Callus Tissue is Beginning to Roll In Over the Wound
We have an abundance of wounded trees after the hurricane, and they need some time to heal. But trees never heal their wounds – they seal them up! A wound causes the tree to react by putting down layers of wood to shut out…
Spring rush and lazy days of summer yield to days of diminishing daylight. We wanted to get one more crop in the garden. Our pick for cool season cultivation? Strawberries!
Strawberries are a cool season annual in North Florida, flowering best in 50-80F. They prefer well-drained slightly acidic soil and 8+ hours of direct sunlight.…
Hydroponics is a great way to save water, produce food, and be more environmentally friendly. With all the information on the internet about hydroponics, it can seem a little daunting. Learn three simple setups that can get you started growing hydroponically.
You will learn the nutrition basics in hydroponics, the importance of water pH, three…
Seminole pumpkin. Photo credit: Carol Leffler
Have you heard that Seminole pumpkins can be grown easily in Polk County? They are not only easy to grow but also make nutritious and flavorful dishes—and to top that off, they’re just plain fun!
Seminole pumpkins are a cultivated variety of Cucurbita moschata. They are touted by many…
Struvite is a crystallized compound made from the byproduct of wastewater treatment plants. It includes phosphorus and nitrogen, two ingredients that are key to plant growth and used in other fertilizer sources.
A new University of Florida study applied struvite to seagrass plots and found the method to provide better growth over time, in addition…
October is one of my favorite months of the year for many reasons, from the beginning of cooler weather to the love of pumpkin everything! October brings pumpkin to everything: scented candles, drinks and coffees, pies, muffins, breads, cakes, soups, seeds and more. So, it’s no wonder that pumpkin was given its own day, Oct.…
Every year at this time, people around the state go nutty for a good cause. It’s the Peanut Butter Challenge—an annual food drive to fight hunger in Florida. Throughout October, people are encouraged to donate unopened jars of peanut butter to participating UF/IFAS Extension offices throughout the state. Once the jars are collected and tallied,…
Slow cookers were first introduced in the 1940’s and it was originally intended to prepare a traditional Jewish dish that needed to cook all day. In the 1970’s, the design was sold to another manufacturer and was rebranded as a “Crock Pot”, and they quickly became a popular kitchen appliance in millions of households. In…
As we are experiencing our first cold front of the year and we are settling into pumpkin spice and soup season, it is time to evaluate the nutritional needs of our livestock and if they are in need of additional supplementation. Hopefully you prioritize pasture management throughout the year and can rely on forage for…
Codominant Stems Are Tree Wishbones
As you are driving around Charlotte County, you are probably astonished by the amount of tree damage. A postmortem on some of this damage may show a defect called a codominant stem. This is a place where two or more stems (branches/leaders) have come together. Now it may look…
Coming up next week is the second installment of our Blueberry Production Workshop. We had a good turnout in Jackson County and are offering it again in Washington County. We still have several seats left so follow the link below to register. CEUs will be available, all attendees will receive a free blueberry plant.
Blueberry…
Florida agriculture is huge, and sometimes, quite literally. From a 205-pound watermelon to a 45-pound spaghetti squash, some Floridians’ fruits and veggies have tipped the scales and broken state records.
Over the past 36 years, the University of Florida and its UF/IFAS Extension offices have kept record of such giants. The first entry being in…
