Del Hartley
I got into this fighting my own patch of heat and heavy clay for fruit that actually makes it to harvest, and I never really stopped. Leafy Flora is where I write region-by-region growing guides for gardeners across North America: which varieties hold up where, when to get them in the ground, and the care that keeps them producing. I lean on my own beds for the warm-climate stuff and dig into local extension research for the rest, because 'when to plant tomatoes' means something completely different on the Gulf Coast than it does a few states north.
Recent guides
What to Plant in FloridaRead article →Best Plants for Florida Gardens by RegionBest plants for Florida gardens by region come down to one split: are you in North, Central, or South Florida? The state runs from USDA zone 8a in the Panhandle to zone 11 in the K
Florida VegetablesRead article →Florida Vegetable Gardening for Home GrowersFlorida vegetable gardening for home growers comes down to one problem northern gardening advice doesn't solve: timing. The sun isn't the issue here. A tomato transplant that does
Florida Fruit TreesRead article →How to Fertilize Fruit Trees: Type, Rate, and TimingHow to fertilize fruit trees comes down to three decisions: which fertilizer type fits your tree and soil, how much to apply for the tree's size, and when to feed so nitrogen build
Best Plants for FloridaRead article →Best Flowering Plants for Florida GardensThe best flowering plants for Florida gardens are not the ones that look good on a nursery tag in April. They are the ones still blooming in August after three weeks of afternoon t
Florida CitrusRead article →Best Citrus Trees for Florida BackyardsBest citrus trees for Florida backyards depend almost entirely on where in the state you're planting. A satsuma that shrugs off a 22°F night in Tallahassee would be overkill in Nap
Texas FruitRead article →Tips for Growing Persimmons in TexasGrowing persimmons in Texas is one of the more forgiving fruit-tree projects you can take on, but the state's range of climates means the right variety and the right rootstock matt