By Ralph E. Mitchell Sweet potatoes are surprising plants. Native to tropical America, this tuberous relative of the Morning Glory, is both edible and ornamental. An excellent source of vitamin A, the tubers come in yellow, orange and… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell For a vegetable that was domesticated over four-thousand years ago, the eggplant has come a long way! Although not a vegetable that everyone likes, this meaty fruit is a delicious and productive “vegetable” that… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell A papaya is not a true tree, but a tree-like or arborescent plant. This large herbaceous plant is relatively short-lived, but can be a great producer of high-quality fruit. I have grown them for… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell I have heard that one of our soil’s best attributes is for keeping plants upright – our Florida terra firma takes a great deal of ridicule! “Moon sand” or “beach sand” are common terms… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell Can you grow a coconut palm in Charlotte County? The short answer is both “yes” and “no”. While this magnificent symbol of the tropics makes a wonderful landscape feature in some places, it is… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell We have a dragon fruit plant in our Demonstration Garden on Harbor View Road and for the first time it appears to be setting fruit! This member of the cactus family produces large red… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell I often wander through our Demonstration Garden at the East Port Environmental Campus on Harbor View Road in Port Charlotte to see what is blooming, producing fruit, or has a pest infestation. Our Natal… Read More
