[happehart]

Originally Posted by mikreb

Do you have pest problems with tomatoes, peppers, zucchini,...etc?

I got rid of most pest bugs by planting Marigolds among the tomatoes.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Jima72

Problem with fall tomatoes is the nighttime temperature for them needs to be in the mid to high 70’s.

Temperatures in Florida and the entire world are predicted by climate scientists to increase for at least the next 8 years. This is due to population increase and corresponding CO2 in the upper atmosphere.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by mikreb

Do you have pest problems with tomatoes, peppers, zucchini,...etc?

One thing Florida doesn't seem to lack are pests. Bug larva, fungus, mites...no time of year seems to be without them. I've been using Neem Oil which seems to do a pretty good job of controlling them but in order to work you pretty much have to get the leaves wet top and bottom and the stuff is pricy: about $12 for a 32 oz. spray bottle from Amazon. Lowe's carries something called Fungicide3 that claims to kill pretty much any critter that might be plaguing your plants; "fungicide-insecticide-miticide", that I'm going to try when the neem oil runs out.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

One thing Florida doesn't seem to lack are pests. Bug larva, fungus, mites...no time of year seems to be without them. I've been using Neem Oil which seems to do a pretty good job of controlling them but in order to work you pretty much have to get the leaves wet top and bottom and the stuff is pricy: about $12 for a 32 oz. spray bottle from Amazon. Lowe's carries something called Fungicide3 that claims to kill pretty much any critter that might be plaguing your plants; "fungicide-insecticide-miticide", that I'm going to try when the neem oil runs out.

Hate to use these pesticides when trying to grow food we will eat.

[vintageogauge]

Not enough hours of sun in the fall and too cool at night, you'll get fruit but they won't ripen well and they will be small. I planted spring tomatoes for several years with good success, I started seeds indoors and put them out in April. I used a lot of miracle grow as even if you use garden soil in the ground the sand around it seems to pull the nutrients out the miracle grow did wonders for them. I did not use pots, plant them directly in the ground.

[Jima72]

Originally Posted by nn0wheremann

One other observation. On your next trip north, dig up a couple of buckets of decent topsoil. I recommend southern or central Illinois or eastern Missouri dirt. Florida topsoil isn’t worth dirt.

Thta is why Iam. Lifelong Florida composter.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by RuthA

I have tried growing tomatoes here and have had NO success. I got plants at the Farmers Market in Brownwood on Saturdays. The plant grew and grew (5' stems) and NO tomatoes! The soil and weather just does not grow good tomatoes here.

Sounds like too much nitrogen-large plants with no fruit. Perhaps, being hit with lawn fertilizer.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by nn0wheremann

One other observation. On your next trip north, dig up a couple of buckets of decent topsoil. I recommend southern or central Illinois or eastern Missouri dirt. Florida topsoil isn’t worth dirt.

Our soil is high PH-loaded with lime. Typical PH is 7 or 8. Adding sulfur and organic matter will work but it is not an instant process. Now is a good time to build soil to be planted next year. A soil test is inexpensive and a good idea to know what to do.

[matandch]

Originally Posted by CFrance

There is a nursery in Leesburg on a street kind of parallel to the main drag. I think this is it, though the name doesn't ring a bell: Central Florida Gardener: Simon Seed Farm & Garden Center I bought tomato plants there one year and grew them in the fall. I used a raised planter they sold and the soil they recommended. I agree that Florida tomatoes lack the je-ne-sais-quoi of those in the north.

Simon Seed was an excellent source for vegetable plants. Unfortunately they folded when the pandemic hit and never came back.

[ohioshooter]

Here’s a picture of my wife’s grow tower. We got over 100 tomatoes from one plant. Setting it up now for this season.