Wholly Water Farms
From Our Farm to Your Table
|
|
ISSUE #11 • NOVEMBER 2025
|
A Note from Sara
Dear friends,
November is the month when Florida gardeners finally get to exhale. The temperatures are where we want them, the mosquitoes have retreated, and the garden is producing at full tilt. My kale is coming in thick, the broccoli heads are forming, and I am out there every morning with a cup of green tea in one hand and pruning shears in the other.
Speaking of green tea, I went down quite a research rabbit hole this month exploring EGCG, the catechin compound that gives green tea many of its health benefits. The science is genuinely fascinating, and it connects to broader questions about how plants produce protective compounds that also happen to benefit us. I have also been thinking a lot about the logistics of growing microgreens year-round in Florida, which presents unique challenges and opportunities depending on the season. This newsletter covers all of it, plus what to do when that first frost warning inevitably pops up on your phone.
|
|
What We Have Been Writing About
November is peak planting and harvesting month in Florida, and this guide covers everything you should be doing right now. From succession planting lettuce every two weeks to getting root vegetables like beets and turnips in the ground, we lay out a detailed timeline. We also discuss cover cropping for beds you plan to rest through winter, which is one of the best things you can do for long-term soil health.
Read the full guide
Epigallocatechin gallate, mercifully abbreviated as EGCG, is the most studied catechin in green tea and one of the most researched plant compounds in nutrition science. This article examines what the research actually shows about EGCG's effects on metabolism, inflammation, and cellular health. I tried to cut through the hype and focus on what is well supported versus what is still preliminary.
Read the full article
Florida's climate creates specific considerations for year-round microgreen production that differ from growing in more temperate states. Summer heat can accelerate growth too quickly and invite mold, while winter's lower humidity can slow germination. This article shares the seasonal adjustments we make at Wholly Water Farms to maintain consistent quality and yield twelve months a year, including temperature management, variety selection, and lighting strategies.
Read the full article
|
|
Seasonal Growing Tip
Protecting Tender Plants from First Frost
Even in Florida, frost happens, and the first one usually catches someone off guard. For Central Florida, the first frost risk typically arrives in late November or December. The good news is that preparation is straightforward. Move container plants indoors or against a south-facing wall. For in-ground plants, cover them with old sheets, frost cloth, or even cardboard before sunset, and remove the covers once temperatures rise above 40 degrees the next morning.
Do not use plastic sheeting directly on plants because it conducts cold and can cause more damage than it prevents. Water the soil well before a freeze because moist soil retains heat better than dry soil. And know which plants are worth protecting. Hardy greens like kale and collards actually taste better after a light frost, so let them be. Focus your frost protection efforts on tropicals, herbs like basil, and any warm-season holdovers still producing.
|
|
Florida Agriculture Spotlight
Plant City Strawberry Festival Preview
It is never too early to start thinking about the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City, which runs in late February and early March. This event draws over half a million visitors each year and celebrates one of Florida's most beloved crops. Plant City and the surrounding area produce the majority of the country's winter strawberries, and the festival is a genuine celebration of that agricultural heritage. Beyond the strawberry shortcake, which is worth the trip by itself, the festival features livestock shows, agricultural exhibits, and live entertainment. If you have never been, put it on your calendar for February 2026. It is one of the best ways to experience Florida agriculture up close and to support the farming community that makes it possible.
|
|
Quick FAQ
Q: Is green tea better than black tea?
A: Better is a tricky word because both have legitimate health benefits. Green tea and black tea come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, but they are processed differently. Green tea is minimally oxidized, which preserves higher levels of catechins like EGCG. Black tea undergoes full oxidation, which converts catechins into theaflavins and thearubigins, compounds with their own documented benefits including cardiovascular support. Green tea tends to get more attention in health research because of EGCG, but black tea drinkers are not missing out. The honest answer is that both are beneficial, and the best tea is the one you enjoy enough to drink consistently. I personally alternate between the two depending on the time of day and my mood.
|
|
Enjoy this beautiful growing season. It is what makes Florida gardening worth every drop of sweat we put in during summer.
With gratitude,
Sara Johnson
President, Wholly Water Farms, Inc.
|
|
Wholly Water Farms, Inc. • Florida
whollywaterfarms.com
Unsubscribe
|
|