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Originally Posted by elight
Well, I can't believe it's already time to start seeds for my fall garden here in the Orlando area. The spring season was a bit of a bust, due mostly to herbicide damage (when had my backyard re-sodded). I also continued to deal with animal issues, which seem to be a problem in the spring but not the fall. Even as the plants recovered, animals ate off new blossoms as quickly as they appeared.
In any case, I am hoping to get some opinions on my fall setup. Currently, I have two different growing methods - in raised beds (two 4x4' beds) and in EarthTainers (kept on my screened-in pool deck so that at least SOME plants will be safe from animals).
The plants in the beds have understandably had many more disease issues than the EarthTainers. I am wondering if it makes sense to just use regular old buckets with a high-quality potting mix sitting on top of the raised beds, instead of planting in the beds. I can replace the drip lines in that bed with individual drippers for each container. I have had pretty good success with SIPs in the past but would like to get away from it if possible due to the maintenance (cleaning and repairing between seasons, running the risk of it running dry, etc.).
Any thoughts or successes/pitfalls in Zone 9B are greatly appreciated.
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I was using my raised beds as real estate for containers after the first season and nematodes. In Fall '16 I went ahead and planted broccoli in the raised beds following Larry's condensed planting methods. It was very successful. When the broccoli was finished for the spring, I used the same beds and dropped beans seeds in. Tons of Beans, but lately when I'm removing the plants, the roots have excessive nematodes damage.
I can't believe it's time for you to start over again; I still need to finish cleaning up out back. I just can't stand going out during the day to do it.
I also have a SunGold Plant alone in an EB that is going very strong.
I hear you on amimal damage; I had a lot of bird pecking on tomatoes early in the winter; now I am having animals eating ripe/almost ripe peppers. It is definitely not birds, and think it must be rats b/c the plants are not damaged which would be the case with a heavier animal.
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For seed starting, I usually do it around 8/15 ish. This year I will be away the entire month of September (pushed back from August) so will only plant a few while away and bring them back. Had been thinking of staggering the plants anyway and definitely going for fewer plants.
Marsha - Have you eaten any of your mangoes yet? I haven't picked any yet but someone in Melbourne Beach gave us a few ripe ones a week or so ago. They weren't Kent but still good.