Gardening exchange to discuss summer crops
In the searing heat and humidity of summer, especially in Southwest Florida, it can be difficult to grow summer crops.
On Thursday, May 21, at the North Fort Myers Community Center, members of the Edible Gardening Exchange will learn to do just that during its monthly meeting starting at 6:30 p.m.
Karen Harty, moderator of the exchange, will also serve as guest speaker. Harty is a Lee County master gardener, 4-H leader of the Vegheads, Executive Director of Grow a Gardener.
Harty said that just because you were able to put tomatoes in the ground while living up north, that doesn’t mean you can do it in Florida. The ground and air is simply too hot and there’s too much humidity and rain. You have to grow the proper plants in the proper conditions.
“It’s too hot for that kind of stuff. There are about 30 to 35 plants that can be grown during the summer,” Harty said. “Eggplant will grow in our summer as will sweet potatoes, okra and yardlong beans.”
For northerners, now is usually the time to plant tomatoes and other vegetables. But without the experience, they don’t know what grows well in Florida.
And what the retailers are selling to them is not appropriate for summers.
“It’s considered demand. If the consumer said they want this, they’re going to see they get it,” Harty said. “People get disappointed trying to grow things.”
Harty will talk about solarization. She grows everything in pots during the summer, so she’s heating the top six inches of soil but exposing it to the sun and putting plastic over the bed.
“I’ve done everything wrong, so I figured I would share what not to do,” Harty said.
The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. with an open and informal chat on edible topics. Summer plants and seeds will be available to purchase during the meeting.
The membership fee for monthly meetings through September is $10. A one-time, $10 Lee Parks and Recreation lifetime membership is also required.
For more information, contact Karen Harty at 610-530-8883.