What are you growing this summer?

[Josh]

Hey all.

Im always interested in what Floridians, especially South Floridians are growing in their systems during the summer months.  Right now, the star of the show is my mustard habanero, which has given me several large crops throughout the summer. Interestingly enough, this plant is a clone that has outperformed the mother plant by leaps and bounds.

Here's a shot.  It was looking a bit leggy for a while but after I pruned it back, there's lots of new growth.

I've also got many herbs going, especially basil which I clone continuously.  

Also, in my never ending attempts to grow leafy greens in the Keys, I've got some Ethiopian Kale starting which I intentional planted in the dead of summer to see how it holds up.  So far, so good...

Maybe a bit leggy, but I've got them shaded pretty heavily in this heat.

I've also recently planted some pak choy which is just beginning to sprout. 

So, what do y'all have going in this heat?

[TCLynx]

Old stand by hot weather crops of course include

Okra

Cow Peas (or any other southern peas)

Yardlong beans (guess what you can eat the vine tips and young leaves for a summer green.)

peanuts

Sweet potato (another one where the young leaves and vine tips are edible.)

Lufa

Purslane

and many herbs including of course basil.

And then there are the edible flowers, Nasturtium seems to be one to grow year round though it is looking a bit beet up this time of year.

Water chestnuts are a great summer time plant.

and the heat doesn't seem to have stopped my chives.

ginger is another one.

I could probably just keep adding and adding to the list and the truth is this summer I don't really have that much growing this year since we are still in the middle of moving the aquaponics and gardens to the new farm.

[G Mo]

I'm in north central fl and have  2 mighty okra plants, a purple bean and a yellow bean plant producing, some melon with lots of flowers, 4 papaya plants (to be moved to their own bed soon), basil, ,lettuce, and holy mole peppers in one bed.  I just ripped out my rootbound tomatoes from the other bed (the 6 plants produced hundreds of tomatoes) and have spread nastursium, leek, basil, and lettuce seeds in there.  I'm also seeing how horsetail and papyrus plants will do.  Heat doesn't really seem to be a problem yet, except for the algae. 

[Josh]

What kind of lettuce are you growing? im getting ready to try queensland lettuce and new zealand spinach as well.

I've had some wild papaya show up in my system which i didnt plant, haha.  It got so large that I had to plant it in the ground.  I've gotten lots for fruit off them since which is pretty cool.

[George]

I couldn't see your photos.

Beans have come and gone.  Tomatoes still have some fruit on the vines but are no longer setting - Plan to keep them alive and root cuttings late summer for fall tomatoes.  Kale  planted last fall is still producing well.  One and only eggplant has 12 fruit on it.  Just planted Okra where the beans once were.  Strawberries are still growing but not producing.  Basil.  No peppers in AP right now but those in the ground are doing well. 

Happy gardening

[George]

I feel for you but I'm also sure it will be worth it.

TCLynx said:

I could probably just keep adding and adding to the list and the truth is this summer I don't really have that much growing this year since we are still in the middle of moving the aquaponics and gardens to the new farm.

[TCLynx]

Yea, I'm sure I'll be happy about in in about 6 months once I recover from moving.

[Josh]

Let me try again.  Peppers and kale...

George said:

I couldn't see your photos.