Watch My Food Grow ~ A South Florida Raised Vegetable Garden

Florida Backyard Raised Vegetable Garden

Jan Norris Hates My Garden: No Watermelon for Norris

May 6th, 2009 by Matthew Steinhoff
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Jan Norris: She Hates My Garden

Ah, Matt. Good luck with the melons. Tried to tell you that it’s not the right time to plant the melons, or the right way, but you wouldn’t listen. [W]ait till April, replant with dry cakey soil and on mounds that are mulched with plastic gunk. (SOURCE: Jan Norris)

Former Food Editor Doubts My Ability to Grow Watermelons

In late February, I planted watermelons seeds in my garden annex. Immediately, the hating started. Jan Norris, a self-proclaimed expert in Florida Food said there was no way in hell I’d get watermelons. She laughed in my general direction and mocked my seeds.

I didn’t have to water the first couple weeks, what with all the peeing she was doing on my garden parade.

Patience is a Farming Requirement

When I caught the first glimpse of my nugget-sized watermelon last week, I was not yet ready to declare victory. It was still too soon.

Today, however, with watermelons just about six inches tall, I’m here to say I have crushed Norris. She shall not repress my watermelon.

Even if the watermelon stops growing today (it has about 15 days left), it is still edible and, probably, tasty.

Here is the Watermelon Jan Norris Will Not Be Eating:

Sweeter: My Watermelon or Jan Norris Not Eating My Watermelon?

Who Hates Your Raised Vegetable Garden?

Are you, too, suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous vegetable fortune? Tell me who hates your garden and why.

I think Norris is just jealous.

—Farmer Matt

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Cucumbers in my Raised Vegetable Garden

April 30th, 2009 by Matthew Steinhoff
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Check Out This Cucumber

Marketmore 76 Cucumber

Broward Farm Bureau Supplied the Seeds

I picked up this pack of ‘Marketmore 76 Cucumber’ seeds from the Broward Farm Bureau booth at the South Florida Fair. They were promoting this variety of cucumbers because they are resistant to scab, mosiac, downey mildew and powdery mildew. I don’t really know what that means but it sounds good.

These will have white spines and dark green skins. I have never seen a cucumber with spines before.

—Farmer Matt

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Baby Watermelon Growing in Raised Vegetable Garden

April 24th, 2009 by Matthew Steinhoff
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My watermelon is growing!

For weeks I have been watching the little yellow flowers hoping they would turn into something that even remotely resembles a watermelon. Nothing, nothing then more nothing. Finally, yesterday: pay dirt.

Tiny but a Watermelon Nonetheless

Watermelon Growing in Raised Vegetable Garden

It Looks Like a Watermelon

It’s just a bit smaller. About an inch tall. Maybe an inch and a half. But, it clearly looks like a real watermelon. Here is a picture that can help you better get a feel for the size of these little watermelons

Watermelon Close Up and Tiny

You can see at the tip of the watermelon where the yellow flower is about to fall off.

82 Days to Harvest?

The melons have been in the ground for nearly 60 days. Does that really mean I’ll have watermelon in another 22 days?

—Farmer Matt

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