Yes! We Have No Bananas, But May I Interest You In A Strawberry?

My neighbor grows bananas in their back yard, Lady Fingers or something. I don't care for the taste so I'll just stick to Chiquata from Publix thanks. A mature clumping of bananas make a nice privacy fence though which is just as well since I was grinning like a fool over hosting Mama Owl and her baby this year. See my cute photo and bragging rights here.

Hosting The Hooters
Mama Screech Owl And Her Baby

However I do have one Strawberry, yes poor me just the one. 

One lonely, over-ripe and much heralded, little strawberry. I grew three Strawberry plants this year and all I have to show for all the lavish care and attention I have showered on said three plants is this.

And the only reason I have the solo Strawberry is because it's protected from those darn, pesky squirrels. Another recycling idea by Dawn. Use old birdcages, you saw it here first!

March's Yields - A Veggie Update Part 2

As a follow up to my previous blog:
March's Yields - A Veggie Update Part 1

After much consideration this is what I eventually planted in the empty raised veggie border- top left.

Back in November, when the daytime temperatures were between 75 to 79 F, I planted slips of onions and cauliflower transplants. In January I planted cabbages which are still maturing. Now it's beginning to warm up again the cauliflowers are almost done.

From the Far End, Cauliflowers, Cabbages and Onions, along with a lone Tomato.

Onions

Onions take "forever" to mature-form bulbs, I'll probably harvest them in May, I just have to be patient.......tick tock.....

Cauliflower "White Cloud"

I tied off the Cauliflowers with their own leaves - "blanching" - to keep the heads white, otherwise they discolor and seem visually unappetizing to eat. Cauliflowers have very shallow roots, they don't need a big space to thrive in....but they do like lots of water.

If you want to try Blanching......as soon as the head starts to show through the leaves, gather the outer leaves to cover the head and secure with string, twine or an elastic band.

Zone 10 you are probably too late to put Cauliflowers in even as transplants they prefer temperatures under 75 degrees F. Ditto for Cabbages.

A Blanched Cauliflower..but not quite perfect

Compare Unblanched on left with Blanched on Right

Cabbages:

Cabbages

I don't recall the type of cabbage I planted, and I'm hoping they don't all bolt at once now the weather is warming up rapidly.

Northern Florida: You might still have time regarding Cauliflower, and Cabbages.

A stray tomato seed took root in among the onions, and I didn't have the heart to pull it out. I had read that you are not supposed to plant tomatoes with onions, but so far both onions and tomato plant are thriving. Truth is the "tomato - not - supposed - to - be - growing - with - the onions" is actually doing better than the other tomatoes. When the cabbages are done, I might put Squash in this planter box.

Elsewhere in the garden I am trying to grow some strawberries. I never seem to get to them before the birds and squirrels. Currently I am nursing one litl' flower and check on it every day!

One Little Strawberry Flower

Next up: Zone 10 You Still Have Time To Get These Veggies in!