Our Garden and Raised Bed Garden in Central Florida

Alright, we hope you all are fine, and life is treating you good. I know that now, some of our Northern neighbors are beginning to see some weather change...for the better. We’ve had absolutely beautiful weather here in Central Florida now for the last month and a half, and I gotta say…spring is sure a wonderful time of the year!

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Once more, thank you guys for such great support in our little dilemma Deb and I are faced with. I’m only saying quickly, that we appreciate every one of you! In regards to anything life may throw at any of you as well, please know that our door is always open to you all! As you know we replanted the skips in our old style, larger garden. The seeder was having a hard time with the ford hook lima beans because of the size of the seed. They kept hanging up in the drop tube, blocking off the drop of the seeds. Deb and I hand planted the skips, and coming back home from town this afternoon, those little fellars are busting out everywhere. I thought the skips might have possibly been from some other sort of problem, but I’m convinced now it was just the seeder not being able to handle that large of seed. The corn…this I’m beginning to believe may well be a problem with the seed. It’s came up, but very, very spotty. I even reseeded all 5 rows and very little of that is coming up. It may be the soil, but it’s the same soil we used last year, with even more manure tilled in. We’ve even moved it over in the garden from where it was planted last year. More including pictures You may be right Kunoichi, I may have to become a commercial fisherman and lay fish below it next year!! LOL! I do know corn just saps the soil, but we planted peas across the whole garden last fall, I thought that would help, plus with the extra manure…I don’t know?? Anyone have some suggestions in this regard? I will compost this entire garden heavily over the winter, and till it in. I’d like to add a couple loads of a good topsoil-sand mix, and then possibly a load of clay. At that point, till it in well, and I believe the clay content will help with holding the moisture a little better. Any thoughts on that as well would be appreciated. Unless you’re on an old lake bottom, our area of Florida is really, really sandy. Where we live is called “the Ridge,” because around us is a big sand ridge. But, through visiting with all you guys, I’m really beginning to see the light in regards to continual building of the soil. As I’ve said earlier, we have been burning so many types of material we could have been using in a garden area it ain’t funny. Once again…old dog, new tricks. Well, with the ford hook skips looking like they’re handled, besides the corn, everything else is doing fine. The green beans, Henderson limas, and speckled butter beans all look good. The cucumbers and squash started off slow, but have now “grabbed another gear” themselves, and look fine too. The tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers, are coming on as well! This garden was planted about three weeks after the raised bed garden. Once we planted this garden, rain became an issue very fast, or I should say the lack of it. But, I believe we’re now on the right track, and it will be time well spent just shortly. The canning end of it isn’t far off now. I hope we’ll be able to throw up some videos of this once we get started with it. Now those dern raised bed gardens?? Those scoundrels are really doing well. Good, good dirt, plenty of sun, but afternoon shade, and two out of three times we water it, we use “Mississippi Queen’s” Cow Tea concoction! It works people, and it works well! Once more, cow manure in a stocking, pantyhose, whatever you gals call em, just stuff in the cow manure, tie an end, put this in a large barrel or container, fill with water, and let sit til’ the mix becomes dark brown. Try it…you’ll like it! We do! For people living in suburbia, I swear, this is the ticket. I’m sure lasagna gardens work well also, but I’m seeing this first hand, and seeing, is believing! These are going to do very well production wise, versus area planted. Honestly, I was surprised. I took a few pictures of each for you, but understand the raised beds have about a three week jump on the other garden. Regardless of this though, the raised beds are kicking the other garden’s butt right this minute. Better soil, better care…big difference! How about a joke today? I got it this morning, and Deb and I both thought it was funny. Maybe it’ll put a smile on your face as well! A lady goes to her priest one day and tells him, 'Father, I have a problem. 
I have two female parrots, 
But they only know to say one thing' 
'What do they say?' the priest asked. 
They say, 'Hi, we're hookers! Do you want to have some fun?' 
'That's obscene!' the priest exclaimed, 

Then he thought for a moment..... 

'You know,' he said, 'I may have a solution to your problem. I have two male talking parrots, which I have taught to pray and read the Bible... 
Bring your two parrots over to my house, and we'll put them in the cage with Francis and Peter. 
My parrots can teach your parrots to pray and worship, 
And your parrots are sure to stop saying... That phrase... In no time.' 
'Thank you,' the woman responded, 'this may very well be the solution.' 
The next day, She brought her female parrots to the priest's house.... As he ushered her in, 
She saw that his two male parrots 
were inside their cage holding rosary beads and praying... 
Impressed, She walked over and placed her parrots in with them... 
After a few minutes, The female parrots cried out in unison: 
Hi, we're hookers! Do you want to have some fun?' 

There was stunned silence... 

One male parrot looked over at the other male parrot and says, 'Put the beads away, Francis, 
Our prayers have been answered! Thank you all for coming today! We look forward to seeing you all again! God Bless everyone! Dub