Category: Fruits & Vegetables

Growing Wellness: How Community Gardens Are Transforming Lives in Pasco County

by Julia Sirchia
March 3, 2026

In today’s world, productivity often overshadows health and well-being. Between work, family obligations, and the pace of modern life, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and disconnected from ourselves. Finding balance is essential. One unexpected ... READ MORE

Category: Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture
Tags: Community, Community Garden, Community Gardens, Garden, Gardening, Gardens, Low-income Communities, One Stop Shop, Produce, Raised Beds, The Farmden Project, UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County’s Community Gardens Program

UF News: The Muscadine Grape

by Julia Sirchia
February 25, 2026

The muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia Michx) is a species native to the Southeast U.S. and the first to be cultivated in North America. While the native Muscadine grape shares some similarities with its European (Vitis vinifera) cousins, these ... READ MORE

Category: Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Tags: Exploring Florida's Natives Series, Fruit Crop, Fruit Crop Production, Fruit Production, Garden, Gardening, Gardens, Grape, Grape Breeding, Grapes, Grapes In Florida, Muscadine, Muscadine Grape, Native Florida Grape, Natives, UF News, Vitis Rotundifolia Michx

UF News: Natives & Wine in Florida

by Julia Sirchia
February 3, 2026

Long before humans were around, plants grew in all kinds of places on Earth. From oceans to deserts, plants have evolved to thrive in a diverse range of habitats. It is a good rule of thumb to match a plant to the conditions in which it will ... READ MORE

Category: Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture
Tags: Citrus Greening, Disease Resistance, Exploring Florida's Natives Series, Grapes, Grapes In Florida, HLB, Muscadine, V.rotundifolia, Vitis Rotundifolia, Vitis Vinifera

Exploring Florida’s Natives: Chickasaw Plum

by Julia Sirchia
July 9, 2024

The Chickasaw Plum is another Florida native that will catch your eye. This small, deciduous, multi-branched tree has delicate white blossoms and small, flavorful plums. Let's talk about the origins, growing conditions, and ecological significance ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: #RightPlantRightPlace, #SaveWaterFL, Central Florida, Community Garden, Community Gardens, Florida Friendly Landscaping, Gardens, Goals, Horticulture, Irrigation, Landscape, Landscaping, Nutrition, Produce, Resilient Landscaping, Right Place, Right Plant, Smart Irrigation, Soil, UF/IFAS Pasco Extension Office, Water Conservation, Water-wise

Pollinator Appreciation Month

by Julia Sirchia
June 27, 2024

June is Pollinator Month! Pollinators are crucial for the reproduction of all kinds of plants. You’ve thought about where a baby comes from, but have you ever thought where a peach comes from? Let's explore why June is dedicated to these ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: #RightPlantRightPlace, Central Florida, Community Garden, Community Gardens, Dade City, Eating, Florida Friendly Landscaping, Food, Food Safety, Fresh Fruit And Vegetables, Fruit, Garden, Gardening, Gardens, Goals, Health, Healthy, Horticulture, Irrigation, Landscape, Landscaping, Nutrition, Pollination, Pollinator Gardens, Pollinators, Resilient Landscaping, Right Place, Right Plant, UF/IFAS Pasco Extension Office, Vegetables

Exploring Florida’s Natives: BeautyBerry

by Julia Sirchia
June 18, 2024

You have probably seen the beautiful berries that give the charming beautyberry its name, yet this deciduous shrub is often overlooked. Its vibrant purple berries make this shrub most recognizable. And yes, it can be a great addition to your ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Tags: #RightPlantRightPlace, #SaveWaterFL, Central Florida, Exploring Florida's Natives Series, Florida Friendly Landscaping, Garden, Gardens, Horticulture, Irrigation, Landscape, Landscaping, Resilient Landscaping, Right Place, Right Plant, Saving Water, Smart Irrigation, UF/IFAS Pasco Extension Office, Water, Water Conservation, Water-wise

Starting at the Bottom: Soil and Garden Health

by Julia Sirchia
April 4, 2024

Why is soil important? Let’s take a moment to break down the base of our gardens - soil! What goes on under the surface is very important to the health and happiness of your plants. Soil – It's alive! Now when we say soil, we don’t ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: #RightPlantRightPlace, Central Florida, Community Garden, Community Gardens, Compost; Manure; Vermicomposting, Fertilizer, Florida Friendly Landscaping, Food, Garden, Gardening, Gardens, Goals, Health, Healthy, Herbs, Horticulture, Inorganic Matter, Landscape, Landscaping, Nutrition, Organic Matter, Potting Soil, Produce, Right Place, Right Plant, Soil, Soil Amendment, Soil Test, Topsoil, UF/IFAS Pasco Extension Office, Vegetables, Water Conservation, Water-wise

Spice Up Your Life: A Beginners Guide to Growing Oregano

by Julia Sirchia
April 2, 2024

Are you a fan of fresh aromatic herbs in your dishes? If so, growing herbs right at home might just become your new favorite hobby. In this blog we break down how to cultivate Oregano, which is native to the Mediterranean. In this guide we explore ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: #RightPlantRightPlace, Florida Friendly Landscaping, Herb Gardening Series, Herbs, Horticulture, Spice-up-your-life

Fertilizer Fundamentals: The Best Time to Fertilize

by Julia Sirchia
March 28, 2024

When to Fertilize So, you’ve read How to Choose a Fertilizer, and How to Apply Fertilizer, but what about when to apply fertilizer? Depending on what you plan to fertilize, the timing application may differ. For example, it is best practice ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Lawn, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: #EdibleLandscaping, #RightPlantRightPlace, Central Florida, Community Garden, Environmentally Friendly, Fertilizer, Fertilizer Fundamentals, Fertilizers, Florida Friendly Landscaping, Fruit And Vegetable, Gardening, Landscape, Turf, UF/IFAS Pasco Extension Office

Spice Up Your Life: A Beginners Guide to Growing Parsley

by Julia Sirchia
March 26, 2024

Are you a fan of fresh aromatic herbs in your dishes? If so, growing herbs right at home might just become your new favorite hobby. In this guide, we'll explore how to grow parsley from the comfort of your own home, including some commonly grown ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Management, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: #RightPlantRightPlace, Food, Garden, Gardening, Gardens, Health, Healthy, Herb Gardening Series, Herbs, Horticulture, Irrigation, Nutrition, Produce, Right Place, Right Plant, Spice-up-your-life, Vegetables, Water-wise

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