What would be the top three garden plants for Florida gardeners?
Hey Mr. The Good.
Italy has onions, garlic and tomatoes, New Orleans has celery, bell pepper and onion… what would the growable Florida trinity be?
That comment was left on this video:
My answer was:
Probably the top three would be true yams, Mexican tree spinach, moringa. But throw in longevity spinach, yard-long beans, sweet potatoes, Seminole pumpkins, cassava and Everglades tomatoes and you have a great, easy-to-grow and tasty garden.
Now, on further consideration, I think he may have been asking more about a culinary trinity, rather than an easy-to-grow trinity.
If I lived in South Florida, I think coconut, cassava and mangoes would be enough to keep me happy.
In North Florida, I would say sweet potatoes, cassava and mulberries would be a great way to eat.
But there are so many options! We haven’t even touched herbs, or nuts, or the wide range of fruits…
…or the possibility of turning vegetables into delicious meat, milk and eggs.
But if you are like me, and like to go through lots of plant profiles and dream about your gardens, my book Create Your Own Florida Food Forest is for you.
We have a frost this evening and I’m missing South Florida, but at the same time, I do need a break.
It’s been a busy year. I’m busting with ideas for the spring!
6 comments
I’ll have mulberries, sweet potato and bananas…Central FL. If I could have 4 I’d add Seminole pumpkins.
Culinary trinity of Florida. Very interesting and not something really touched upon or established. Maybe time to characterize true Florida cuisine.
We’re looking for 3 things that can be easily cooked together and form the base for countless dishes.
I would say ackee and cassava for sure, the last one is the harder. As with all cuisines that use frequent ingredients the spices definitely make the dish, so we’re looking for a tasty 3 piece combination here, 3 things that form the base for many dishes and accept varied spices well.
Perhaps Everglades tomatoes. With some spices and even wild caught fish, you could make very interesting cuisines utilizing those 3 and said spices.
But since I’m in Martin, I would say ackee, cassava, and Everglades tomatoes, OR some type of onion vegetable, such as bunching onion or shallot.
This makes me want to try growing rice so I can complete a dish!
Hi David, Saw your latest video on planting cassava varieties. My question is, can cassava plants go in the same spots year after year? Am a backyard gardener and have space limitations. Thank you & wishing you and your family all the best!
Hi David! I recently found your vids on yt and I wanted to take a moment and thank you for your efforts. Many of us hobby gardeners have grown abundantly as a result of your hard work and experience you share. So thank you for that. Whenever your back in so flo, I’d love to extend an invitation for you and your flock to come and worship with our family. Service is at 10am. NHCCFTL.org is the site, (I imagine you’d prefer to have a virtual look first). So thanks again and know that I pray for you and your family.
Thank you – I know exactly where that church is. About 15 minutes from where I grew up. I used to be OPC, so the theology there is familiar to me. I appreciate the prayers.
In the North Florida area, I’d say corn, squash, and beans. :)