Hot sun and dry sandy soil are conditions where most plants will wither and die, yet this is where succulents thrive. Succulents may not be the go-to plants for most gardeners when it comes to food production, however, there are some excellent ... READ MORE
Category: AGRICULTURE, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture
Join us for an unforgettable journey on one of Florida's most pristine and beautiful rivers, Rainbow River. This is your chance to immerse yourself in nature while learning about our precious water resources and how to protect them. Event Highlights ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Invasive Species, Lawn, Natural Resources, Recreation, Turf, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Pollinator gardening is becoming more popular across Florida and the United States, and for good reason! Recent studies have indicated that small microhabitats incorporated within home landscapes have extensive benefits for pollinators and can ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
If you have new wild friends visiting you, it is likely that you can thank the heavy rains that we have been getting. Many animals, including snakes, are looking for higher ground. Be aware of your surroundings and watch where you step. During ... READ MORE
Category: AGRICULTURE, , Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Wildlife
For thousands of years, in an unbroken chain, seeds have been saved from each harvest to be sown the next season. Seed saving provides many benefits to the seed saver. The costs of seeds has notably risen in the past several years, but more ... READ MORE
Category: AGRICULTURE, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, HorticultureNorth Central Florida will reliably experience a freezing event at some point during the winter months. As a consequence, some gardens can be more affected or even killed by freezing temperatures. Freeze injury is generally caused by the ... READ MORE
Category: AGRICULTURE, , Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture
Every September the Swamp Sunflowers finally begin opening their flower buds and by mid-October they are in full bloom! I use the word “finally” because it is a long journey from seedling to bloom for this flora species! Swamp sunflowers, ... READ MORE
Category: AGRICULTURE, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Why does soil pH matter? The foundation of every successful garden starts with quality soil. Whether you’re growing vegetables, flowers, turf, shrubs, or any other plant matter, you must be aware of your soil pH and understand that it can ... READ MORE
Category: AGRICULTURE, Crops, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Turf, UF/IFAS Extension
It is best to plant ginger and turmeric rhizomes in spring or early summer. Inspect the rhizomes to ensure they are healthy and contain buds that will produce shoots after planting. Rhizomes can be soaked for several hours before planting to ... READ MORE
Category: AGRICULTURE, Crops, Fruits & VegetablesGinger and turmeric are two closely related spice plants that can be readily grown throughout most of Florida. They belong to the Zingiberaceae family of plants that also contain cardamom. Both plants are widely used for culinary and medicinal ... READ MORE
Category: AGRICULTURE, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture