South Florida Tomato Growers in Zone 10b

[Janibd]

Hi.

I know we can’t grow tomatoes in the summer, but I was wondering about when you all start to plant your seeds for the fall and any subsequent plantings to get you through the spring when the plants are decimated by our heat and humidity? Do any of you have a schedule you can share? I seem to either plant too early or too late each year. I’m growing in EarthBoxes and containers since I have very little space in my yard if that makes a difference.

Thanks for any advice!!
Jani

[Kurt]

D69C87A9-BDD1-45B6-9EBF-E4F630D2054B.jpeg

I start seedlings mid August in plug trays,at about a foot high transplanted into containers.Another start mid sept dependent on variety.80 % cherrys the rest reg rounds.We harvest up to April / May.

[Ginger2778]

I usually start my seeds firstor second week of September, then additional small amount of seeds in early January, and that gives me a fresh round of plants to cut suckers off of, and get even more plants. I use Earthboxes, I have 49 of them. I get tomatoes through mid June with this second sowing strategy.

[Janibd]

D69C87A9-BDD1-45B6-9EBF-E4F630D2054B.jpegI start seedlings mid August in plug trays,at about a foot high transplanted into containers.Another start mid sept dependent on variety.80 % cherrys the rest reg rounds.We harvest up to April / May.

Wow! Your patio looks amazing! I wish my husband would let me do that on our patio!

I’m working on my calendar for fall planting right now.
Thanks for the help!

[Janibd]

I usually start my seeds firstor second week of September, then additional small amount of seeds in early January, and that gives me a fresh round of plants to cut suckers off of, and get even more plants. I use Earthboxes, I have 49 of them. I get tomatoes through mid June with this second sowing strategy.

49 Earthboxes! Wow! I can barely deal with the 8 that I have. Between you and Kurt, it looks like the end of August to the middle of September is going to be my goal for first plantings, and then another round in January.

The tomato cuttings are new to me. I’ve really just been growing Dwarf varieties, but I was thinking of trying to grow one or two indeterminate plants this year. Do you train to a single stem and then plant the suckers you prune off? And do you direct plant them in the same box or into a different container?

Thanks!

[Ginger2778]

No, I don't trim to a single stem, there are usually more than enough suckers anyways. I put the suckers into different Earthboxes where the plants are already failing or gone. I don't want them to compete with each other in the same box. I also have some 7 gallon pots to put some suckers in if I need to.
Right now I'm up to my eyeballs in mangoes.

[Janibd]

No, I don't trim to a single stem, there are usually more than enough suckers anyways. I put the suckers into different Earthboxes where the plants are already failing or gone. I don't want them to compete with each other in the same box. I also have some 7 gallon pots to put some suckers in if I need to.
Right now I'm up to my eyeballs in mangoes.

Got it! I’ll try that next season. Thanks for the info.

My mangoes trees are still too young to produce. Hopefully, next year. Luckily, my sister-in-law’s been keeping my supplied. She’s also up to her eyeballs in mangoes.

[Ginger2778]

What kind of mangoes do you have? I have 5 different, and room for a 6th. I've been buying different mangoes at Hidden Acres farm, and at Tropical Acres, just to taste to see what I like.

[Kurt]

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Today’s haul,minus the same due to the rats with tails,this cushman mango is at 60 foot,cantaloupe sized fruit,needs a lot of 360 sun,next to my ice cream mango,best creamy fruit.

[Janibd]

What kind of mangoes do you have? I have 5 different, and room for a 6th. I've been buying different mangoes at Hidden Acres farm, and at Tropical Acres, just to taste to see what I like.

I got one of my trees from Tropical acres. It’s a Dwarf Hawaiian. It’s only in a 3 gallon, so It’ll be a few years until I get fruit. I also have a Cogshall and an unknown sapling from where I lived 5 years ago. They’re all in pots now, but I plan to plant them this year.

[Ginger2778]

I just had my first Cogshall today. OMG! It was so delicious!

[Kurt]

https://fairchildgarden.org/miami-botan ... of-summer/

We gets all our from this place,if can we will be there.

[Janibd]

I just had my first Cogshall today. OMG! It was so delicious!

That is so great to hear!! Now, I can’t wait for my tree to fruit!!

[Janibd]

https://fairchildgarden.org/miami-botan ... of-summer/

We gets all our from this place,if can we will be there.

My in-laws live by there. They’ve been a few times and loved it, so this year we’re heading down to spend the day. It looks like it will be a blast. I can’t wait!

[Kurt]

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This is what you can get at the fest.

[MissS]

This is what you can get at the fest.

Oh my! That looks like great fun and sweeter than a tomato tasting. I never knew that there were so many varieties of mangos.

[Kurt]

How good would these mangoes be to bring that amount money.

https://www.newsbreakapp.com/n/0alC77Fs ... en_US&s=i0

[Kurt]

https://www.google.com/search?q=mango+f ... CoVgPD0N-M

Bought plenty of cultivars.Gots five new plants.Heaven at the tastings.