A few weeks ago, I visited a farm to help identify some insects. It was a rainy, windy day, but the insects in question were thriving on a row of turnips. Next to the turnips was a row of cabbage and next to the cabbage was a row of mustard ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture
When a new invasive pest or plant disease appears, scientists have a small window of opportunity to address the threat before it spreads and becomes a much larger problem, potentially devastating Florida's agriculture, nursery industries, natural ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Blog Community, Crops, Events, Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS
Mushrooms are an excellent low calorie food with a high fullness factor (they fill you up). But the “common” or “button” mushroom lacks natural flavor. On the other hand, shiitake mushrooms have all the benefits of button mushrooms, ... READ MORE
Category: Agribusiness
Mulch: A Critical Tool in Your Landscape When most people think about mulch in Northwest Florida, they picture a layer of pine bark or wood chips spread beneath trees and shrubs to give the landscape a clean, finished appearance. While mulch ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping
What started as an unused tennis court is now an thriving garden oasis in the middle of Green Cove Springs, Florida thanks to the dedication of the Master Gardener Volunteers with the University of Florida/IFAS Clay County Extension along with ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Community Volunteers, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, UF/IFAS Extension
The 2026 Santa Rosa County Farm Tour will be held on Thursday, October 1. Participants will visit working farm sites, talk with growers, learn about conservation practices, and see Florida agriculture firsthand. Registration and breakfast ... READ MORE
Category: Events
The University of Florida did not invent lovebugs. However, we know enough about them to dispel a couple rumors and share a few facts. Rumor #1 - Lovebugs were developed by the University of Florida to eat mosquitoes. Sometime after ... READ MORE
Category: Pests & Disease
At the Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension Office, we've been cultivating a Food Forest to showcase the most productive, unique, and often underutilized fruits and crops suited to our distinctive southwest Florida climate. Through this ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Work & Life
Have you ever read instructions to “cut just below a node” or “include an axillary bud” and wondered exactly what part of the plant that meant? Understanding a few basics of plant anatomy can make propagation much easier to understand, ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, , Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
It may not seem like it, but the days are getting have steadily shorteer. With that, we’ve also begun our journey to fall. Aside from images of glowing fireplaces and pumpkin spice everything, those of us in the gardening world should put ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes