The groundhog has made his move -- we all know there is only 6 more weeks of winter and the seed starting fever is in full swing. Kitchen countertops, television cabinets, ping pong tables have all been cleared -- all flat spaces will be used for seed starting for the remainder of winter. We've pulled out the bags of used yogurt containers, blended our seed starting mix, and read all that tiny print on seed packages.
Our dreams of an early spring garden can die, however, if indoor lighting is not given enough attention. If your seedlings are tall and "leggy," they probably lack adequate light. Here is a quick primer on creating light for seedlings.
Natural Light A south facing sunny window may provide enough lighting for your seedlings, but I usually find my indoor plants need a little more light than mother nature provides. If you have a good window, you may only need to add a reflective material, such as mylar, to give your plants a boost. If your flats are stashed away in a basement or an area with low visibility, consider painting the floors and walls for greater light reflection. Flat white paint is said to provide more light reflection than other types of paint.
Grow Lights Light from incandescant bulbs may be an adequate supplement to natural lighting. Incandescant lights are not especially efficient and produce a lot of heat, however.
High pressure sodium lights don't have the necessary color range to provide light exclusively, but are often used by professional growers as a supplement to natural lighting.
Flourescent Lighting is usually adequate for home gardeners needs. Compact and High Output flourescent lights come in both cool and warm versions. High Output flourescents are often preferred for color range and coverage.
I have not tried LED grow lights yet, but I believe they will be used widely by gardeners in coming seasons. LED grow lights have two red and two blue wave lengths that correspond to the chlorphyll peaks of plants. They produce very little heat and do not consume as much energy as other lighting.
With adequate lighting, your plants will grow strong, healthy stems and leaves. They'll be ready to transplant as soon as the sun melts that last freeze.
A Blog for Container Gardeners who want to Grow and Cook Organic Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Florida Vegetable Seed Varieties and Sources
August 3, 2011-Update: The Gourmet Gardener is now selling seeds for Florida and other parts of the Southeast. Click here to enter our store: Gourmet Gardener Store
Hi everyone-
I've received many inquiries about seeds/plants this year. Given my busy workshop/book signing schedule, I've decided not to retail (except at workshops) this year. For my Florida gardening pals, here is a list of recommended vegetable seed varieties and sources. Note: I'm having difficulty activating the links for seed sources on Blogger. The list with active links can be found on my website: The Gourmet Gardener.
Florida’s warm, humid climate is ideal for growing pests and fungal diseases. The following vegetable varieties have natural or bred resistance to the most common garden challenges in Florida. Much of this list comes directly from The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agriculture Science (IFAS) recommendations. We recommend you contact them for information specific to your county’s growing conditions.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_hs_minor_vegetables
Note: Though we cannot guarantee satisfaction, we believe the sources listed below to be reliable. If you have any comments regarding personal experience with these companies, please email us at gginfo@windstream.net
Beans, Bush
Snap: Bush Blue Lake, Contender, Roma II, Provider, Cherokee Wax
Source: The Cook’s Garden
Shell: Horticultural, Pinto, Red Kidney, Black Bean, Navy
Beans, Pole
McCaslan, Kentucky Wonder, Blue Lake
Source: Henry Fields
Beans, Lima
Fordhook 242, Henderson, Jackson Wonder, Dixie (Speckled) Butterpea, Early Thorogreen
Source: Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
Beets
Tall Top, Early Wonder, Detroit Dark Red, Cylindra, Red Ace, Yellow Detroit
American Meadows
Broccoli
Early Green, Early Dividend, Green Sprouting/Calabrese, Waltham, Packman, De Cicco, Broccoli Raab (Rapini)
Wood Prairie Farm
Cabbage
Rio Verde, Flat Dutch, Round Dutch, Wakefield types, Copenhagen Market, Savoy, Red Acre
Next Harvest
Cantaloupes and Honeydews
Athena, Ambrosia, Galia (green flesh)
Henry Fields
Carrots
Imperator, Nantes, Danvers, Chantenay
Seeds of Change
Cauliflower
Snowball Strains, Snow Crown, Brocoverde
Millington Seeds
Celery We don’t recommend celery for Florida gardeners. Try Utah Strains for limited success. The herb, Celery Leaf, is a good alternative.
Next Harvest
Chinese Cabbage
Michihili, Bok Choy, Napa, Baby Bok Choy, Pak-choi, Joi Choi
Sustainable Seed Co
Collards
Georgia, Georgia Southern, Top Bunch, Vates
Seeds of Change
Corn, sweet
Silver Queen (white), How Sweet It Is (white), Sweet Ice (white), Sweet Riser (yellow), Early Sunglow (yellow)
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
Cucumbers
Slicers: Sweet Success, Poinsett, Ashley, MarketMore 76, Straight Eight, Space Master
Henry Fields
Picklers: Liberty Hybrid, Eureka, Boston Pickling
Reimer Seeds
Eggplant
Black Beauty, Dusky, Long, Ichiban, Cloud Nine (white)
Millington Seeds
Endive/Escarole
Endive:Green Curled Ruffec
Escarole: Batavian Broadleaf
Jung Seeds
Kale
Vates Dwarf Blue Curled, Tuscan, Winterbor, Redbor
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
Kohlrabi
Early White Vienyna, Purple Vienna
Henry Fields
Lettuce
Crisphead: Great Lakes
Butterhead: Ermosa, Bibb, Tom Thumb, Buttercrunch,
Loose Leaf: Simpson types, Salad Bowl, Red Sails, New Red Fire
Oak Leaf: Salad Bowl, Royal Oak
Romaine: Parris Island Cos, Outredgeous
Sustainable Seed Company
Mustard
Southern Giant Curled, Florida Broad Leaf, Tendergreen, Giant Red, Green Wave, Mizuna
Reimer Seeds
Okra
Clemson Spineless, Emerald, Annie Oakley II, Cajun Delight
Reimer Seeds
Onions
Bulbing: Granex (yellow)
Bunching (Green): Evergreen Bunching, White Lisbon Bunching
The Onion Shed
Leeks American Flag
Reimer Seeds
Peas English or Snow
Wando, Green Arrow, Sugar Snap, Oregon Sugarpod II
Victory Seeds
Peas, Southern (Field Peas, Cow Peas, Crowder Peas, Cream Peas)
California Blackeye No.5, Pinkeye Purple Hull, Texas Cream
Victory Seeds
Peppers
Bell: California Wonder, Red Knight, Big Bertha
Local Harvest
Other Sweet: Sweet Banana, Giant Marconi, Mariachi, Cubanelle
Victory Seeds
Jalapeno: Early Jalapeno, Jalapeno M
Specialty Hot: Cherry Bomb, Hungarian Hot Wax, Big Chile II, Numex, Ancho, Thai, Anaheim Chile, Long Cayenne, Habanero, Caribbean Red Habanero
Sustainable Seed Company
Potato
Red Pontiac, Yukon Gold, Gold Rush
Ed Hume Seeds
Potatoes, Sweet
Centennial, Beauregard, Vardaman
Henry Fields
Pumpkin
Big Max, Connecticut Field, Prizewinner, Jack Be Little, Jack O Lantern
Sustainable Seed Co
Radish
Cherry Belle, White Icicle, Sparkler, Champion, Daikon
Millington Seed Co.
Spinach
Melody, Bloomsdale Longstanding, Tyee, Space
Reimer Seeds
Squash
Summer: Early Prolific Straightneck, Summer Crookneck, Early White Scallop
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
Winter: Spaghetti, Table King, Table Queen & Table Ace (Acorn), Waltham, Early Butternut (Butternut)
Wood Prairie Farm
Zucchini: Cocozelle, Spineless Beauty, Black Beauty
Seeds of Change
Strawberry
Chandler, Oso Grande, Sweet Charlie, Selva, Camarosa, Festival
Mountain Valley Growers
Swiss Chard
Bright Lights, Bright Yellow, Fordhook Giant, Lucullus, Red Ruby
Seeds of Change
Tomatoes
Large Fruit: Celebrity, Heat Wave II, Better Boy, Beefmaster, BHN444-Southern Star*, Amelia*, BHN 640*
Small Fruit: Sweet 100, Juliet, Red Grape, Sun Gold, Sugar Snack, Sweet Baby Girl
Heirloom: Green Zebra, Cherokee Purple, Eva Purple Ball, Brandywine, Mortgage Lifter, Delicious
*Resistant to TSWV (Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus)
Totally Tomatoes
Turnips
Roots: Purple Top White Globe
Roots and Greens: Purple Top
Greens: Seven Top, Shogoin
Henry Fields
Watermelon
Large: Jubilee (aka FL Giant), Crimson Sgweet, Charleston Grey 133
Small: Sugar Baby, Mickeylee
For information about growing vegetables in containers, consider purchasing my book:Container Gardening for Health: The 12 Most Important Fruits & Vegetables for Your Organic Garden
Information Sources:
1.Document is SP103 Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date, December 1991. Revised March 1994. Reviewed May 2003. Revised February 2009. Visit the EDIS Web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
2.
J.M. Stephens, professor emeritus, Horticultural Sciences Department; Sydney Park Brown, extension associate professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, and consumer horticulture specialist, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center--Plant City, FL; Danielle Treadwell, assistant professor, Horticultural Sciences Department, and organic farming specialist; Susan Webb, associate professor, Entomology and Nematology Department; Amanda Gevens, assistant professor, Plant Pathology Department; R.A. Dunn, retired professor, Entomology and Nematology Department; G. Kidder, retired professor, Soil Science Department; D. Short, retired professor, Entomology and Nematology Department; G.W. Simone, retired professor, Plant Pathology Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611.
Hi everyone-
I've received many inquiries about seeds/plants this year. Given my busy workshop/book signing schedule, I've decided not to retail (except at workshops) this year. For my Florida gardening pals, here is a list of recommended vegetable seed varieties and sources. Note: I'm having difficulty activating the links for seed sources on Blogger. The list with active links can be found on my website: The Gourmet Gardener.
Florida’s warm, humid climate is ideal for growing pests and fungal diseases. The following vegetable varieties have natural or bred resistance to the most common garden challenges in Florida. Much of this list comes directly from The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agriculture Science (IFAS) recommendations. We recommend you contact them for information specific to your county’s growing conditions.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_hs_minor_vegetables
Note: Though we cannot guarantee satisfaction, we believe the sources listed below to be reliable. If you have any comments regarding personal experience with these companies, please email us at gginfo@windstream.net
Beans, Bush
Snap: Bush Blue Lake, Contender, Roma II, Provider, Cherokee Wax
Source: The Cook’s Garden
Shell: Horticultural, Pinto, Red Kidney, Black Bean, Navy
Beans, Pole
McCaslan, Kentucky Wonder, Blue Lake
Source: Henry Fields
Beans, Lima
Fordhook 242, Henderson, Jackson Wonder, Dixie (Speckled) Butterpea, Early Thorogreen
Source: Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
Beets
Tall Top, Early Wonder, Detroit Dark Red, Cylindra, Red Ace, Yellow Detroit
American Meadows
Broccoli
Early Green, Early Dividend, Green Sprouting/Calabrese, Waltham, Packman, De Cicco, Broccoli Raab (Rapini)
Wood Prairie Farm
Cabbage
Rio Verde, Flat Dutch, Round Dutch, Wakefield types, Copenhagen Market, Savoy, Red Acre
Next Harvest
Cantaloupes and Honeydews
Athena, Ambrosia, Galia (green flesh)
Henry Fields
Carrots
Imperator, Nantes, Danvers, Chantenay
Seeds of Change
Cauliflower
Snowball Strains, Snow Crown, Brocoverde
Millington Seeds
Celery We don’t recommend celery for Florida gardeners. Try Utah Strains for limited success. The herb, Celery Leaf, is a good alternative.
Next Harvest
Chinese Cabbage
Michihili, Bok Choy, Napa, Baby Bok Choy, Pak-choi, Joi Choi
Sustainable Seed Co
Collards
Georgia, Georgia Southern, Top Bunch, Vates
Seeds of Change
Corn, sweet
Silver Queen (white), How Sweet It Is (white), Sweet Ice (white), Sweet Riser (yellow), Early Sunglow (yellow)
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
Cucumbers
Slicers: Sweet Success, Poinsett, Ashley, MarketMore 76, Straight Eight, Space Master
Henry Fields
Picklers: Liberty Hybrid, Eureka, Boston Pickling
Reimer Seeds
Eggplant
Black Beauty, Dusky, Long, Ichiban, Cloud Nine (white)
Millington Seeds
Endive/Escarole
Endive:Green Curled Ruffec
Escarole: Batavian Broadleaf
Jung Seeds
Kale
Vates Dwarf Blue Curled, Tuscan, Winterbor, Redbor
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
Kohlrabi
Early White Vienyna, Purple Vienna
Henry Fields
Lettuce
Crisphead: Great Lakes
Butterhead: Ermosa, Bibb, Tom Thumb, Buttercrunch,
Loose Leaf: Simpson types, Salad Bowl, Red Sails, New Red Fire
Oak Leaf: Salad Bowl, Royal Oak
Romaine: Parris Island Cos, Outredgeous
Sustainable Seed Company
Mustard
Southern Giant Curled, Florida Broad Leaf, Tendergreen, Giant Red, Green Wave, Mizuna
Reimer Seeds
Okra
Clemson Spineless, Emerald, Annie Oakley II, Cajun Delight
Reimer Seeds
Onions
Bulbing: Granex (yellow)
Bunching (Green): Evergreen Bunching, White Lisbon Bunching
The Onion Shed
Leeks American Flag
Reimer Seeds
Peas English or Snow
Wando, Green Arrow, Sugar Snap, Oregon Sugarpod II
Victory Seeds
Peas, Southern (Field Peas, Cow Peas, Crowder Peas, Cream Peas)
California Blackeye No.5, Pinkeye Purple Hull, Texas Cream
Victory Seeds
Peppers
Bell: California Wonder, Red Knight, Big Bertha
Local Harvest
Other Sweet: Sweet Banana, Giant Marconi, Mariachi, Cubanelle
Victory Seeds
Jalapeno: Early Jalapeno, Jalapeno M
Specialty Hot: Cherry Bomb, Hungarian Hot Wax, Big Chile II, Numex, Ancho, Thai, Anaheim Chile, Long Cayenne, Habanero, Caribbean Red Habanero
Sustainable Seed Company
Potato
Red Pontiac, Yukon Gold, Gold Rush
Ed Hume Seeds
Potatoes, Sweet
Centennial, Beauregard, Vardaman
Henry Fields
Pumpkin
Big Max, Connecticut Field, Prizewinner, Jack Be Little, Jack O Lantern
Sustainable Seed Co
Radish
Cherry Belle, White Icicle, Sparkler, Champion, Daikon
Millington Seed Co.
Spinach
Melody, Bloomsdale Longstanding, Tyee, Space
Reimer Seeds
Squash
Summer: Early Prolific Straightneck, Summer Crookneck, Early White Scallop
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
Winter: Spaghetti, Table King, Table Queen & Table Ace (Acorn), Waltham, Early Butternut (Butternut)
Wood Prairie Farm
Zucchini: Cocozelle, Spineless Beauty, Black Beauty
Seeds of Change
Strawberry
Chandler, Oso Grande, Sweet Charlie, Selva, Camarosa, Festival
Mountain Valley Growers
Swiss Chard
Bright Lights, Bright Yellow, Fordhook Giant, Lucullus, Red Ruby
Seeds of Change
Tomatoes
Large Fruit: Celebrity, Heat Wave II, Better Boy, Beefmaster, BHN444-Southern Star*, Amelia*, BHN 640*
Small Fruit: Sweet 100, Juliet, Red Grape, Sun Gold, Sugar Snack, Sweet Baby Girl
Heirloom: Green Zebra, Cherokee Purple, Eva Purple Ball, Brandywine, Mortgage Lifter, Delicious
*Resistant to TSWV (Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus)
Totally Tomatoes
Turnips
Roots: Purple Top White Globe
Roots and Greens: Purple Top
Greens: Seven Top, Shogoin
Henry Fields
Watermelon
Large: Jubilee (aka FL Giant), Crimson Sgweet, Charleston Grey 133
Small: Sugar Baby, Mickeylee
For information about growing vegetables in containers, consider purchasing my book:Container Gardening for Health: The 12 Most Important Fruits & Vegetables for Your Organic Garden
Information Sources:
1.Document is SP103 Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date, December 1991. Revised March 1994. Reviewed May 2003. Revised February 2009. Visit the EDIS Web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
2.
J.M. Stephens, professor emeritus, Horticultural Sciences Department; Sydney Park Brown, extension associate professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, and consumer horticulture specialist, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center--Plant City, FL; Danielle Treadwell, assistant professor, Horticultural Sciences Department, and organic farming specialist; Susan Webb, associate professor, Entomology and Nematology Department; Amanda Gevens, assistant professor, Plant Pathology Department; R.A. Dunn, retired professor, Entomology and Nematology Department; G. Kidder, retired professor, Soil Science Department; D. Short, retired professor, Entomology and Nematology Department; G.W. Simone, retired professor, Plant Pathology Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611.
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