and I was super disappointed with the quality of the vegetables. Honestly they didn't look as good as what I get it home and the tomatoes looked like those flavorless store tomatoes that I get at home.

However our hotel did offer a breakfast buffet and the fruit was exceptional especially the melons. I don't know if they were grown in South Florida but they sure were good