3 Backyard Plants I Will NEVER Start a Garden Without

Let's talk about why Moringa, Collards, and Cassava are my "must-haves," and I'm showing you the mistake that cost me my father’s memorial mango tree. Whether you’re in Zone 10A or gardening across the South, I hope these lessons help you grow food faster and avoid the pitfalls I hit early on! GrowFitFL Quick Guide: 3 Backyard Essentials 1. Shampoo Ginger (The "Skin & Hair" Plant) Best for: Natural toner, itchy scalp, and dandruff control. GrowFit Tip: It takes 7–9 months for that first gel-filled flower cone to appear. In Zone 10A, it will die back in a freeze, but don't worry it’s a survivor and will come back stronger in the spring! (1:22) 2. Bananas (Privacy with a Warning) Best for: Creating an edible tropical privacy screen. GrowFit Tip: Give your bananas at least 3–4 feet of space from your fence line. Their underground rhizomes are powerful travelers and will pop up in your neighbor's yard if planted too close! (10:00) 3. Gardening with the Family The Secret: Don't make it a chore make it a "Backyard Buffet." When kids see that the seeds they planted turn into snacks they actually like (like cassava or fruit), the video games usually lose the battle. (21:00) . In today’s garden chat, I’m answering your questions about the best plants for skin and hair, plus sharing some of the biggest (and most emotional) mistakes I’ve made in my West Central Florida garden. 00:00 - Intro & Southern Gardening Q&A 00:28 - Plants for Better Skin & Hair 03:48 - 3 Plants I Don't go Without 06:08 - The Mistakes That Cost Me Years 16:06 - Edible Privacy Fences 19:40 - My Family Growing Food Plants Mentioned: Moringa (The Multivitamin) Collard Greens Cassava (The Survival Crop) Shampoo Ginger (Awapuhi) Barbados Cherry Sugarcane Want your question answered in the next Q&A? Head to my website, click the Get Featured tab, and drop it in. https://growfitfl.com/pages/get-featured I'm in Zone 10a. Everything here grows well from 9b to 11, so most of the South is covered. If you're in 9b, watch your frost dates on the cassava, it will die back in a freeze and come back in spring. JOIN THE SOUTHERN GROWER'S HUB Inside the Hub you get exclusive videos that go deeper than I can here on YouTube, full courses, my garden tools list, training plans, breath work you can press play and follow along with, my favorite tea recipes from Part 1, and a community of positive people who want to grow food and stay healthy. Come try it free for 7 days, and one full course is included. https://members.growfitfl.com Disclosure: Some of the links below are Amazon affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. MY BOOKS I am an independent author. My books are written and published by my own family company right here in Florida. No publisher took a cut. No publisher told me what to say. My wife Toni and I share our entire garden on YouTube, at GrowFitFL and RootedinJs, because we believe every family deserves to know how to feed itself. Grab one of my books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4wHpq8p Thank you for supporting me as an author. I will keep writing books that teach and inspire people the way so many before me have done for me on my own journey. If you have picked up any of my books, a quick review helps more people find them. It means the world to me and my family, and I thank you. SHOP MY AMAZON STOREFRONT Every tool I use in the garden and the garage gym, organized by category: https://www.amazon.com/shop/growfitfl Disclaimer: This video is for educational and entertainment purposes only. I am not a licensed medical professional. Always talk with a qualified healthcare provider before using herbs or supplements, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. #foodforest #floridagardening #growyourownfood #growfitfl