Author: Chris Lutz

  • Passion Fruit Planting and Care

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    Passion fruit (Passiflora spp.) is a tropical vine that can be grown in a food forest in central Florida. It is known for its unique, flavorful fruit and its beautiful, fragrant flowers. However, it’s important to note that passion fruit is sensitive to frost and cold temperatures, so it’s best to grow it in a…

  • Avocado Planting and Care

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    Avocado (Persea americana) is a tropical fruit tree that can be grown in a food forest in Central Florida, but it’s important to note that it requires a warm and frost-free climate, and it can be challenging to grow in this area. When choosing varieties of avocado to grow in your food forest, consider selecting…

  • Lasagna Gardening Training

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    Lasagna gardening, also known as sheet composting, is a method of gardening that involves layering organic materials to create a nutrient-rich soil bed for planting. This technique is called lasagna gardening because it involves layering materials just like one would layer lasagna noodles and sauce in a baking dish. The concept of lasagna gardening is…

  • Star Fruit Planting and Care

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    Star fruit, also known as carambola (Averrhoa carambola), 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 unique, star-shaped fruit and numerous health benefits. When choosing varieties of star fruit to grow in your food forest,…

  • 75 Edible Perennial Food Forest Plants for Central Florida

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    This list isn’t all the way refined, but I generally consider it my master list of permaculture food forest plants to try to keep in stock at my nursery that are appropriate for central Florida, specifically our zone 9a. Most of these plants are the cold hardy varieties listed and may get knocked back in…

  • Papaya Planting and Care

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    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…

  • Peppers Planting and Care

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    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…

  • Turmeric Planting and Care

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    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…

  • Culantro Planting and Care

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    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…

  • Basil Planting and Care

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    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…