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
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
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
Ginger 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, HorticultureThe first step to ensuring high quality seeds are collected is to harvest the flower or pod once dry and continue to keep them dry. After the dry flower or pod has been removed from the plant be sure to label these seeds to ensure they are not ... READ MORE
Category: AGRICULTURE, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture
Edible ornamental landscaping is the combination of edible and non-edible ornamental plants. Selecting and maintaining plants according to the Florida-Friendly Landscaping principles can provide an edible ornamental landscape that is attractive, ... READ MORE
Category: AGRICULTURE, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
If you're looking for a bright pop of yellow color in your flower garden, look no further than the lovely Rudbeckia. There are actually 9 species of Rudbeckia native to Florida (Atlas of Florida Plants), but the most famous of them are the ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture