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, unique features, and regional relevance. These gardens also serve as living classrooms for best management practices in Florida-Friendly Landscaping™, sustainable horticulture, and environmental stewardship. Organized by county, each listing includes garden location, contact information, and key themes such as pollinator support, water conservation, native plants, and food production. This resource supports educators, volunteers, and the public in exploring hands-on learning opportunities. Furthermore, connecting with local Extension programs in this way can promote resilient landscapes and informed gardening practices throughout the state.
A Beginner’s Guide to Begonias: Hybridization and the Gateway to a New World in Its Breeding
By Wisnu Ardi, Tao Jiang, and Heqiang Huo
Begonia spp. is one of the most diverse and popular ornamental plant groups, with over 2,000 species and hybrids valued for their foliage, flowers, and adaptability. Although Florida’s climate and horticultural industry make it a center for begonia production, practical guidance on hybridization remains limited. This publication provides a clear, step-by-step introduction to hybrid breeding for horticultural professionals, advanced gardeners, and researchers. Topics include basic genetics, selecting parent plants for desirable traits, pollination techniques to control crosses, and potential challenges. In addition, methods for seed collection, germination, and hybrid evaluation are outlined with emphasis on assessing ornamental quality and stress resistance. Case studies from UF/IFAS breeding programs highlight successful crosses. This guide bridges science and practice to advance Begonia breeding for Florida and beyond.
Edamame for Florida: A Nutritious Leguminous Crop with Growing Market Demand
By You’s Kertye Myrtil, Vander Rocha Lacerda, Xiaoying Li, Guodong Liu, and Pavlos Tsouvaltzis
Although Edamame (Glycine max [L.] Merrill) has been consumed for centuries in Asia, it is becoming increasingly popular in the United States for its nutritional profile and culinary versatility. Typically boiled or steamed, edamame is a rich source of protein and fiber. This publication highlights its nutritional properties, common cooking methods, major marketing strategies, and current trends in domestic production. While most edamame consumed in the United States is still imported, domestic production is gradually expanding, including in Florida. This guide provides insights and an overview for consumers, Florida’s growers (especially small-scale and urban farmers), and Extension agents interested in exploring this emerging specialty crop.
Rollinia (Annona mucosa Jacq.) Fruit Trees: Botany and Commercial Cultivation in South Florida
By Federico W. Sanchez, Jonathan H. Crane, and Bruce Schaffer
Rollinia (Annona mucosa Jacq.) (sometimes called biribá) is a fast-growing tropical fruit tree cultivated for its large, aromatic fruits. It is well adapted to the warm, humid conditions of south Florida, where it produces an extended warm-season crop, is generally unaffected by major pest and disease pressure, and shows potential for niche fresh and processing markets. Production constraints include sensitivity to flooding and salinity, fruit fragility, and short postharvest life. This publication is intended for commercial growers, Extension personnel, and homeowners and students interested in growing this species. Drawing on published literature and field observations from south Florida, the publication also addresses botany, phenology, fruit characteristics, pollination biology, environmental requirements, horticultural practices, propagation, orchard management, yields, and postharvest behavior.
Use of Controlled-Release Nitrogen in Snapbean Production in the Suwannee Valley
By Taite Miller, Robert Hochmuth, Rajkaranbir Singh, Lakesh Sharma, Tyler Pittman, and Mark Warren
Snapbean production in the Suwannee Valley occurs on sandy soils that are highly vulnerable to nitrogen leaching, making efficient fertilizer management essential for both crop performance and environmental protection. Controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs) offer a potential strategy to improve nitrogen delivery by synchronizing nutrient releases with crop demand while reducing losses to groundwater.
0
