help with backyard farming?

unfortunately i didnt get to grow up on a farm so i dont have alot of experience yet but i love agriculture and everything about it. im gettin into 4h and ffa and i’ll be takin Agriculture Classes all my last two years of highschool. but anyway i wanted to start growin crops (im thinkin potatoes, corn, tomatoes, and orange and peach trees) in my backyard. i live in south florida. where can i find out what the best times to plant are? is there a book or guide out there? i basically need everything from planting to harvesting to storage. do yall have any tips or anything?
thanks so much i appreciate the help

Potatoes are going to be very labor intensive since they have to be dug and if you don’t have a digging machine (which you likely don’t if you are just starting out) it’s going to be back breaking work to do by hand. Sweet corn is a good crop but be warned that ear worm, corn borer, army worm, etc are major pests along with birds, groundhogs, raccoons etc. The insects will require some type of control measures to be taken either organic or conventional. Tomatoes are a high value crop, yield well, and in my oppinion would be the best choice out of everything you mentioned as far as bang for the buck and minimal investment; mulch (either plastic or natural and stakes) are a must if you want to maximize yields and profits. Fruit trees can be profitable but require time to get established and grow before your first harvest so they are a long term commitment. Check the FSU cooperative extension site for information on planting dates, cultural information relevant to your area,etc.

see the link below and good luck

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_commercial_vegetable_production

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