A few weeks ago, I shared what was growing in my backyard garden. I talked about my early-blooming black raspberries, my pineapple plantation just starting to show growth, and those seven passion fruits I was excited about.
Well, it’s time for an update—and let me tell you, Florida weather had other plans.
Table of Contents
Weather Challenges
The temperatures in Florida recently dropped to about 40 degrees and then in the 50s for a few days in a row. Remember those seven passion fruits I mentioned? Unfortunately, I lost about half of my crop because it got too cold. One of them got all wrinkly but stayed green. I tasted it, and it was very sour and bitter.
Hopefully, the remaining ones will develop properly and turn red or yellow.
Raspberries and Ginger
On a more positive note, those black raspberry flowers I talked about are now sprouting everywhere. I am hoping for a nice bumper crop this year since I have let the berry bushes grow wild.
I also finally harvested my ginger. I got several pounds of it and was able to sell it to a local green market for ten dollars in store credit. I guess you could say I am a professional farmer now.
Growing Pineapples
The biggest news is my pineapples. Last time, I mentioned seeing some growth on my pineapple plantation. Well, now I have five flowers growing! It takes about six months to get a harvest. I need to get out there this weekend and re-pot a few of them. If the plant splits into two and you don’t repot them the fruit will be stunted. I want to make sure they have plenty of room to grow.
Conclusion
Gardening is a great hobby even if you spend more on dirt and fertilizer than the fruit is worth. It is rewarding to see things grow from a simple plant into something you can eat. Between the berries, ginger, and pineapples, there is always something to do outside.
Working on nature’s timeline is a nice counterbalance to the fast pace of recruiting. I reflected on appreciating time in A Reminder About Time.
I look forward to seeing how these crops turn out over the next few months. It is a lot of work but it is definitely worth the effort.
What are you growing in your garden this season?