The thermal mass of the south wall of my house has successfully protected an espaliered Key lime tree through multiple winters despite lows reaching down into the teens.
Since the Key lime grew so well, I decided I’d take full advantage of the microclimate created by my wall and plant a full garden of perennial vegetables and fruit. Guava, Ponderosa lemon, Key lime, cranberry hibiscus, pearls of Opar, Surinam purslane, coffee, black pepper, malabar spinach, Okinawa spinach, katuk, longevity spinach and more!
If you have a south wall on your house, you can easily extend your USDA growing zone by a full zone or two. I’m on the edge of zone 8… but within 2′ of my wall it’s a solid zone 10.
Here’s how I used that wall to create my “Miami Garden.” I’ll make sure to post updates as it grows.
For daily gardening inspiration, visit http://www.floridasurvivalgardening.com.
Learn the secrets of Florida Gardening: https://amzn.to/30I3Apo
Survival Gardening made simple: https://amzn.to/3hymy7V
3 Comments
Check this out in Australia this is Kertuk
http://youtu.be/gvAkgd9E0ss
whenthewheelsturn That was funny – heh. My accent probably doesn't help, but the actual plant name is "katuk," or, in Real Science Language, <i>Sauropus androgynus.</i>
I'm in north Tampa. I want to do the same thing with sapodilla, jackfruit, and canistel and keep it pruned small. Is planting that close to the house a concern for foundation problems from roots?