SFG in North central Florida

I have read many many posts in other forums about SFG in Florida not being successful. I haven't noticed many posts from gardeners in Florida. I don't see why it shouldn't work. But the main thing I have noticed people complaining about is disease and nematodes. Are these a major issue in Florida and is it still feasible to use SFG in Florida? My family and I are excited about our SFG this year but I don't want it to be a huge let down from all these problems. I don't understand how nematodes could be any more of a problem in a SFG than a traditional garden.

Anyways we are in zone 9 and hoping to link up with some people that have had success in this area.

thx in advance and sorry for the wall of text.

There will always be naysayers. But if disease and nematodes are the problem, then it is SFG neutral and sounds like they are saying do not garden at all.

Nematodes can be controlled by a number of methods, including beneficial nematodes and disease has a lot of ways to be controlled from making sure there is plenty of air movement to baking soda sprays to once a week horticultural fungicides. Up to you.

In an SFG you can control nematodes by having an impervious barrier between your SFG and the ground or by using table tops. Disease is disease and we all deal with it. Florida, although hot and humid is not a special case as far as SFGs are concerned, if it works in Maine and Minnesota and Washington and California and Arizona and Arkansas and Mississippi and Hawaii with all their varying climates there is absolutely no reason it does not work in Florida. You might have to water. Big deal. Vegetables need water and to pretend otherwise is foolish.

We do have members in Florida and hopefully they will speak out also about their specific experiences.

As a matter of fact, I heard Mel say the other night at an event that he did a PBS show in Florida about SFG. So I KNOW it works there. LOL.

This is good Florida specific general garden info - it is a long read but there is reall solid information in there. You will definately get at least a little something usefull out of it. Florida Vegetable Garden Guide

I'm not in Florida, but I am in zone 9...deep south Texas, where yesterday morning I was sweating like a pig in 69 degree weather because of the 93% humidity.

I like to call it "extreme gardening" down here. I've just completed 2 full years of SFGing and it's been quite the fun ride...learning about powdery mildew, downy mildew, squash vine borer, aphids, etc. Oh, and that peppers and tomatoes don't set when temps get too high, even nighttime temps..but I've also learned that okra and eggplant love the heat. I've learned how to garden through the winter and this year we didn't get a single freeze, so I have tomato plants that have overwintered...how fun is that?!

For me the biggest thing has just been learning not to take for granted that any "conventional wisdom" applies in my climate. The first year I drove myself crazy over things like "waiting for the soil to warm up"...until I realized that my soil never gets "cold" by other people's standards.

I don't think SFG doesn't work in zone 9. I just think that ANY kind of gardening is a bit more challenging than it in places. A long season has just as many drawbacks as it has advantages. Also, I think a lot of people try gardening the way it's done in most of the country and fail as a result.

Hope that helps answer your question! I've got 3 little ones and SFGing is what has made it possible for me to at least pretend to keep up