Growing pumpkins in Florida does not come without challenges. Battling pest pressure, disease, and heat can make it difficult to grow a sizable fruit that can be carved or used as decoration on your porch. However, I like to think that part ... READ MORE
Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture
We are in the middle of a very hot summer. As I was mowing the yard this weekend, I stopped to take a break in the shade of the swamp chestnut oak tree in my front yard, and started thinking about the topic for this blog. Immediately my ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Join the Great Southeast Pollinator Census on August 21–22, 2026 Have you ever wondered how many bees, butterflies, flies, and other pollinators visit the flowers in your yard? This August, you can help answer that question while contributing ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Conservation, Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Demonstration Gardens in UF/IFAS Extension By Lisa S. Strange, Wendy Wilber, and Brenna Sturgis This publication provides a comprehensive directory of Extension demonstration gardens across Florida, highlighting their educational focus, ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
By early summer, many of us have pulled up our spent spring crops. No disrespect to okra or lima beans, but sometimes we just don't want to actively garden in the intense heat. So what can we do with our garden beds instead? We can grow ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
When it comes to drought stress, timing can be the difference between saving a crop and losing it, whether in a greenhouse or the high-stakes environment of future space missions. In a recent study published in Plant Phenomics, researchers ... READ MORE
Category: Blog Community, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Last week, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) voted to extend the current Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage Restrictions through October 1, 2026.Before officials enacted these restrictions earlier this year, we had ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Turf, Water, Work & Life
Growing media use ranks second among nursery production in Miami-Dade County, estimated at around 10% of the overall production costs. Growers are interested in finding ways to reduce their production costs, including the use of growing media, ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, , Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
The goal of a good compost pile is to turn dead plant material into humus, the black or brown material that is formed when organic matter is decomposed. Many organisms play a part in breaking down this organic matter, from microscopic bacteria, ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Authors: Sanju Kunwar, Xavier Martini, Nick Dufault, Bob Hochmuth, Carrie Harmon, Jeff Jones, Mark Warren, Elizabeth Cannon, Tatiana Sanchez-Jones, Emily Beach and Kiersten Fullem, UF/IFAS Extension Specialists and County Agents If you are ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Horticulture, Pests & Disease