What's Growing 2026

[JF Paso]

I've been growing loroco for a few years and I really enjoy the unopened flowers.  It is a perennial vining plant that does well in partial sun for me.  I also grow/enjoy banana peppers that ripen (red) as it develops a rich flavor. Also, the plants do not seem prone to diseases. 
I have grown Bele (variegated) and it grew tall and had to be constantly pruned for a
few uears and then it rotted. I didn`t replant as I never used the leaves.
Thanks for the information on using cranberry hibiscus as once you have one you will always have some

[Galatians522]

I've been growing loroco for a few years and I really enjoy the unopened flowers.  It is a perennial vining plant that does well in partial sun for me.  I also grow/enjoy banana peppers that ripen (red) as it develops a rich flavor. Also, the plants do not seem prone to diseases. 
I have grown Bele (variegated) and it grew tall and had to be constantly pruned for a
few uears and then it rotted. I didn`t replant as I never used the leaves.
Thanks for the information on using cranberry hibiscus as once you have one you will always have some

I had never heard of Loroco and had to look it up. How do you use it?

[JF Paso]

I've been growing loroco for a few years and I really enjoy the unopened flowers.  It is a perennial vining plant that does well in partial sun for me.  I also grow/enjoy banana peppers that ripen (red) as it develops a rich flavor. Also, the plants do not seem prone to diseases. 
I have grown Bele (variegated) and it grew tall and had to be constantly pruned for a
few uears and then it rotted. I didn`t replant as I never used the leaves.
Thanks for the information on using cranberry hibiscus as once you have one you will always have some

I had never heard of Loroco and had to look it up. How do you use it?

You use the unopened flower buds. I use them in omelets mostly, but hoping to expand my culinary use of it as the vine is finally growing with lots more flowers.  The texture is nice and the flavor is rich but mild, maybe like asparagus crossed with broccoli..sort of   no insect or disease problems that I have experienced in the last few years, so I'm not sure why it is not grown more.

[From the sea]

I am growing purple sweet potatoes, moringa, Tongan spinach, Chaya, kangkong, and a few squash  varieties. I live in a dry lowlands area and have been trying different varieties of leafy greens for a few years now and have finally found some success.

Sounds like a good line up. I have been contemplating Tongan spinach (Bele) for a while.

It’s a good green that is very easy to grow and not very slimy

[Daintree]

Well, it is 15 degrees here, so all my tropical veggies are snug in the greenhouse.
Mostly I have "longevity spinach" Gynura procumbens. The stuff grows faster than I can eat it, but since it is good for me I can't complain.
I keep a few tomatoes too, and plant them back out in the spring.

That's about all that I can squeeze in...

[Galatians522]

For anyone who is curious, Vates kale is very hardy stuff. It showed only minor damage from the recent freezes. Komatsuna was also a stand out. I would recommend both of them for Florida conditions. Romaine lettuce suffered a little damage but is mostly recovered--another good Florida option being both cold and heat resistant. Gai lan, snow peas, toy choy and carrots all suffered damage with gai lan being hit the worst surprisingly. Lessons learned for another year.

[SoCalGardenNut]

I bought a bag of okra seeds for one dollar, I’m going to sow a few seeds for the backyard, the flowers are going to be pretty, good enough for edible gardening.
Oh, I just sprouted some sage. My front yard is dedicated to growing low growing herbs.

[vall]

No issues with the freeze:
Broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, tatsoi, carrots, beets, chard, dill, fennel, cilantro, parsley, thai shallot, chives, scallion, leeks, arugula, snap peas, snapdragons. Grass jelly is cold tolerant! it did not die back at all.

I buried my young luffa plants in mulch, they are alive and thriving now.
I put a foot of mulch on my loroco and it is pushing new growth below the mulch line.
I think the chayote is dead. Not sure if the moringa will push new growth from roots, I did not mulch it. Pigeon peas are dead but I planted way too many so I still have enough peas to last the year. I bought a pea sheller from ebay which saves so much time.
Dug up a milk crate full of yuca and 5 pounds of ube. Both will be replanted. Also dug up my first crop of yacon which tastes amazing. I will be planting more this year.

Restarting a few tomatoes, green beans, okra, peppers, eggplant for spring/summer. It looks like some of my salad tree cuttings are rooting - I think the mother plant is dead.

[Galatians522]

No issues with the freeze:
Broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, tatsoi, carrots, beets, chard, dill, fennel, cilantro, parsley, thai shallot, chives, scallion, leeks, arugula, snap peas, snapdragons. Grass jelly is cold tolerant! it did not die back at all.

I buried my young luffa plants in mulch, they are alive and thriving now.
I put a foot of mulch on my loroco and it is pushing new growth below the mulch line.
I think the chayote is dead. Not sure if the moringa will push new growth from roots, I did not mulch it. Pigeon peas are dead but I planted way too many so I still have enough peas to last the year. I bought a pea sheller from ebay which saves so much time.
Dug up a milk crate full of yuca and 5 pounds of ube. Both will be replanted. Also dug up my first crop of yacon which tastes amazing. I will be planting more this year.

Restarting a few tomatoes, green beans, okra, peppers, eggplant for spring/summer. It looks like some of my salad tree cuttings are rooting - I think the mother plant is dead.

Sounds like you have a fantastic garden! When and how did you grow your yacon?