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Papaya Planting and Care

Papaya (Carica papaya) is a tropical fruit tree that is well-suited for growing in a food forest in central Florida. It is a fast-growing, productive tree that is known for its sweet, juicy fruit and numerous health benefits.

When choosing varieties of papaya to grow in your food forest, consider selecting a cultivar that is well-suited to the specific growing conditions in your area. Some popular papaya varieties for central Florida include:

‘Solo’: This is one of the most commonly grown varieties, known for its small size and sweet, juicy fruit. In terms of cold hardiness, the most cold-tolerant variety of papaya is the “Solo” variety. This variety can tolerate temperatures down to about 40-50°F (4-10°C) and is known to survive short periods of frost. However, it is important to note that papaya is still considered a tropical fruit and is not well-suited to growing in areas with prolonged cold weather. So even if a certain variety is considered more cold hardy, it still may not survive harsh winter conditions.

‘Sunrise’: This variety is known for its large, sweet fruit and high yield.

‘Maradol’: This variety is known for its large, sweet fruit and tolerance to disease. Many times what you might find in your grocery store. From which, you can harvest and replant the seeds.

Papaya prefers well-drained soil, full sun, and warm weather, making it an ideal fruit tree to grow in central Florida. It can be planted directly in the ground or in a container, but make sure it gets at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.

Papaya can be planted from seed or from seedlings. When planting from seed, sow them in a seed tray or directly in the ground, and cover them with a thin layer of soil. Keep the soil moist and warm. Seedlings should be planted about 10 feet apart in the ground, or in a container with at least 6 inches of depth.

Papaya requires regular watering, but be careful not to over-water, as it does not tolerate soggy soil. Water it about 1-2 inches per week, or when the soil is dry to the touch. Fertilize every 4-6 weeks with a balanced organic fertilizer. Papaya trees are heavy feeders, so they will benefit from regular fertilizing.

Papaya trees are fast-growing and productive, but they are also relatively short-lived. They typically have a lifespan of around 5-10 years. However, they can be propagated easily from suckers, which are shoots that grow from the base of the tree, to continue producing fruit for several years. They can be planted in a papaya circle the same way you would a banana circle.

Papaya plants are either male, female, or hermaphrodite (having both male and female flowers). Male plants produce only pollen and do not bear fruit, while female plants produce only ovules and do require a male plant nearby to pollinate the flowers and produce fruit. Hermaphrodite plants have both male and female flowers and can self-pollinate.

Papaya fruit is ready to harvest about 6-8 months after planting. The fruit should be picked when it is fully ripe, which is when the skin turns from green to yellow or orange. To harvest, simply cut the fruit off the tree with a sharp knife. You can also harvest it green and eat it like a vegetable. You can thinly slice or noodle up the green unripened flesh like you would a zucchini to be eaten in salads or stir frys.

Papaya is a nutritious fruit that is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It is often eaten fresh, but it can also be used in a variety of dishes, including smoothies, salads, and desserts. The leaves of the papaya tree can also be used as a natural remedy for a variety of ailments.

Papaya is a flavorful and nutritious fruit that is well-suited for growing in a food forest in central Florida. It is easy to grow and care for, and it provides a unique flavor and many health benefits. With a variety of papaya types, you can have a wide range of flavors to choose from. 

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Peppers Planting and Care

Peppers (Capsicum spp.) are a warm-season vegetable that is well-suited for growing in a food forest in central Florida. They come in a wide range of varieties, from sweet to hot, and are known for their unique flavors and health benefits.  Although traditionally thought of as an annual garden favorite, peppers can actually be a warm weather perennial plant.

When choosing varieties of peppers to grow in your food forest, consider selecting a mix of different cultivars that are well-suited to the specific growing conditions in your area. Some popular pepper varieties for central Florida include:

Bell peppers: These are the most common type of pepper and come in a variety of colors, including green, red, yellow, and orange. They are known for their sweet and mild flavor, and are great for cooking or eating raw.

Sweet peppers:  in a variety of colors, including green, red, yellow, and orange, and are known for their sweet and mild flavor, making them great for cooking or eating raw. They are a great addition to any food forest or garden, and can be used in a variety of dishes, adding flavor, color and nutritional value.

Jalapeno peppers: These are a medium-hot pepper that are known for their unique, slightly spicy flavor. They are great for adding heat to a variety of dishes.

Habanero peppers: These are one of the hottest pepper varieties, known for their intense heat and fruity, slightly sweet flavor. They are commonly used in hot sauces and salsa.

Poblano peppers: These are a mild to medium-hot pepper that are known for their rich, smoky flavor. They are commonly used in Mexican dishes, such as chiles rellenos.

Hatch chile peppers: Known for their prominence in New Mexican cuisine where green chile goes on just about everything.

Carolina reapear peppers:  Carolina Reaper peppers are one of the hottest pepper varieties, known for their intense heat and fruity, slightly sweet flavor. They are known to be one of the hottest peppers in the world, with a Scoville rating of over 1.5 million. They are considered a novelty pepper, and are not recommended for most culinary uses, but for those who enjoy extreme heat, they can be used in hot sauce or for creating spicy snacks.

Ghost peppers:  Ghost peppers, also known as Bhut Jolokia, are extremely hot peppers that are known for their intense heat and unique smoky flavor. They are one of the hottest pepper varieties, with a Scoville rating of over 1 million. Like the Carolina Reaper, they are considered a novelty pepper, and not recommended for most culinary uses, but for those who enjoy extreme heat, they can be used in hot sauce or for creating spicy snacks.

Peppers are a love/hate relationship with most people. Either they can’t tolerate anything more than a jalapeno, or, if they like hot peppers, it can never be hot enough. Peppers prefer well-drained soil, full sun, and warm weather, making them an ideal vegetable to grow in central Florida. They can be planted directly in the ground or in a container, but make sure they get at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.

Peppers should be planted in the early summer, after the last frost.  When planting peppers, it’s best to start with seedlings, as it can be difficult to germinate pepper seeds directly in the ground. Seedlings can be purchased from a local nursery or garden center, or you can start your own seeds indoors about 8-10 weeks before the last frost date in your area. I find planting them in a seedling tray on top of a heating mat with a humidity dome gets the fastest germination.

When planting pepper seedlings, make sure to choose a location that receives full sun, and has well-draining soil. Peppers prefer warm weather and high humidity, making them well-suited to the climate in central Florida. Space seedlings about 18-24 inches apart, in rows that are 2-3 feet apart, in the ground or in a container.

Peppers require consistent watering, but be careful not to over-water, as they do not tolerate soggy soil. Aim to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Applying a layer of mulch around the base of the plants can help to retain moisture in the soil.

Fertilize pepper plants every 4-6 weeks with a balanced organic fertilizer, following package instructions. Keep an eye out for any pests or diseases that might affect the plants, and take appropriate action if necessary.

Peppers typically take about 60-90 days to reach maturity and be ready for harvest, depending on the variety. Bell peppers will take longer to mature.

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Turmeric Planting and Care

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a tropical perennial herb that is well-suited for growing in a food forest in central Florida. It is known for its bright yellow-orange color, unique flavor, and numerous health benefits.

When growing turmeric in a food forest in central Florida, it is important to choose a location that receives partial shade and has well-drained soil. Turmeric prefers warm weather and high humidity, making it well-suited to the climate in central Florida.

To plant turmeric, you can use either turmeric rhizomes or turmeric roots from the grocery store. Plant the rhizomes or roots about 1-2 inches deep in the soil and about 8-12 inches apart. Water them regularly and keep the soil moist. Turmeric plants will take several months to mature and develop a good root system.

It’s important to water it regularly and keep the soil moist. Fertilize every 4-6 weeks with a balanced organic fertilizer.

Turmeric is ready to harvest about 8-10 months after planting. When the leaves start to yellow and die back, you can dig up the roots and harvest them. The rhizomes should be washed and dried before storing.

Turmeric is a versatile herb that can be used in a wide variety of dishes, including soups, stews, curries, marinades, and desserts. It can also be used to make tea, and it has many medicinal properties. Two of my favorite drinks made with it is ginger/turmeric/moringa tea and golden milk.

In terms of permaculture design, turmeric is a great plant to use in the herbaceous layer because of its medicinal and culinary properties. It’s also a dynamic accumulator, meaning it accumulates and concentrates nutrients from the soil. This makes it a great plant to use in areas where the soil is poor or has been damaged, as it can help to improve the fertility of the soil over time. It’s also a great chop and drop mulch or “green manure” for added soil building and nutrients to put back into the surrounding soil.

Growing turmeric in a food forest in central Florida is a great way to add a flavorful and nutritious herb to your permaculture system. With its unique flavor and health benefits, it’s a valuable addition to any food forest or garden.

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Culantro Planting and Care

Culantro (Eryngium foetidum), also known as “fit weed” or “Mexican coriander” is a tropical perennial herb that is well-suited for growing in a food forest in central Florida. It is a popular herb in Caribbean and Latin American cuisine, and it is used as a substitute for cilantro. It is my favorite of all the herbs. It is slightly stronger than cilantro, but still perfect for chopped herb garnish on just about any meal on which you would put parsley. I’ve never had success with cilantro in the Florida heat. And every time I see it at the stores for sale, it is always drooping or already brown. Culantro, on the other hand is very heat tolerant and, frankly, hard to kill.

Culantro prefers well-drained soil, full sun, and warm weather, making it an ideal herb to grow in central Florida. It can be planted directly in the ground or in a container, but make sure it gets at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.

Culantro can be planted from seed or from seedlings. When planting from seed, sow them in a seed tray or directly in the ground, and cover them with a thin layer of soil. Keep the soil moist and warm. Seedlings should be planted about 10 inches apart in the ground, or in a container with at least 6 inches of depth.

Culantro requires regular watering, but be careful not to over-water, as it does not tolerate soggy soil. Water it about 1-2 inches per week, or when the soil is dry to the touch. Fertilize every 4-6 weeks with a balanced organic fertilizer, such as 10-10-10.  Culantro is very easy to grow. It can also be propagated by dividing it at the roots.

Culantro is ready to harvest about 8-10 weeks after planting. It’s important to pick the leaves before the plant flowers, as the leaves will be at their most flavorful. You can continually pinch off the flower head in order to keep the leaves growing. To harvest, simply snip off the leaves with scissors or pinch them off with your fingers. You can harvest culantro leaves as needed or all at once.

Culantro has a stronger and more pungent flavor compared to cilantro. It is commonly used in Caribbean and Latin American cuisine, particularly in the preparation of salsa, soups, stews, and meat dishes. It’s also great in sauces, marinades and it can be used as a garnish.

Culantro is a flavorful herb that is well-suited for growing in a food forest in central Florida. It is easy to grow and care for, and it provides a unique flavor that can add a lot of depth to a variety of dishes. As a bonus, some customers have reported that people who usually associate the taste of cilantro with soap, do not get the same taste sensation with culantro.  With a couple of culantro plants, you can have strong herbaceous flavors to add to all your culinary meals.

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Basil Planting and Care

Basil is a flavorful herb that is well-suited for growing in a food forest in central Florida. It is a popular herb that can add a lot of flavor to a variety of dishes and also it has medicinal properties.  In permaculture, the herbaceous layer refers to the layer of plants in a food forest or garden, that is low to the ground, that includes herbs, wildflowers, and other non-woody plants. This layer is important for a number of reasons, including providing food, medicine, and habitat for beneficial insects and other wildlife.

In Florida, basil is a great herb to include in the herbaceous layer of a food forest or garden. It is a hardy, warm-season herb that thrives in the long, hot summers of the region and can be easily grown from seed or seedlings.

One of the key benefits of growing basil in the herbaceous layer is that it is a great companion plant for other vegetables and fruits. For example, basil can be planted alongside everglades tomatoes or peppers, as it is known to repel pests such as aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites. Additionally, it helps to improve the growth and flavor of other plants especially when you harvest them together.

Basil also provides a number of other benefits in the herbaceous layer. For example, it can be used as a natural pesticide and an herbal medicine. Its oil is known to have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, which makes it useful for treating a variety of health conditions.

In terms of permaculture design, basil is a great plant to use in the herbaceous layer because it is a dynamic accumulator, meaning it accumulates and concentrates nutrients from the soil. This makes it a great plant to use in areas where the soil is poor or has been damaged, as it can help to improve the fertility of the soil over time.

Basil also fits well in the herbaceous layer because it is a fast-growing plant that can be harvested multiple times a year, providing a continuous source of food and medicine. It also has a relatively short life cycle before flowering, but is super easy to propagate, making it a great plant for a permaculture system.

Finally, basil is a great plant to attract pollinators, bees and other beneficial insects to your food forest, which can help to increase the yield of other plants. For instance, African blue basil is excellent for the pollinators and edible for you too.

Basil is a versatile and valuable herb that can be a great addition to the herbaceous layer of a food forest or garden in Florida zone 9a. It provides food, medicine, repellent, and soil improvement, making it a valuable and productive plant in permaculture design.

When choosing varieties of basil to grow in your food forest, consider selecting a mix of different cultivars. Some popular varieties for central Florida include:

‘Genovese’: This is the classic variety of basil, known for its large leaves and strong, sweet flavor. It is the most commonly used basil in pasta dishes, such as pesto.

‘Lemon’: This variety has a strong lemon scent and flavor, making it a great choice for use in fish and poultry dishes, and also in salads and dressings.

‘Thai’: This is a smaller-leaved basil, with a more intense and spicy flavor. It is often used in Asian and Thai dishes, such as curry and stir-fry.

‘Cinnamon’: This basil has a strong cinnamon-like aroma and flavor, and is often used in desserts and teas.

‘Purple Ruffles’: This basil has purple-colored leaves and a slightly sweeter flavor than the green varieties. It’s great to use as a garnish, adding a beautiful color to your dishes.

Basil prefers well-drained soil, full sun, and warm weather, making it an ideal herb to grow in central Florida. It can be planted directly in the ground or in a container, but make sure it gets at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.

Basil should be planted in the early summer, after the last frost has passed and the soil has warmed up. It can be planted from seed, or from seedlings, or propagated by cuttings. When planting from seed, sow them in a seed tray or directly in the ground, and cover them with a thin layer of soil. Keep the soil moist and warm. Seedlings should be planted about 10 inches apart in the ground, or in a container with at least 6 inches of depth.

Basil requires regular watering, but be careful not to over-water, as it does not tolerate soggy soil. Water it about 1-2 inches per week, or when the soil is dry to the touch. Fertilize every 4-6 weeks with a balanced organic fertilizer, such as 10-10-10.

Basil is ready to harvest about 8-10 weeks after planting. It’s important to pick the leaves before the plant flowers, as the leaves will be at their most flavorful. To harvest, simply snip off the leaves with scissors or pinch them off with your fingers. You can harvest basil leaves as needed or all at once. You can pinch off the basil flower buds as they start to prevent it from flowering.

Basil is a versatile herb that is easy to grow in central Florida, and can add a lot of flavor to a variety of dishes. It has a very good yield. With a variety of basil types, you can have a wide range of flavors to choose from to suit many of your culinary needs.