The plants we eat often have interesting and surprising relationships, although “family” is a more distant relation in science than we use socially. These relations can be easy to see, as with the strong similarities between Cucurbitaceae ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Horticulture
As our oceans warm, hurricanes are becoming more intense and slower-moving, resulting in greater potential damage from heavy winds and flooding. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Southeast Climate Hub developed a series of guides specifically ... READ MORE
Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Disaster Preparation, Farm Management, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension,
It's a butterfly world! Sometimes, my garden is literally bursting with butterflies. If you feel this way too, then you may have planted many butterfly host plants. A butterfly host plant is one which they lay their eggs on. You must ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, , Wildlife
As a double Gator, Dr. Christina Finegan earned both her bachelor’s and Ph.D. through UF’s Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology program, where she honed her interests in plant genetics and breeding. Her time in research labs within the ... READ MORE
Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & Life
Have you ever seen a palm tree make fruit? While dates may be the most famous fruit tree from palms, one great Florida-Friendly palm we have growing throughout much of the state should not be overlooked for your landscape. The pindo palm. Try ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Florida farmers are increasingly voicing their concern to UF/IFAS Extension about the negative impacts of conventional farming on the environment, including soil degradation, pesticide use, and water quality. As a result, some farmers are exploring ... READ MORE
Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Not many garden plants are as well-adapted to the intensity of Florida summers as those from Cucurbitaceae, the gourd family. An estimated 975 species of this family are used for food or ornamental purposes, making them an important component ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture, UF/IFAS
By now you have likely heard that in November 2023 the U.S. Department of Agriculture updated its plant hardiness zone map for the first time since 2012. Part of Duval County from around the St. John’s River and east changed from Zone 9a to ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
When you plant fruit trees, give your trees the space it will need, not the space it needs now. Planting fruit trees too close together when they are young will spell disaster later down the line. It happens to the best of us. It happened to ... READ MORE
Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Surrounded by vibrant colors, interesting textures, and calming scents, sensory gardens engage all five senses to heal, inspire, and connect In the past, sensory gardens were primarily thought of as a horticulture therapy tool. Adults with ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension