Adventures of the Great Pumpkin

“It’s the great pumpkin Charlie Brown!” – who doesn’t love this holiday classic?

Pumpkin – the common ingredient for America’s favorite pies, lattes and glowing faces. However, this grand gourd is not commonly associated with the likes of the Sunshine State. Pumpkins are more commonly grown up north. In fact, according to the University of Illinois, 90 percent of the pumpkins grown in the United States are raised within a 90-mile radius of Peoria, Illinois. Morton, a town near Peoria, is the self-proclaimed Pumpkin Capital of the World. Morton is also the location of a Libby’s® pumpkin processing plant which cans more than 85 percent of the world’s pumpkin each year.

Due to our warm, sticky climate in the Sunshine State, we don’t have the proper conditions for growing pumpkins on a large scale – especially since planting occurs during the peak of our summer. But many Florida growers who enjoy fall festivities are piddling with their pumpkin plants as we speak – and you could be too!

Start your own pumpkin patch

If the kiddos love carving these holiday favorites, they’ll absolutely enjoy helping you grow them. It may be a little late this year, but remember next year to go green and plant your own pumpkins. Here are some growing tips from UF/IFAS: 

• Most pumpkin varieties need 3½ to 4 months to mature – should be seeded by July 4 to be ready for Halloween.
• Most pumpkins, except the bush types, need at least 6 feet in each direction to spread and grow.
• Plant three to four seeds in a hill, and then remove all but the strongest plant when they reach 2-4 inches tall.
• Pumpkins respond well to liberal amounts of organic compost. Place one of compost (chicken or cow manure), under each hill before seeding. Mix a handful of 666 fertilizer into each hill when preparing. Sidedress with a handful of 666 every 3 weeks or as needed.
• All pumpkins have both male and female flowers on each plant so bees are needed to transfer pollen. When the plant has two small pumpkins about the size of baseballs, remove all others as they form. This allows the two that remain to reach fairly large size.

DPI smashes pest problem with pumpkins

FDACS DPI is working with the USDA on a biological control program which uses pumpkins to help control the pink hibiscus mealybug (PHM). The PHM is a sap-sucking insect that feeds on the plant sap and releases toxic substances causing injury and death. It is spread by wind, ants, clothing, hair of animals, and the movement of infested plants. This pest poses a serious economic threat to the agriculture and nursery industries, residential plants and landscapes.

Pink Hibiscus Mealybug on pumpkin

They consume more than 200 species of plants, including tomato, hibiscus, avocado and pumpkin. The program mass produces the natural enemies of the pink hibiscus mealybug and uses these natural enemies to help control the spread of PHM. DPI established an insectary to mass produce two parasitic wasps and one predatory beetle. The two species of wasps, Anagyrus kamali and Gyranusoidia indica, are small and stingless, they use PHM as a host to complete their life cycle. In addition, the predatory beetle, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, will prey upon PHM, killing them in the process. Both the parasites and the predator used in this project are also used in other countries and islands in the Caribbean to control the spread of the pink hibiscus mealybug. These parasites and the predator are well documented to be effective towards control of PHM while remaining harmless to people, plants and other animals. You can help!

1. Do NOT cut or trim the plants you think have PHM! PHM spreads most easily by the wind and the movement of infested plants.
2. The use of pesticides on your plants should be avoided. Pesticides will kill the biocontrol insects used to attack PHM.
3. Please provide our inspectors access to your property. All state and federal agriculture inspectors carry proper identification and drive vehicles with state/federal emblems.
4. If plants are already cut, double-bag in plastic all plant cuttings (leaves, branches, flowers, etc.) and put them out with regular household garbage, NOT yard trash.
5. Lawn/landscape companies in Broward and Miami-Dade counties are required to COVER ALL CUTTINGS while transporting; though businesses should also NOT cut or trim suspected plants.

Eat, drink and be scary

Below you will find a magical mix of ingredients that children of all ages will enjoy – pumpkin muffins. This alternative to the traditional pumpkin pie is a treat that my friends and family beg for this time of year. Be generous with the pumpkin now! That’s the best part.

Mix dry ingredients…

• 1 2/3 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp ground ginger

Then add…

• 1/2 cup oil
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 cup pumpkin

Another festive recipe is Libby’s Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Filling. This super simple recipe is perfect for those who enjoy a little sweetness in their life. It’s also great if you substitute pecans in place of the walnuts. For more great pumpkin recipes, click here. Do you have any other great pumpkin recipes? Please share them with us!

Stingy Jack the Jack-o-Lantern

Every year, trick-or-treaters across America travel from house to house, colleting goodies from their neighbors’ doorsteps. Who is the first to greet them? None other than Stingy Jack himself – the glowing orange face that scowls at all the passers-by. But how did this Halloween figure get his name?

Jack-o-lanterns originated from an Irish myth about a man named Stingy Jack. Jack outwitted the Devil a few times during his life. When he died, God wouldn’t let him into heaven and the Devil wouldn’t let him into hell. He was stuck. Read along to see how Stingy Jack came to be Jack-o-Lantern.

Although these holiday decorations are commonly carved from pumpkins, the original Jack-o-Lanterns were carved from turnips, potatoes or beets. Carve your own pumpkin with these tips from Disney! Have any great photos of your own Stingy Jack creations? Please share them with us.

Happy pumpkin-ing! :)

Happy Fall Y’all: Florida Fall Gardens

Pinebarren Goldenrod, Solidago fistulosa. Photos by Dan Culbert, UF/IFAS

Today is the first day of fall: A season of cool, crisp air, roasting marshmallows over bonfires and watching warm-colored leaves drift to the ground.

However, it is still mighty hot here in the Sunshine State. Not to mention dry – so much for bonfires. And the leaves here don’t change colors unless the tree they’re growing on is getting ready to kill over. Oh well – we can still enjoy goldenrods blooming along the highway and SEC football on the weekends! Those are two things that undoubtedly go hand-in-hand with Florida falls.

One thing that many Floridians don’t necessarily associate with this time of year is planting gardens. But there are numerous vegetables, herbs, and flowers that flourish in Florida this time of year. Did you know that Florida strawberries are planted in October? In fact, according to the Florida Strawberry Growers Association, Hillsborough County produces about 15 percent of the nation’s strawberries and virtually all the berries grown in the U.S. during the winter.

What to Plant 

IFAS’s easy-to-use Florida Gardening Calendar can help you determine what to plant in your fall garden and how to care for it.

Just like your mum – chrysanthemums and marigolds are annuals that flourish in the fall of the year and are idyllic autumn blooms. For more fall bloomers and how to care for them, click here.

Prefer veggie tales? Here are a few vegetables that you might consider planting in your fall garden:

• Beets
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Kale
• Mustard Greens
• Onions
• Radishes
• Squash
• Turnips

Before you plant veggies, flowers or herbs, it is important to take into consideration current weather patterns and your location in Florida. What may be planted in October in South Florida, may not last through North Florida’s harsh winters. Take roses for example. I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden – but this is the time to plant them in South Florida. According to IFAS, North Florida residents may want to wait until spring as repeated freezes are harmful to the root system.  Visit IFAS’s Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide to determine when and what you should plant this fall.

Where to Start

Remember to buy local when you are purchasing transplants. And be sure to purchase plants from registered nurseries. Don’t transport plants across state or national borders as they may be harboring pests, diseases or other plant material. If transported, these pests, diseases and other foreign plant material could potentially establish permanent homes in areas where they have no natural predators, becoming an invasive problem by competing with the established natural resources. Protect our natural resources, don’t pack a pest.

Possible Pests 

Although the humidity may have dropped a bit, don’t be surprised if you have any pests rooting around in your foliage.

Giant African land snail

Two pests to look out for are snails and slugs. The Veronicell sloanei species attacks a huge variety of Florida’s fall crops, including beans and peas, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots and lettuce. Another menacing snail to look out for is the giant African land snail. This invasive pest can grow up to eight inches in length and will not only eat nearly every crop grown in Florida, but will also eat plaster and stucco! This species has been recently identified in Miami-Dade County.

If you see an invasive pest in your area, such as the giant African land snail, or would like help identifying or eradicating any plant pests that worm their way into your garden, call us toll-free at 1-888-397-1517. You can also visit us online at http://www.freshfromflorida.com/pi/ for more information about Florida’s plant industry.

Enjoy the last of those summer crops and prepare for the bountiful fall harvest ahead! Click here for information about Florida’s seasonal availability and enjoy this yummy recipe for Fall Harvest Chowder. Even though the temperatures haven’t dropped off in our home state, jump into the spirit of fall by growing a fall garden.

Enjoy ag blogs? Here is another great resource about fall gardening in Florida: Fall Into Place.

Happy fall y’all!

Home Sweet Home Invasion: Protect your home from giant snails

As an agency which oversees Florida’s plant industry, our job is to detect, intercept and control plant and honey bee pests that threaten Florida’s native and commercially grown plants and agricultural resources. As a homeowner, you can help preserve and protect the area in which you live.

Today, we are asking you to look out for an unlikely, strangely large intruder who will eat you out of house and home – literally.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is on high alert, working to eradicate the giant African land snail (GALS) in South Florida.

This giant snail, which eats everything from peanuts to stucco, was found by a homeowner in Miami-Dade County. These snails are much larger than the normal Florida native snails, growing up to eight inches in length and more than four inches in diameter. The snails are dangerous to our home, health and natural resources as they can cause structural damage to plaster and stucco, carry a parasitic nematode that can lead to meningitis in humans and they consume at least 500 different types of plants.

Where are they?

Snails tend to dwell in cool, wet places. They can be found attached to the side of buildings and burrowed in the ground, camouflaged by leaves. Some have even been found lurking around cat food dispensers – attempting to steal a quick meal from the kitty. GALS could be anywhere because they will eat nearly anything. Check out our photo album to see some of the interesting places where we have found GALS thus far.

What can you do to protect your home?

Be aware. The first step in protecting yourself and your home is to be aware. Stay informed on the eradication process of GALS. Learn more about the snails’ dangers, habits and signs of their presence. For more information about the giant African land snail, visit the department’s website.

Detect. Be on the lookout for this invasive pest. GALS are abnormally large creatures. However, all animals start out as babies. There are small GALS out there so don’t let its size fool you. The shape of the shell is what you want to look for. A giant African land snail has a brown, distinctively striped (almost Tiger-like) shell in the shape of a cone. It consists of seven to nine whorls, with a long and greatly swollen body whorl (see photo above). This is the most identifiable characteristic. However, variations are possible.  

Report. If you think you may have seen a giant African land snail or evidence of its presence, please call the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services toll-free at 888-397-1517. You can also email in a photo for identification to DPIhelpline@freshfromflorida.com. If you are interested in preserving a snail sample for collection by FDACS, it is suggested that you use gloves to handle the snail and place it in a Ziploc bag. Seal the bag and place the snail in a bucket or plastic container. Do not release the snail.

It is probable that this invasive pest, like many others, was introduced to Florida by an individual person. When you travel, please, don’t pack a pest. Do your part in protecting your home, your health and all of our natural resources.

BIG problem: These GALS aren’t the kind you take home to momma

So we all know Florida has lots of people, theme parks, beaches and agriculture. But did you know that Florida holds the title for some pretty interestingly large things?

Florida has one of the largest freshwater lakes in the United States, more golf courses than any other state in America, and holds the record for the most “champion” trees (the biggest trees of their species in the country).

Florida has recently obtained another interestingly large thing, but this particular item is not a trophy and does not travel alone.

A population of giant African land snails (GALS) has been identified in Miami-Dade County. These snails are among the largest in the world, reaching up to eight inches in length and four inches in diameter. Click here for photos of these massive creatures.

These GALS aren’t quite as friendly as the group your mother hangs out with. Nor are they as strict to their diet. They’ll eat plaster, stucco and anything green. In fact, they’ll consume at least 500 different types of plants, and they are a major health hazard.

This species can live up to nine years and each snail produces about 1,200 eggs per year. Do the math – each snail can contribute 10,800 additional GALS to our environment in their lifetime. This would be incredibly hazardous to Florida.

These incredibly large gastropods are not only among the largest in the world, but they are also some of the most damaging. GALS can cause structural damage as they eat building material, agricultural and natural resource damage due to their undiscriminating plant diet, and they are harmful to human health because they carry a parasitic nematode, known as the rat lungworm, that can lead to meningitis in humans. Keep in mind that all snails, even those that are legal to possess, may carry salmonella and other bacteria so caution is recommended. For more information about this and other health concerns, please contact the Department of Health.

The last reported outbreak of GALS in Florida occurred in 1966 as a result of a boy smuggling three snails into the state as pets. The boy’s grandmother released the snails into her garden. Seven years later, this release resulted in 18,000 GALS and over $1 million in eradication costs. It took ten years to successfully eradicate this pest.

The introduction of invasive pests and diseases which are harmful to our environment can be prevented with your help. Don’t pack a pest! When traveling to another county, state or country, whether you’re on a boat, in a car, or on a plane, do not transfer agricultural products. Unseen pests may be hiding in your bag of citrus, in the firewood loaded in your pickup, or even in the soil on your shoes. The transportation of these species introduces them to a new, foreign environment where they have no natural predators – often deeming the new species as invasive. Invasive pests and diseases threaten our food supply, natural resources and our ecosystem.  DPI works hard to detect invasive pests and diseases. But do your part and spread the word – don’t pack a pest.

The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is working to continue to identify and eradicate the giant African land snail. If you believe you may have seen this pest or signs of its presence, please contact the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services toll-free at 888-397-1517.

To preserve a snail sample, use gloves to put the snail in a zip lock bag, seal it and place it in a bucket or plastic container. Please do not release or give these snails away.

Learn more about this invasive species from DPI.