It’s that time of the year again, albeit a little late!  (Better late than never.)  Besides, it only just finally cooled off.  We had been breaking high temperature records here just like everyone else this fall.  It’s impossible to garden most vegetables during the late summer heat here in Central Florida.  The fall kitchen garden has been planted, and I’m crossing my fingers that things grow big and luscious.

The spring kitchen garden wasn’t that big of a bust, but the summer heat came early and it sort of fizzled out and cabbages never headed-up, etc.

I know, it’s such a small, little garden!

This new, fall garden is twice as big.  Clearing the land of bahia grass is tough!  Sandhill Flats does not have a rototiller.  Also, the grass roots must be completely removed, not just tilled under.  Otherwise, the grass will just grow back.  So, shovel and hoe, toil and sweat, until all of the grass has been removed.  A hard battle for another 30 square feet when other things are more pressing.  Dear Santa, I would like a plow and harness for the horse, please.

Eventually, during the upcoming months of January and February, the rest of the kitchen garden grass will have been removed, giving us a total of 1000 square feet to work with.  Until then, we will make do with the 65 square feet we have.

We also had to amend the sand, erm…soil.  We worked in composted grass clippings, Black Kow, and worm castings.  We then top-dressed with sheep manure.  Remember, it’s all about the sheep!  Sheep manure is like a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer.

Now we wait for purple bellpeppers, green onions, brussel sprouts, beets, green beans, multicolored carrots, bok choy, and nappa cabbage.  The tender, little sprout-lings are already up!