Orange Blossom Community Garden

12/22/2025

It is with broken hearts that we share that our beloved Barbara passed away peacefully on Dec. 20, surrounded by loved ones.

Orange Blossom Community Garden exists because of Barbara’s steadfast love and perseverance. She leaves a legacy of community built and gardeners taught. Everyone fortunate enough to be touched by Barbara’s light is better for it.

We can each carry Barbara’s work and teachings forward through generations by staying connected to neighbors, teaching newer generations how to grow food, and advocating always for safer roads and safer communties.

The money raised by this fundraiser will now be used to cover burial and additional expenses. Please continue to share or donate.

Barbara Powell Harris is a neighborhood champion, garden leader, and friend to a… Megan Jourdan needs your support for Support Barbara Powell Harris' Recovery

12/18/2025

As you may have heard, our beloved founder and leader, Barbara Powell Harris, was recently struck by a car while out walking her dog. Barbara’s condition is serious and she is unconscious at this time, but doctors are optimistic about her recovery.

Healing will be a long process, and Barbara needs support navigating medical bills and future medical costs. Please donate if possible, and spread the word.

Barbara Powell Harris is a neighborhood champion, garden leader, and friend to a… Megan Jourdan needs your support for Support Barbara Powell Harris' Recovery

08/17/2025

Thank you Ringling students and welcome to Orange Blossom Community.Garden page.
We look forward to having you visit the garden again.

08/16/2025

Stop by Orange Blossom today and help us welcome a group of Ringling orientation students to the garden and to Sarasota.Thank you, Ringling Volunteerism!

08/12/2025

It is time to get those gardens ready!

🌱 August Food to Plant [text list in this post]
📝 Carolina’s note: sow indoor seedlings now to have starts to put in ground or containers in August.
⬇️ See “Starting Transplants” resource ⬇️
“Aim to start seeds indoors 4-8 weeks before the suggested outdoor planting dates. For larger plants, like watermelon, squash, and pumpkin, you might transplant in as little as four weeks.

Similarly, if you are starting plants in small containers, four weeks may be all it takes for them to fill the cell.” ⬇️

🌱 North Florida*
Easily transplant: beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, collards, eggplant, endive, kale, peppers, tomatillo, tomatoes, and tropical spinaches.

Transplant with care: celery and mustard.

Use seeds: beans (bush, lima, pole), carrots, cucumbers, onions (bunching), squashes, and turnips.

🌱Central Florida*
Easily transplant: eggplant, endive, peppers, sugarcane, tomatoes, and tropical spinaches.

Transplant with care: pineapple.

Use seeds: beans (bush, lima, pole), carrots, okra, onions (bunching), peas (southern), and squashes.

🌱South Florida*
Easily transplant: eggplant, peppers, sugarcane, tomatillo, tomatoes, and tropical spinaches.

Transplant with care: amaranth, calabaza, papaya, passionfruit, pineapple, Seminole pumpkin, and sweet potatoes.

Use seeds: okra and pumpkin.

* For the purposes of this planting calendar, "North Florida" refers to all of Florida north of State Road 40. "Central Florida" refers to the section of Florida between State Roads 40 and 70. "South Florida" refers to all of Florida below State Road 70.

August infographic
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/plant-of-the-month/what-to-plant/what-to-plant-in-august.html

Suggested Gardening tasks calendar
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP451

Read up on:
🪴 What are transplants?
🪴 Timing
🪴 Staggering sowing

🪴 Grow Lights
🪴 Containers
🪴 Watering

🪴 Air Circulation
🪴 Heat (optional)
🪴 Hardening-off and Transplanting
🌟¡Extremely Important for SUCCESS!🌟
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/planting/starting-transplants-indoors.html

08/12/2025

Orange Blossom Community Garden recently participate in a community outreach event at the BEE Learning Center. Stu Chapman and Barbara Powell Harris helped the students pot some herb plants to take home and enjoy.

We are hoping to host the students and their parents at a Saturday event in October.

02/15/2025

This delightful group of AmeriCorps Volunteers stopped by Orange Blossom Community Garden to lend a helping hand today. They made a huge difference.
Afterwards, we joined the Park East Neighborhood Association and other organizations for a true community picnic.

12/23/2024

If you are wondering what you can plant now, use this guide.
We can use the Central Florida or Southern Florida suggestions in Western Sarasota County.

Spinach, onions, turnips, arugula, oh my! May your garden be bountiful this holiday season with plenty of edible plants. Gift yourself some seeds/transplants and lettuce get planting!

Find the text and printable versions of this infographic on UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/what-to-plant-in-december/

12/23/2024

This weather has been perfect for winter vegetables. Have you planted your garden yet?

08/23/2024

It is that time of the year!
Let's grow!

Edibles to Plant in September
North Florida 🌱 Easily transplant: arugula, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, collards, endive, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, strawberry, and Swiss chard.

Transplant with care: celery, mustard, and spinach.

Use seeds: beans (bush, pole), carrots, onions (bulbing, bunching), radish, squashes, and turnips.

Central Florida
Easily transplant: arugula, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, collards, eggplant, endive, kale, lettuce, peppers, strawberry, sugarcane, strawberry, Swiss chard, tomatoes, and tropical spinaches.

Transplant with care: celery, mustard, pineapple, and spinach.

Use seeds: beans (bush, lima, pole), carrots, cucumbers, onions (bunching), radish, squashes, and turnips.

South Florida
Easily transplant: cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, collards, eggplant, endive, kale, lettuce, peppers, sugarcane, Swiss chard, tomatillo, tomatoes, and tropical spinaches.

Transplant with care: amaranth, calabaza, long squash, luffa, mustard, papaya, passionfruit, pineapple, Seminole pumpkin, and sweet potatoes.

Use seeds: beans (bush, lima, pole), carrots, cucumbers, okra, onions (bunching), peas (southern), squashes, and turnips.

For the purposes of this planting calendar, "North Florida" refers to all of Florida north of State Road 40. "Central Florida" refers to the section of Florida between State Roads 40 and 70. "South Florida" refers to all of Florida below State Road 70.

https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/plant-of-the-month/what-to-plant/what-to-plant-in-september.html

04/05/2024

Happening tomorrow! Please join us!