March Gardening Tips
March 22, 2011
Spring is finally here, and many Floridians are working in their gardens. Check out what to plant in terms of annuals, bulbs, vegetables and herbs, and what to do to maintain your garden or landscape in your region of the state by viewing the links below from University of Florida IFAS Extension.
North Florida
Central Florida
South Florida
IFAS recommends doing the following every month:
- -Adjust irrigation based on rainfall
- -Deadhead flowers to encourage new blooms
- -Monitor the garden for insects and disease
- -Plant trees, shrubs, and perennials and water until established
- -Mow lawns at recommended heights:
- -St. Augustine & Bahia: 3-4”
-Centipede: 1.5-2.0”
-Dwarf St. Augustine: 2.5”
If you suspect insects or diseases in your garden or landscape, check with your local county extension office, and also view DPI’s pest alert page.
If you have questions or comments, please call DPI’s toll-free helpline at 888-397-1517. Purchasing plants for your garden or landscape? Make sure to buy from a registered nursery.
The University of Florida Bee College is scheduled for March 11-12, 2011, at the UF Whitney Lab in St. Augustine. Registration is now open for the program, and anyone interested in learning more about honey and the apiary industry should check out the website and program guide.
In addition to the Bee College, UF also offers the Master Beekeeper Program, designed for beekeepers registered with our division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. This program offers four levels of advancement, including apprentice beekeeper, advanced beekeeper, master beekeeper and master craftsman beekeeper. Check out the 2011 Master Beekeeper Program information, as well as the requirements to participate.
Go green with Florida avocados.
September 13, 2010
Just like almost any other fruit, avocados come in a variety of varieties. There are dark, wrinkly-skinned avocados. There are big, green shiny avocados. There are avocados of all shapes and sizes grown on trees in backyards in South Florida and commercial groves. With 56 avocado varieties grown in Florida alone, it can be difficult to decide which kind to choose when walking through your grocery store’s produce section or your local farmers market. While everyone has a preference for the types of produce they like to consume, we tend to have one suggestion when it comes to picking out avocados: go green.
Avocados are grown commercially in only two states. California is known for its dark-colored Hass avocados, whereas shiny, smooth-skinned green avocados are grown in Florida. Although avocados as a whole are considered one of the highest sources of unsaturated fat in fruits and vegetables, Florida avocados have fewer calories and grams of fat than other varieties. They are also a great source of vitamin A and potassium. Literature produced by Sarasota County Extension compares the nutritional qualities of Florida and California avocados in a 3.5-ounce serving. It shows that a 3.5-ounce serving of Florida avocado has 112 calories and 8.87 grams of fat. The same serving of California avocado has 177 calories and 17.3 grams of fat.
Florida avocado growers in South Florida not only provide a tasty product that holds its own in terms of nutrition, but also strive to meet the consumer desire for foods grown closer to home. Next time you go to the store or market to purchase avocados, remember to go green and choose Fresh from Florida avocados.
We strive to help Florida avocado growers produce exceptional fruit by working to reduce the spread of a plant disease that threatens the avocado industry. Laurel wilt is a disease caused by a fungus that is carried to trees in the Laurel family, like avocado trees, by the invasive redbay ambrosia beetle. Because this beetle infests trees, it can very easily be harbored in firewood or other unprocessed wood and spread throughout the state. You can help reduce the spread of Laurel wilt and the redbay ambrosia beetle by purchasing local firewood and burning it all on site instead of bringing it home with you. Also, if you purchase avocado or other host trees, make sure to buy them from a registered nursery.
To learn more about the insect (redbay ambrosia beetle) and the disease (Laurel wilt), visit our Save the Guac website at http://www.savetheguac.com. You can even request a free Save the Guac bumper sticker! If you’d like to talk to us via telephone, call our toll-free helpline at 888-397-1517.
Have questions? You can always e-mail us at DPI-blog@doacs.state.fl.us.
