Mas Fuego's South Florida Grow 2017

With any luck I can make this a fairly interesting grow log for the beginners like me. If you want to follow a professional grower to glean pro-style tips, keep moving. If you want to watch a guy stumble along the road of gardening, you are in the right place!

I am in south Florida so I don't have a frost to worry about. it does get cold(ish) around February and theoretically I should wait till then to go outside but like I said, I am not a pro.
 
The plan is to grow in pots on a drip irrigation system that I plan to build.
 
I will try to track my seeds and where they came from:
 
Currently Growing
Jalapeno - Burpee
Serano - Burpee [Not gonna grow]
Brazilian Ghost  - Forum  [Probably Not gonna grow]
Jamaican Scotch Bonnet - Forum
White Hab - Ebay [None have made fully germinated]
Chocolate Hab - EBay  [Probably Not gonna grow]
Yellow 7 Pot - Forum   [Probably Not gonna grow]
Red Sweet Pepper - Ebay
Carolina Reaper - Forum
 
Cucamellon - eBay - these take off!
Pickle Cuke - eBay
Homestead Tomato - eBay
Floridade Tomato - eBay
Tomatillo - scrapped out of a tomatillo from Publix
 
Awaiting Arrival
Habanero Paper Lantern - Juanitos
cumari do para - Juanitos

Still Trying To Source
sweetheart pepper
Sweet Lunchbox Mini Peppers
Sugar Rush Peach Pepper
(basically any mild, sweet peppers)
Ají Lemon Drop
Malawi Piquante

 

[solid7]

 Right now I am thinking I am going with 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 perlite 1/3 black Kow / Mushroom compost. Mix in some lime, some bone meal, some epson salt. Boom. done

 
I would avoid using so much compost.  I know that a lot of people claim to use it, but honestly, every time I've tried using that much compost, it resulted in failure.  It seems to get rock hard, almost like concrete.
 
60/30/10  peat moss/perlite/aged manure or compost
 
For mixes that have good air holding properties, you don't really want to go more than 5-10% compost.  Heavy compost is great for in-ground growing, but not so much for containers.
 
In truth, you can do just fine with only a top dress of manure.
 
You can make your mix go even farther, if you can find some pine bark mulch. It's cheaper than either peat moss or perlite, and really adds some good properties to your mix. (while cutting the cost, drastically)

 

[mas_fuego]

 

You can make your mix go even farther, if you can find some pine bark mulch. It's cheaper than either peat moss or perlite, and really adds some good properties to your mix. (while cutting the cost, drastically)

I simply can't find it anywhere. Only the big mulch type. I read folks go 5.1.1 with pine fines but I can't seem to source it.

 

[solid7]

I simply can't find it anywhere. Only the big mulch type. I read folks go 5.1.1 with pine fines but I can't seem to source it.

 
That sucks.  In our area, all of the WalMarts carry it.  Timberline Pine Bark Mulch, in a purple bag.

5:1:1 is a very needy mix.  It dries out SUPER fast.
 
I found that you can grow just as well with a 3:2:1 mix, and get the same results.  You can also use it in a wicking container. (SIP)
 
There is a cult of people who surround that guy Al (tapla) and his recipe.  But there have been some published analyses that compared the water retention, porosity, and several other factors, and found 5:1:1 to be so close to several other mixes - but the other mixes had better nutrient and moisture retention.  I believe the one that was preferred was 7:5:2
 
I grow in very similar conditions to you.  If you can't find the pine bark mulch, you can still grow in a mix of 70/30 peat moss and perlite - although I'd be tempted to only use that in a SIP type container, because when it dries out, it's a bitch to get wetted again.  That's where about 10% compost added to that will come in handy.
 
You may also want to check local nurseries for their nursery mix.  You can often find that in bulk, for a very good price, and it's got everything but fertilizer in it.  In Florida, nursery mixes are almost always bark based.  Fantastic for containers 7 gallon and less, and perfect for the compost pile or raised bed when it's done.

 

[mas_fuego]

I am no closer on the soil front but made big progress on the watering front.
 
Tapped into the line from the water softener (we used it when we first bought this house but it made the water slimey). Don't judge me on the messiness. This turned out to be a serious pain.
 

 
That leads to this on the side of my house.
 

 
Tapped into my OpenSprinkler Rasberry Pi sprinkler controller.

 
Added its own zone. Now I can control and monitor it from my phone.
 

 
 
 
 
 

 

[Bayoubulldog]

I spent some time in S. FL. I miss the weather!

That said, I never grew Tomatoes there! Family grows lots of fruit and peppers though!

Cool thread! Good luck!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

 

[reelfunkedup]

I'm in SFla and feel your pain. I've tried tomatoes for a couple years and always get mediocre results. Except from a variety called the everglades tomato. It's a small cherry or currant tomato. They grow like weeds! Before recently, I didn't even have to start seeds because I'd find volunteers all over the place. Here's one of the final harvests from a single plant back in 2015.

 
Also, I'm interested to see your drip system as I've been really considering installing one here.  

 

[mas_fuego]

I'm in SFla and feel your pain. I've tried tomatoes for a couple years and always get mediocre results. Except from a variety called the everglades tomato. It's a small cherry or currant tomato. They grow like weeds! Before recently, I didn't even have to start seeds because I'd find volunteers all over the place. Here's one of the final harvests from a single plant back in 2015.

 
Also, I'm interested to see your drip system as I've been really considering installing one here.  

So funny, I just got seeds for everglades tomatoes started yesterday. I made progress on the drip system today and should get some pics tomorrow.

You gon learn today!

 

[mas_fuego]

Ok, so I am fighting a nasty cold today. I felt it coming on all week but powered through it because I wanted to get a bunch of home projects done between Christmas and New Year's Day.
 
So I am on hold for the next few days. In the meantime, I am trying to source more mild / sweet pepper seeds to grow. If you have any recommendations please chime in. If you have seeds . . . well . . . . hello friend! lol
 
Seriously, I have come to realize that I have been putting my seedlings outside too soon. I am going to risk them getting leggy by keeping them inside a little longer. Also, I am not convinced that the area I am looking to place my garden will get enough hours of sunlight during the day. I will keep my eye on that as well.
 
Here are seeds I am currently looking for:
aji jobito <-- I now have some on the way!
Sugar Rush Peach Pepper
Malawi Piquante
 

 

[reelfunkedup]

I grow pretty much all hot peppers. Though I'll look through my stash to see if I find anything on the milder side. 
 
I don't really start plants inside except for seedlings. They go either inside on a south-facing window sill or outside under partial sun. They seem to do well either way. This is from a couple weeks ago.

 
It looks like your yard is north-facing like mine. If so, try putting your plants nearer one side so they get some extended light around dawn/dusk. Really, my only concern with starts right now are the dropping temps. Just keep an eye on the weather so if there happens to be a particularly cold night you can bring them inside.
 
Sorry to hear about your cold, man. Get some rest while you can. 
 
 

Sorry to hear about the cold. Get some rest while you can. 
 

 

[solid7]

I got my Jobito and Malawi Piquante seeds from The Hippy Seed Co. in Australia.   The price was good, and even shipped, they were cheaper than a lot of domestic sources.  Fast, too!
 
I would highly recommend growing out some Aji Amarillo this year, as well.

 

[mas_fuego]

 
I grow pretty much all hot peppers. Though I'll look through my stash to see if I find anything on the milder side. 
 
I don't really start plants inside except for seedlings. They go either inside on a south-facing window sill or outside under partial sun. They seem to do well either way. This is from a couple weeks ago.
 
It looks like your yard is north-facing like mine. If so, try putting your plants nearer one side so they get some extended light around dawn/dusk. Really, my only concern with starts right now are the dropping temps. Just keep an eye on the weather so if there happens to be a particularly cold night you can bring them inside.
 
Sorry to hear about your cold, man. Get some rest while you can. 
 
 
Sorry to hear about the cold. Get some rest while you can. 
 

 
It's my seedlings that I think I put out too early.  That rain we got last week really flooded them a few days in a row. That's what I mean. Part of the reason I started so early is that I figured that I had time to learn how to do this well and it seems that getting the first sprouting seedling to adolescent has been a bit of a challenge for me.
 
My house faces south south west. Where I am planting, I think, will have good sun in a few months. We will see.
 
I worked on my drip system today and got completely exhausted doing very little. This cold is knocking me out.
 

I got my Jobito and Malawi Piquante seeds from The Hippy Seed Co. in Australia.   The price was good, and even shipped, they were cheaper than a lot of domestic sources.  Fast, too!
 
I would highly recommend growing out some Aji Amarillo this year, as well.

 
I will look into that, thanks.
 
So I made up a batch of soil with three parts peat, 2 parts perlite, 2 parts compost but I think it was too dense. That seemed like so much perlite but I will try it with less compost in my next batch.

 

[solid7]

 
So I made up a batch of soil with three parts peat, 2 parts perlite, 2 parts compost but I think it was too dense. That seemed like so much perlite but I will try it with less compost in my next batch.

 

Definitely too dense.  I've tried that exact mix before.  It will compact later, and that's where the troubles be3in.
 
Try 1 part perlite to 3 parts peat, and top dress with the compost, about an inch thick layer.

 

[mas_fuego]

I got lots accomplished on my drip system. I will hopefully post some pics tomorrow.
 
Here is my first Red Paper Lantern (Juanitos)

 
My first Scotch Bonnet MOA hook (Juanitos)

 
And who says Comcast is good for nothing? Orange Hab seeds getting warm
 

 

 

[reelfunkedup]

I love your "heat mat"! 
 
It looks like you you've got germination down. Now go stick those bad boys under some good lights.

 

[mas_fuego]

I love your "heat mat"! 
 
It looks like you you've got germination down. Now go stick those bad boys under some good lights.

 

There's my issue. The only light I use is the sun.

 

[solid7]

 
There's my issue. The only light I use is the sun.

 
Why would that be an issue?  You'll be fine right now.  I just germinated some seed outdoors.

 

[mas_fuego]

 
Why would that be an issue?  You'll be fine right now.  I just germinated some seed outdoors.

Because the last batch got flooded by the rain.

You gon learn today!

 

[solid7]

If your plan is to keep the seedlings out under the sun, plant your seeds in a larger container.  I start my outdoor plants in 5" net pots from the hydro supply store.
 
You can see it if you look really close. (or zoom)  I planted it just before the little cold that blew through this weekend.
 

 

[PaulG]

Alright, Carl - good to see some hooks coming up!

 

[mas_fuego]

I got some seeds from Streamer and Juanito in the mail today.
 

 
Also, I bought some Cherry Peppers at a Farmers Market and was instantly surprised how hot they were! Not what I was expecting at all!

 
And i stopped by a Commercial Garden Supply shop hoping they would have small pine bark and they only had the stuff that is as big as your hand. I checked their potting soil and they had one product that looked to be mostly pine bark and peat moss. I am now going to move forward using that as the base of my potting soil.