[Restrain]

Almond trees are being destroyed due to the drought in CA, diversion of water from agricultural areas.

Given the growing climate here and abundance of water, perhaps Almonds could be a viable crop perhaps in the central and northern portions of Florida.

[StarfishKey]

Originally Posted by Restrain

Almond trees are being destroyed due to the drought in CA, diversion of water from agricultural areas.

Given the growing climate here and abundance of water, perhaps Almonds could be a viable crop perhaps in the central and northern portions of Florida.

Unfortunately, no. Almonds cannot take the high humidity in Florida, hence why they do so well in desert regions. They don't need an abundance of water, just a little, and California has none lately. Home growers might have some success with one or two trees, if they plant them in elevated mounds to keep them dry, and give them extra care. I am considering trying it some day here in the Keys, because Monroe County is the driest county in the state... but for now plants like Tropical Almond are better suited, as are Cocoplum, the seed of which is edible and is said to also taste a bit like almond. I have both planted, and look forward to their fruit, which will be much easier to get than trying to keep a real almond tree alive down here.

[Sugah Ray]

Originally Posted by Restrain

Almond trees are being destroyed due to the drought in CA, diversion of water from agricultural areas.

Given the growing climate here and abundance of water, perhaps Almonds could be a viable crop perhaps in the central and northern portions of Florida.

Abundance of water?

Water wars in Florida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[ognend]

Originally Posted by Sugah Ray

Abundance of water?

Water wars in Florida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Most of Florida gets 50-60 inches of water per year. That's PLENTY of water to grow stuff, collect to drink it etc. People just do not conserve water in Florida yet because they don't have to.

[Fl1150]

Originally Posted by ognend

Most of Florida gets 50-60 inches of water per year. That's PLENTY of water to grow stuff, collect to drink it etc. People just do not conserve water in Florida yet because they don't have to.

Florida has had droughts or dry periods with no rain at all so no you are not correct as it varies from year to year. I've been here all my life and sometimes it doesn't rain for almost entire year and everything is ugly and brown in addition to water levels in lakes, ponds and so on being low. As far as Almonds maybe they could I would have to more research on the growing conditions of the trees.

[ognend]

Originally Posted by Fl1150

Florida has had droughts or dry periods with no rain at all so no you are not correct as it varies from year to year. I've been here all my life and sometimes it doesn't rain for almost entire year and everything is ugly and brown in addition to water levels in lakes, ponds and so on being low. As far as Almonds maybe they could I would have to more research on the growing conditions of the trees.

Any place goes through droughts. The 50-60 inches per year is obviously an average over a period of time. A place that has an average of 12 inches a year (like Chihuahuan desert) will be 5 times drier (on average) than some place like, for example, West Palm Beach. Knowing this, you wouldn't move to SW Texas to be a farmer, would you?

[StarfishKey]

As soon as it gets humid, almond trees get lots of diseases. It is too much trouble to sustain an agricultural crop in a high-humidity environment. There is never going to be a period of 10 or 15 years in a row of drought that would sustain a crop of trees. Growing trees that are suited to our environment makes a lot more sense. There are a ton of delicious and healthy crops that are lesser known that could be highly successful on a commercial level in Florida - there is no reason to bother with one that would require excessive amounts of chemicals and emergency interventions to try to keep alive.

[ognend]

Originally Posted by StarfishKey

As soon as it gets humid, almond trees get lots of diseases. It is too much trouble to sustain an agricultural crop in a high-humidity environment. There is never going to be a period of 10 or 15 years in a row of drought that would sustain a crop of trees. Growing trees that are suited to our environment makes a lot more sense. There are a ton of delicious and healthy crops that are lesser known that could be highly successful on a commercial level in Florida - there is no reason to bother with one that would require excessive amounts of chemicals and emergency interventions to try to keep alive.

Same reason Florida is not known for growing apples or cherries. They require a certain amount of "cold hours". Yes, there are new hybrids that survive in the heat and humidity but they will never be commercially as successful as your basic, old apple grown in Maine....

[Fl1150]

Originally Posted by ognend

Any place goes through droughts. The 50-60 inches per year is obviously an average over a period of time. A place that has an average of 12 inches a year (like Chihuahuan desert) will be 5 times drier (on average) than some place like, for example, West Palm Beach. Knowing this, you wouldn't move to SW Texas to be a farmer, would you?

I understand your point but its like your saying it rains a lot more all the time which is not the case. Yes there have been desert like conditions we are close to equator so no its that different than SW Texas. South Florida is basically almost like a Savannah type place like you see in Africa so gets very dry conditions. Also yes Florida probably does get more average rain than a lot of places so I agree with you there.

[Fl1150]

Also I wanted to point out that just because it rains doesn't mean we can use that as drinking water the link provided about the water wars said we get our water primarily from the Florida Aquifer which is finite. So raining does help with the agriculture in the state but does it prevent a shortage of drinkable water no.