Tag: florida

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What’s the Difference Between Winter Squash and Summer Squash?

The difference between Winter Squash and Summer Squash has to do with the thickness of it’s skin. Thick-skinned squash are referred to as “Winter”. Thin skinned are referred to as “Summer”. This has nothing to do with when to grow them.

Where do the names come from? Historically, thin-skinned squash have been more popularly eaten during the Summertime. Thick-skinned have been more popularly eaten during the Wintertime. Hence the names.

Growing Squash in Florida

North Florida & Central Florida: Sqaush can be grown over two growing periods. Late Summer into Winter (August/September through December/January) and Late Winter through Early Summer (Last Frost through Early June). 

South Florida: Squash can be successfully grown over one long period. Late Summer through Spring (September through April).

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Florida Cranberry Gin & Tonic

Florida Cranberry Gin and Tonic

We are excited to share with you, our finely ground, small-batch Florida Cranberry Powder. We grow the Florida Cranberry (Roselle), harvest the fruit, sun-dry it, then mill it into a fine powder. This powder can be used to enhance the flavor & color of food and drinks!

This will be the first of many Florida Cranberry Recipes that we will be posting.

Below is a recipe for a Florida Cranberry Gin & Tonic. Use the Gin and Tonic of your choice. Please see the recipe below:

 4 oz of Gin

1-2 dashes of Florida Cranberry Powder

Shake for 30 seconds with Ice/Pour into a Glass

Top off with Tonic Water

Serves 1 person. To weaken the drink, reduce Gin and increase Tonic Water.

This cocktail is deliciously floral and bubbly. Cheers!

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Summer Growing Season

Okra Flower

Grow your summer garden in the Sunshine State from May through September.

The hallmark of Florida’s Summer growing season are humid heat and almost daily rains. Summer tends to be too hot for many of the Spring Plants to thrive, but many fruiting plants started during Spring can be harvested into the Summer.

There are two major keys to growing a successful Summer Garden in Florida; growing the garden in Morning Sun & Afternoon Shade and making sure that plants are well-watered. The Sun during the Summer time is very intense, in fact too intense for many plants. It is recommended for the novice, especially during the Summer, to emphasize container gardening. This will give the gardener the ability to move plants around into less sunny or more sunny spots that the plants may find more suitable. Pay careful attention to what the plants are telling you, if they become droopy, while having been well-watered, this is a sign that they need to be in more shade and less sun.

Summer being such a sweltering season in much of the state, make sure that the plants are getting enough water. Signs that need water may include: wilting, droopy appearance, dusty soil (not moist to the touch, etc. Due to the excessive heat it can not be overly emphasized how critical careful attention to regular watering of the garden can be.

How long does Florida’s Summer Growing Season last?

On Average: The Summer growing season typically lasts May through September.

More Specifically: North Florida is normally June through September. Central Florida runs Mid-May through Early October. South Florida typically begins in late April and can run as late as November.

GROW THE FOLLOWING HERBS AND

VEGGIES THROUGHOUT THE FLORIDA SUMMER

Okra

Jalapeno Pepper

Green Pepper

Eggplant

Yellow Squash

Seminole Pumpkin

Everglades Tomato