Believe it or not, it’s not too early to start planning your fall garden. Many of us in the Lake Wales area enjoy spending some time with the dirt, cultivating fresh vegetables, and fresh herbs to put to use in the kitchen. With less than two weeks before September begins, this is the time begin making your plans.
If you have irrigation, this is a great time to do a check up on your sprinklers. Make sure they are providing good coverage and operating properly before the summer rains begin to slow down.
If you’re going to start your garden from seed, now is the time to begin planting. You can use seed trays, egg, cartons, or any number of things to get your plants going. You will want them to be strong enough to go into the ground. Remember that some plants should be directly sown into the soil for best results. Either way, go ahead and get those seeds now so you’ll be ready.
Seeds are very accessible these days. You can find them at local feed stores, garden centers, discount stores, and through many sources online. Check to see that what you’re buying is natively grown in our area; our zone is 9b.
You can also buy transplants locally; they are generally available at your favorite gardening center and feed store. Check local calendars for upcoming plant events, and even on social media by using marketplace type pages. Many times people have extra plants to trade or swap.
The following are varieties of plants that should do well in our area now:
Bush beans. Snap: Blue Lake, Contender, Roma, Provider.
Lima Beans: Fordhook 242, Henderson, Dixie Speckled Butterpeas.
Carrots: Imperator, Danvers, Chantenay.
Eggplant: Black Beauty.
Okra: Clemson Spineless, Emerald, Cajun Delight.
Southern Peas: Pinkeye Purple Hull, Texas Cream, California Blackeye No. 5.
Peppers: Cubanelle, Sweet Banana, Giant Marconi, California Wonder. Hot peppers.: Early Jalapeño, Cherry Bomb, Ancho, Habanero, Anaheim Chili.
Pumpkin: Prizewinner, Connecticut Field, Jack Be Little, Calabaza.
Squash: Early Prolific Straightneck, Summer Crookneck, Chayote.
For more information regarding gardening in Polk County, Florida, visit UF IFAS Extension University of Florida at gardeningsolttions.ifas.ufl.edu.
