The weather has finally cooled enough to start the fall vegetable garden. Here are our UF/IFAS recommendations of what to plant when. Getting Ready Starting in September, start preparing your vegetable garden by removing weeds and amending the soil with compost. This is also the time to sort through your seed selection and pick out [&#8230;]

The weather has finally cooled enough to start the fall vegetable garden. Here are our UF/IFAS recommendations of what to plant when.
<iframe title="Fall Vegetable Gardening" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nDormf3ZYrI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Getting Ready
Starting in September, start preparing your vegetable garden by removing weeds and amending the soil with compost. This is also the time to sort through your seed selection and pick out both warm season and cool season vegetable to plant. 
<figure id="attachment_7251" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-7251" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsboroughco/files/2024/11/seed-starting-cabbage_TS-scaled.jpeg"><img decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" class="size-medium wp-image-7251 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="300" height="225" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsboroughco/files/2024/11/seed-starting-cabbage_TS-300x225.jpeg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-7251" class="wp-caption-text">Cabbage seedlings in a flat. Photo: Tia Silvasy, UF/IFAS</figcaption></figure>
Plant in Flats
<a href="https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/tomatoes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tomatoes</a>, <a href="https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/peppers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">peppers</a> and <a href="https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/eggplant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eggplant</a> takes 6-weeks to grow from seed to a transplant. These should be started in flats in July, August or September depending on your region. <a href="https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/broccoli" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Broccoli</a>, <a href="https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/cabbage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cabbage</a>, and other brassicas should also be started early in flats and transplanted once they get their first set of true leaves. <a href="https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/lettuce/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lettuce</a> and <a href="https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/cucumbers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cucumbers</a> sprout relatively quick, in 7 &#8211; 10 days and should be planted in cell packs or small pots.
Direct Sow in the Garden Bed
In October, once your vegetable garden bed is ready to plant, direct seed <a href="https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/bush-beans/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">green beans</a>, cucumbers, <a href="https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/summer-squash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">squash</a>, <a href="https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/carrots" target="_blank" rel="noopener">carrots</a>, <a href="https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/beets/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">beets</a> and <a href="https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/radishes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">radishes</a>. Buy fresh seeds from a reliable dealer for best results. Plant them in rows or use the square foot or biointensive method for small gardens or container vegetable gardens. Watering is critical at this time to make sure your seeds don&#8217;t dry out. Try succession planting, where you plant again the same seeds, such as green beans or radishes, a month later to get a continual harvest. Now is the time to order seed <a href="https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/potatoes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">potatoes</a> to plant in January.
<figure id="attachment_7255" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-7255" style="width: 208px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsboroughco/files/2024/11/sowing-beans_TS-scaled.jpeg"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-7255 " src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsboroughco/files/2024/11/sowing-beans_TS-225x300.jpeg" alt="" width="208" height="277" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-7255" class="wp-caption-text">Sowing green beans. Photo: Tia Silvasy, UF/IFAS</figcaption></figure>
Transplant your starts to the Garden Bed
Once your plants are big enough and have their first set of true leaves you can transplant them to the garden. Be sure to check the spacing recommendations the Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide. Plant tomatoes 3&#8242; apart, broccoli 18&#8243; apart, cucumbers 12&#8243; apart and green beans 3&#8243; apart. One advantage of transplanting is that you get to choose the best plants to plant in your garden. Vegetables that easily survive transplanting include beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, collards, eggplant, lettuce, pepper, tomato, sweet potato, and strawberry.
Plant Strawberries
<a href="https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn-and-garden/growing-strawberries/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Strawberries</a> are grown as an annual crop in the Florida home garden because of pest and disease pressure. Purchase bare root plants or starts from online suppliers or local nurseries. 
Learn more:
<a href="https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/planting/vegetable-gardens-by-season/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vegetable Gardens by Season</a>
<a href="https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/VH021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide</a>
<a href="https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topics/vegetables" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ask IFAS: Vegetables</a>
Follow Us!
We have several ways to connect. Join our UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ufifasextensionhillsboroughcounty">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDJtMNdNw7xDLqY3x8-7K0g">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ufifas_hillsboroughcounty/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/o/ufifas-hillsborough-extension-8606873308">Eventbrite</a>, <a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsboroughco/author/tsilvasy/">Blogs</a>, and <a href="https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsborough/lawngarden/master-gardener-program/">Website</a>
If you have any questions, please contact UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County at 813-744-5519 or email <a href="mailto:hillsmg@mail.ufl.edu">hillsmg@mail.ufl.edu</a>.
The University of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Institution.

The weather has finally cooled enough to start the fall vegetable garden. Here are our UF/IFAS recommendations of what to plant when.



Getting Ready

Starting in September, start preparing your vegetable garden by removing weeds and amending the soil with compost. This is also the time to sort through your seed selection and pick out both warm season and cool season vegetable to plant. 

Cabbage seedlings in a flat. Photo: Tia Silvasy, UF/IFAS
Plant in Flats

Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant takes 6-weeks to grow from seed to a transplant. These should be started in flats in July, August or September depending on your region. Broccoli, cabbage, and other brassicas should also be started early in flats and transplanted once they get their first set of true leaves. Lettuce and cucumbers sprout relatively quick, in 7 – 10 days and should be planted in cell packs or small pots.

Direct Sow in the Garden Bed

In October, once your vegetable garden bed is ready to plant, direct seed green beans, cucumbers, squash, carrots, beets and radishes. Buy fresh seeds from a reliable dealer for best results. Plant them in rows or use the square foot or biointensive method for small gardens or container vegetable gardens. Watering is critical at this time to make sure your seeds don’t dry out. Try succession planting, where you plant again the same seeds, such as green beans or radishes, a month later to get a continual harvest. Now is the time to order seed potatoes to plant in January.

Sowing green beans. Photo: Tia Silvasy, UF/IFAS
Transplant your starts to the Garden Bed

Once your plants are big enough and have their first set of true leaves you can transplant them to the garden. Be sure to check the spacing recommendations the Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide. Plant tomatoes 3′ apart, broccoli 18″ apart, cucumbers 12″ apart and green beans 3″ apart. One advantage of transplanting is that you get to choose the best plants to plant in your garden. Vegetables that easily survive transplanting include beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, collards, eggplant, lettuce, pepper, tomato, sweet potato, and strawberry.

Plant Strawberries

Strawberries are grown as an annual crop in the Florida home garden because of pest and disease pressure. Purchase bare root plants or starts from online suppliers or local nurseries. 

Learn more:

Vegetable Gardens by Season

Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide

Ask IFAS: Vegetables

Follow Us!

We have several ways to connect. Join our UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County
Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Eventbrite, Blogs, and Website

If you have any questions, please contact UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County at 813-744-5519 or email hillsmg@mail.ufl.edu.

The University of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Institution.

The weather has finally cooled enough to start the fall vegetable garden. Here are our UF/IFAS recommendations of what to plant when. Getting Ready Starting in September, start preparing your vegetable garden by removing weeds and amending the soil with compost. This is also the time to sort through your seed selection and pick out […]

Fall Vegetable Gardening – What to Plant When in Central Florida

Carrot is a relatively new and emerging crop in North Florida with about 5,000 acres grown annually in the region. The acreage increase over the past 10 years in North Florida and South Georgia is largely due to the influence of water related issues in California. Growers and packers had to search for alternate production [&#8230;]

<figure id="attachment_433" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-433" style="width: 225px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/nmp/files/2024/08/carrots-NMP-blog.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-433 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="A bunch of orange carrots freshly picked from the field." width="225" height="300" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/nmp/files/2024/08/carrots-NMP-blog-225x300.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-433" class="wp-caption-text">Collecting carrot biomass samples for analysis.</figcaption></figure>
Carrot is a relatively new and emerging crop in North Florida with about 5,000 acres grown annually in the region. The acreage increase over the past 10 years in North Florida and South Georgia is largely due to the influence of water related issues in California. Growers and packers had to search for alternate production areas where water is more abundant, fields have deep sandy soils, winter climate is relatively mild, and the production area is closer to metropolitan areas with large markets. These sets of conditions resulted in increased acreage of carrots being established by large California-based farming operations in the Suwannee Valley area of northern Florida. Carrots have a long tradition in Florida but mainly on the muck soils in central and southern regions of the Sunshine State. Since production on the deep sands of North Florida began over the last decade, nutrient management research was needed to evaluate various sources and rates of nitrogen fertilizer to determine current Best Management Practices (BMPs) for carrots grown on sandy soils. Initial research focused on various rates of conventional nitrogen fertilizer for both cello and snacking-types of carrots. This research showed the existing nitrogen rate recommended by UF/IFAS needed to be adjusted slightly upward from 175 to 200 lbs per acre, which was later approved. A complementary part of the carrot fertilizer research was evaluating the potential of polymer coated controlled release fertilizer (CRF) and this was conducted over the past 5-to-6 years.
<h5>Objectives</h5>
In this controlled release fertilizer research trial, UF researchers tested several nitrogen-release rates, various total season nitrogen rates, placement of the CRF in the soil, and timing of applications. Early trials focused on a single application of CRF in the bed prior to seeding in the fall season. This application method showed great promise, but the carrot season is long, lasting 150 or more days during periods of highly variable temperatures. Since the polymer coated fertilizers used in this study release nutrients based on temperature, it was unlikely that the polymer coated nitrogen would be released in a perfect timing over the long and variable season. As a result, the research team proposed to split the application of nitrogen to approximately half of the season’s nitrogen requirement be applied just prior to seeding followed by various combinations of conventional versus CRF nitrogen during the middle of the season. This strategy would hopefully better match the release rate of the nitrogen with the crop uptake over the season and as a result, potentially reduce nitrogen leaching losses in comparison to conventional nitrogen programs or CRF programs with all of the nitrogen at planting.
<h5>Treatments</h5>
<table style="height: 434px" width="990">
<tbody>
<tr bgcolor="#a2cd5a">
<th style="text-align: center">Treatments</th>
<th style="text-align: center">Total N 
(lbs/ac)</th>
<th style="text-align: center">Treatment Description 
(2022-23)</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center">200</td>
<td style="text-align: left">Conventional N, total application 200 lbs/ac. 25 lbs/ac preplant, the remaining N applied with multiple applications during season.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center">2</td>
<td style="text-align: center">200</td>
<td style="text-align: left">CRF N, Total application 200 lbs/ac. All *preplant*</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center">3</td>
<td style="text-align: center">200</td>
<td style="text-align: left">CRF N, total application 200 lbs/ac. 100 lbs/ac CRF N at preplant and 100 lbs/ac CRF N in-season once (*early ~ 45 DAP*)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center">4</td>
<td style="text-align: center">200</td>
<td style="text-align: left">CRF and Conventional N, total application 200 lbs/ac. 150 lbs/ac CRF N at preplant. 25 lbs/ac conventional N in-season (*twice*)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center">175</td>
<td style="text-align: left">CRF and Conventional N, total application 175 lbs/ac. 150 lbs/ac CRF N at preplant. 25 lbs/ac conventional N in-season (*once*)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center">6</td>
<td style="text-align: center">200</td>
<td style="text-align: left">CRF N, total application 200 lbs/ac. 100 lbs/ac CRF N, preplant and 100 lbs/ac CRF N in-season once (*middle ~ 55 days*)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center">7</td>
<td style="text-align: center">200</td>
<td style="text-align: left">CRF N, total application 200 lbs/ac. 100 lbs/ac CRF N, preplant and 100 lbs/ac CRF N in-season once (*late ~ 65 DAP*)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center">8</td>
<td style="text-align: center">200</td>
<td style="text-align: left">CRF N, total application 200 lbs/ac. 75 lbs/ac CRF N at preplant and 125 lbs/ac CRF N in-season once (*early ~ 45 DAP*)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h5 style="text-align: left">Results</h5>
<figure id="attachment_435" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-435" style="width: 225px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/nmp/files/2024/08/carrots-grower-NMP-blog.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-435 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="A farmer kneels down in a carrot field to inspect a bunch of carrots that were just picked." width="225" height="300" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/nmp/files/2024/08/carrots-grower-NMP-blog-225x300.png"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-435" class="wp-caption-text">Collecting carrots for sampling and observation.</figcaption></figure>
The results of this two-year study were summarized and recently presented at the 2024 Florida State Horticultural Society Annual Meeting. The paper was titled “Analyzing Controlled-Release Fertilizers Role in Reducing Nitrogen Leaching in Carrot Row Cropping Systems in North Florida” (by Vivek Sharma1, Robert Hochmuth2, and Shiva Bhambota1​, 1-Dept. of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE), University of Florida​, 2-North Florida Research and Education Center, Suwannee Valley, Live Oak, FL). The data collected during the growing season included multi-depth soil samples​ at 0-12, 12-24, 24-36 inches​, leaf tissue samples, canopy cover assessments​, and soil moisture sensor data. ​At harvest, data was collected on carrot yield​, quality characteristics​, length, and diameter​.
Early in the growing season, soil nitrate from CRF treatments (200 and 175 lbs/acre CRF nitrogen at panting) was significantly higher than other treatments at all soil depths.​ Split application of CRF (100 lbs N/acre at planting and 100 lbs N/acre at 45 days after planting (DAP) maintained the soil nitrate levels within the optimum levels throughout the growing season.​ Similar dynamics of soil nitrate levels were observed between split CRF treatments (second application at 45, 55, and 65 DAP) . ​Soil nitrate levels tended to peak after periods of rainfall and irrigation events especially at 24–36-inch depth indicating nitrate leaching.​ Split application of CRF (100 lbs N/acre at planting and 100 lbs N/acre at 45 DAP) maintained the soil nitrate levels within the optimum levels.​ Higher soil nitrate levels were observed when increasing the in season CRF levels to 125 lbs N/ac.​
<figure id="attachment_437" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-437" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/nmp/files/2024/08/carrots-ruler-NMP-blog.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-437 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="A row of carrots on a table with the stems removed. Rulers are on the left side and the bottom of the row for measuring the carrots." width="300" height="138" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/nmp/files/2024/08/carrots-ruler-NMP-blog-300x138.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-437" class="wp-caption-text">Taking measurements from a plot of carrots after harvest.</figcaption></figure>
In both years, all treatments were at or above the current target nitrogen sufficiency range with all treatments ranging between 2.55 to 4.96%.​ No significant difference in leaf tissue nitrogen was found among treatments, nor was any significant difference found in carrot yield among treatments. ​For both years, split application of CRF treatment (100 lbs N/acre at planting and 100 lbs N/acre at 45, 55, 65 DAP) improved carrot yield.​ There was no significant difference in the diameter of carrot tops for all treatments, which ranged from 1.1 to 1.4 inches.​ The difference in the average length of carrots for all treatments was also found to be non-significant, within the range of 7.5 to 8.6 inches.​
<h5>Conclusions</h5>
<figure id="attachment_439" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-439" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/nmp/files/2024/08/carrots-field-NMP-blog.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-439 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Looking down the rows of carrots growing in a field. An irrigation pivot is in the background." width="300" height="150" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/nmp/files/2024/08/carrots-field-NMP-blog-300x150.png"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-439" class="wp-caption-text">CRF Carrot field plots during the season, before harvest.</figcaption></figure>
Polymer-coated CRF provided crops adequate N to support crop health, growth, and yields similar to that of the conventional fertilizer program in the sandy soils and the wet climate of North Florida.​ In both years, all treatments were at or above the current nitrogen target sufficiency range with all treatments​. Split applications of CRF improved carrot growth and yield compared to single application of CRF at planting while minimizing nitrogen leaching.​ However, no difference in yield and yield components was observed between the CRF split application timings of treatments.
<hr />
This blog was written by Sydney Williams, Bob Hochmuth, Vivek Sharma, and Shiva Bhambota, <a href="https://svaec.ifas.ufl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center – Suwannee Valley </a>.

Collecting carrot biomass samples for analysis.
Carrot is a relatively new and emerging crop in North Florida with about 5,000 acres grown annually in the region. The acreage increase over the past 10 years in North Florida and South Georgia is largely due to the influence of water related issues in California. Growers and packers had to search for alternate production areas where water is more abundant, fields have deep sandy soils, winter climate is relatively mild, and the production area is closer to metropolitan areas with large markets. These sets of conditions resulted in increased acreage of carrots being established by large California-based farming operations in the Suwannee Valley area of northern Florida. Carrots have a long tradition in Florida but mainly on the muck soils in central and southern regions of the Sunshine State. Since production on the deep sands of North Florida began over the last decade, nutrient management research was needed to evaluate various sources and rates of nitrogen fertilizer to determine current Best Management Practices (BMPs) for carrots grown on sandy soils. Initial research focused on various rates of conventional nitrogen fertilizer for both cello and snacking-types of carrots. This research showed the existing nitrogen rate recommended by UF/IFAS needed to be adjusted slightly upward from 175 to 200 lbs per acre, which was later approved. A complementary part of the carrot fertilizer research was evaluating the potential of polymer coated controlled release fertilizer (CRF) and this was conducted over the past 5-to-6 years.
Objectives
In this controlled release fertilizer research trial, UF researchers tested several nitrogen-release rates, various total season nitrogen rates, placement of the CRF in the soil, and timing of applications. Early trials focused on a single application of CRF in the bed prior to seeding in the fall season. This application method showed great promise, but the carrot season is long, lasting 150 or more days during periods of highly variable temperatures. Since the polymer coated fertilizers used in this study release nutrients based on temperature, it was unlikely that the polymer coated nitrogen would be released in a perfect timing over the long and variable season. As a result, the research team proposed to split the application of nitrogen to approximately half of the season’s nitrogen requirement be applied just prior to seeding followed by various combinations of conventional versus CRF nitrogen during the middle of the season. This strategy would hopefully better match the release rate of the nitrogen with the crop uptake over the season and as a result, potentially reduce nitrogen leaching losses in comparison to conventional nitrogen programs or CRF programs with all of the nitrogen at planting.
Treatments
Treatments
Total N
Treatment Description
1
200
Conventional N, total application 200 lbs/ac. 25 lbs/ac preplant, the remaining N applied with multiple applications during season.


2
200
CRF N, Total application 200 lbs/ac. All *preplant*


3
200
CRF N, total application 200 lbs/ac. 100 lbs/ac CRF N at preplant and 100 lbs/ac CRF N in-season once (*early ~ 45 DAP*)


4
200
CRF and Conventional N, total application 200 lbs/ac. 150 lbs/ac CRF N at preplant. 25 lbs/ac conventional N in-season (*twice*)


5
175
CRF and Conventional N, total application 175 lbs/ac. 150 lbs/ac CRF N at preplant. 25 lbs/ac conventional N in-season (*once*)


6
200
CRF N, total application 200 lbs/ac. 100 lbs/ac CRF N, preplant and 100 lbs/ac CRF N in-season once (*middle ~ 55 days*)


7
200
CRF N, total application 200 lbs/ac. 100 lbs/ac CRF N, preplant and 100 lbs/ac CRF N in-season once (*late ~ 65 DAP*)


8
200
CRF N, total application 200 lbs/ac. 75 lbs/ac CRF N at preplant and 125 lbs/ac CRF N in-season once (*early ~ 45 DAP*)



Results
Collecting carrots for sampling and observation.
The results of this two-year study were summarized and recently presented at the 2024 Florida State Horticultural Society Annual Meeting. The paper was titled “Analyzing Controlled-Release Fertilizers Role in Reducing Nitrogen Leaching in Carrot Row Cropping Systems in North Florida” (by Vivek Sharma1, Robert Hochmuth2, and Shiva Bhambota1​, 1-Dept. of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE), University of Florida​, 2-North Florida Research and Education Center, Suwannee Valley, Live Oak, FL). The data collected during the growing season included multi-depth soil samples​ at 0-12, 12-24, 24-36 inches​, leaf tissue samples, canopy cover assessments​, and soil moisture sensor data. ​At harvest, data was collected on carrot yield​, quality characteristics​, length, and diameter​.
Early in the growing season, soil nitrate from CRF treatments (200 and 175 lbs/acre CRF nitrogen at panting) was significantly higher than other treatments at all soil depths.​ Split application of CRF (100 lbs N/acre at planting and 100 lbs N/acre at 45 days after planting (DAP) maintained the soil nitrate levels within the optimum levels throughout the growing season.​ Similar dynamics of soil nitrate levels were observed between split CRF treatments (second application at 45, 55, and 65 DAP) . ​Soil nitrate levels tended to peak after periods of rainfall and irrigation events especially at 24–36-inch depth indicating nitrate leaching.​ Split application of CRF (100 lbs N/acre at planting and 100 lbs N/acre at 45 DAP) maintained the soil nitrate levels within the optimum levels.​ Higher soil nitrate levels were observed when increasing the in season CRF levels to 125 lbs N/ac.​
Taking measurements from a plot of carrots after harvest.
In both years, all treatments were at or above the current target nitrogen sufficiency range with all treatments ranging between 2.55 to 4.96%.​ No significant difference in leaf tissue nitrogen was found among treatments, nor was any significant difference found in carrot yield among treatments. ​For both years, split application of CRF treatment (100 lbs N/acre at planting and 100 lbs N/acre at 45, 55, 65 DAP) improved carrot yield.​ There was no significant difference in the diameter of carrot tops for all treatments, which ranged from 1.1 to 1.4 inches.​ The difference in the average length of carrots for all treatments was also found to be non-significant, within the range of 7.5 to 8.6 inches.​
Conclusions
CRF Carrot field plots during the season, before harvest.
Polymer-coated CRF provided crops adequate N to support crop health, growth, and yields similar to that of the conventional fertilizer program in the sandy soils and the wet climate of North Florida.​ In both years, all treatments were at or above the current nitrogen target sufficiency range with all treatments​. Split applications of CRF improved carrot growth and yield compared to single application of CRF at planting while minimizing nitrogen leaching.​ However, no difference in yield and yield components was observed between the CRF split application timings of treatments.
This blog was written by Sydney Williams, Bob Hochmuth, Vivek Sharma, and Shiva Bhambota, UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center – Suwannee Valley .

Carrot is a relatively new and emerging crop in North Florida with about 5,000 acres grown annually in the region. The acreage increase over the past 10 years in North Florida and South Georgia is largely due to the influence of water related issues in California. Growers and packers had to search for alternate production […]

Developing Best Management Practices for Nitrogen in Carrots Using Controlled Release Fertilizer 

I couldn&#8217;t let May slip away without sharing a video I made showcasing how I make my fresh and healthy summer salad mix.  There is no cooking involved &#8211; only chopping some vegetables. This recipe calls for only six ingredients. In honor of national salad month, I share with you this recipe.

I couldn&#8217;t let May slip away without sharing a video I made showcasing how I make my fresh and healthy summer salad mix.  There is no cooking involved &#8211; only chopping some vegetables. This recipe calls for only six ingredients. In honor of national salad month, I share with you this recipe.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Making A Healthy Summer Salad" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/naL5sqipSmE?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I couldn’t let May slip away without sharing a video I made showcasing how I make my fresh and healthy summer salad mix.  There is no cooking involved – only chopping some vegetables. This recipe calls for only six ingredients. In honor of national salad month, I share with you this recipe.

Fresh and Healthy Summer Salad Mix

Root Crops

Hortalizas de raíz

Tropical Root Crops

Carrots

Zanahorias 

"Florida's agricultural industry generates more than $103 billion in annual economic impact and employs more than 500,000 people. Florida's farmers produce nearly 300 commodities, and winter vegetables and citrus consistently lead the national rankings. To meet the needs of this diverse industry, research and extension programs in the areas of fruit and vegetable production, postharvest technology and weed science are delivered on a county, regional and statewide basis using a variety of methods including field days, intensive hands-on training, and distance learning. Excellence in programming facilitates the exchange of information and technology and contributes to the professional development of extension faculty and the agricultural clientele they serve." --- <a href="http://www.hos.ufl.edu/extension-programs">Extension Programs, Horticultural Sciences Department</a>

Carrots

Narrower Topics

Publications

Carrot (Daucus carota) Production in the Sandy Soils of North Florida: Nitrogen Fertilization Guidelines

UF/IFAS Nutrient Management Recommendation Series: Carrot

Related IFAS Blog Posts

Fall Vegetable Gardening – What to Plant When in Central Florida

Developing Best Management Practices for Nitrogen in Carrots Using Controlled Release Fertilizer

Fresh and Healthy Summer Salad Mix

Related Pages

Carrots

Narrower Topics

Carrot Pest Management

Publications

Carrot (Daucus carota) Production in the Sandy Soils of North Florida: Nitrogen Fertilization Guidelines

UF/IFAS Nutrient Management Recommendation Series: Carrot

Related IFAS Blog Posts

Fall Vegetable Gardening – What to Plant When in Central Florida

Developing Best Management Practices for Nitrogen in Carrots Using Controlled Release Fertilizer

Fresh and Healthy Summer Salad Mix

Related Pages

Developing Best Management Practices for Nitrogen in Carrots Using Controlled Release Fertilizer 