North Florida

Pecan Cultivars for North Florida

Peter C. Andersen

Pecan recommendations for Florida have been updated to include new information about cultivar performance. Check out this revised 13-page fact sheet to select the best cultivars for yield, performance, resistance to disease, and resistance to limb breakage.

Wind and Trees: Surveys of Tree Damage in the Florida Panhandle after Hurricanes Erin and Opal

Mary L. Duryea

This document summarizes the results of surveys conducted after Hurricanes Erin and Opal in 1995, which assessed tree damage in the Florida Panhandle. It ranks the wind resistance of various tree species, highlighting that species like dogwood, live oak, and sabal palm showed high wind resistance, while species like sand pine and Carolina laurelcherry were less resistant. The findings emphasize the importance of selecting wind-resistant trees for hurricane-prone areas and suggest that proper tree care and maintenance can mitigate damage. First published: May, 1997.

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Pattern Book: Sample plant lists and designs for four Florida regions: USDA Hardiness Zones 8A and 8B, North Florida

Gail Hansen, Kelly B. Perez, and Esen A. Momol

Veggies and Herbs Made in the Shade: A Growing Season Calendar for North Florida

Daniel K. Fenneman, Robert C. Hochmuth, Wanda L. Laughlin, and Sean R. McCoy

Common Native Wildflowers of North Florida

Jeffrey G. Norcini

Crop Water Use and Irrigation Scheduling Guide for North Florida

Vivek Sharma, Charles Barrett, De Broughton, and Thomas Obreza

Farmers' Opinions about Bird Conservation and Pest Management on Organic and Conventional North Florida Farms

Susan K. Jacobson, Kathryn E. Sieving, Greg Jones, John McElroy, Beida Chen, Mark E. Hostetler, and Sarah W. Miller

Tomato Cultivar Selection Considerations for Open-Field and Protected Culture in North Florida

Blake R. Thaxton and Robert C. Hochmuth

A Beginner’s Guide to Producing and Saving Open-Pollinated Seeds for North Florida Farmers and Gardeners

Tere Davidson, Melissa DeSa, and Héctor E. Pérez

Seed saving is the art and practice of preserving and sharing seeds from desired open-pollinated plants. Saving seeds has many benefits and motivations that may include improving the adaptability of a crop to a region or microclimate, preserving cultural traditions and foods, growing for nutrient density and flavor preferences, saving on the cost of seed purchases, and connecting to local communities through seed sharing. For example, you may start saving seeds to preserve a beloved heirloom variety with flavors that remind you of home or to improve on a crop that performed particularly well. Saving your own seeds can save money, as one good growing season can produce many years' worth of seeds. This publication is for farmers and gardeners interested in producing, using, or donating seeds from open-pollinated plants. It recommends practices to produce, harvest, and store seeds from annual vegetable, fruit, and herb crops. This guidance is not intended for commercial purposes.

Know Your Pests When Trapping Soybean Looper in the Florida Panhandle

Ethan Carter, Tyler Shaw, Libbie Johnson, and Silvana V. Paula-Moraes

Pheromone trapping is a common scouting method used in collaboration with integrated pest management. A major crop pest of many plant species, including Panhandle crops like peanut and cotton, is the soybean looper.  A soybean looper pheromone-trapping study performed in Panhandle commercial peanut and cotton fields also attracted other species with similar appearances, sometimes in high numbers. Misidentification would result in overestimation of soybean looper populations and likely unnecessary insecticide applications. The sharp stigma looper, due to its high seasonal abundance and flight pattern similar to that of the soybean looper, was most concerning. This insect is not a pest and can be discerned from the soybean looper easily through its wing markings, if someone knows what to look for, but if these harmless moths were unwittingly thought of as soybean loopers, it could greatly skew population numbers and prompt improper applications of pesticides.

North Florida Gardening Calendar

Sydney Park Brown and Larry Williams

Give cold-damaged palms proper care to encourage their recovery in February. In April, monitor landscape plants weekly for aphids on tender new growth. Annuals that can take full sun during hot summer months include celosia, portulaca, vinca, and some coleus. In September, plant cool-season vegetable crops, such as radish, carrot, cabbage, and lettuce. This 10-page fact sheet tells what to plant and what to do in your north Florida garden year-round.

Phosphorus Dynamics and Impacts on Potato Production in Northeast Florida

Joris D. Van Zeghbroeck, Guodong (David) Liu, and Yuncong Li

Florida is one of two states (FL and CA) that produce spring potatoes, FL having the highest crop value out of any state in the country ($469.67 per ton). Due to the low phosphorus use efficiency (PUE), high rates of phosphorus (P) are applied to ensure adequate yields. This has led to a buildup of legacy P, resulting in mehlich-1 levels as high as 375 mg kg-1. These levels are significantly higher than the critical values for potatoes (25-35 mg kg-1), yet farmers still report increased yields with P applications. Several organic amendments, management practices, and new fertilizers have been shown to help increase P availability in potato cropping systems by reducing P fixation and maximizing the available P fraction throughout the growing season. New fertilizers and management strategies should be researched in the TCAA to find methods that maintain yields while reducing the environmental impact of potato cropping systems.

Edible Ornamental Landscaping Guide for North-Central Florida

Amanda S. Marek, Mark T. Bailey, and Gail Hansen

Well-designed edible ornamental landscapes, also called foodscapes, provide landowners with aesthetically pleasing, multipurpose gardens that provide food, color, and cover year-round. The purpose of this new 15-page publication is to guide Floridians on how to design, install and maintain their edible ornamental landscape using reliable plants suitable for north-central Florida and the best management practices of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™. Written by Amanda Marek, Mark Bailey, and Gail Hansen, and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department.

Growth and Development Stages of Four Japanese Persimmon Varieties in North Florida

Muhammad A. Shahid, Ali Sarkhosh, and Shahid Iqbal

Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki) are a good source of vitamins A and C and dietary fiber, while also being low in calories and fat. These fruits are popular in many Asian cuisines and are enjoyed in various ways, including fresh, dried, or cooked in multiple value-added products. This publication will provide information on persimmon phenological growth stages of four established varieties grown at the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy, Florida. The nine major persimmon growth stages are divided into two categories: vegetative and reproductive stages. This publication provides illustrative figures for each development stage. Accurate identification of phenological stages is important for making informed decisions on plant care, fertilizer, irrigation, and fruit harvesting. This information will be helpful to students, growers, homeowners, nursery workers, and Extension agents interested in growing persimmons in Florida.

Controlling Invasive Plants in North Florida Forests

Chris Demers, Patrick Minogue, Michael Andreu, Alan Long, and Rick Williams

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Invasive Species

Seed Piece Spacing Recommendations for Table-Stock Potato Cultivars in Florida

Mario H. M. L. Andrade, Luis G. Pesantes, Christian T. Christensen, Lakesh Sharma and Lincoln Zotarelli

This new 6-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department focuses on the adjustment of potato seed piece spacing of table-stock cultivars for Florida production. The aim is to provide management strategies that minimize potato seed costs, increase yield, and reach the marked demand for specific tuber size distribution, all of which are important factors for the table-stock potato industry. Written by Mario H. M. L. Andrade, Luis G. Pesantes, Christian T. Christensen, Lakesh Sharma and Lincoln Zotarelli.

Urban Trees and Allergies in North Florida

Jennifer A. Seitz and Francisco J. Escobedo

Trees are an integral part of our communities. They are a source of shade, beauty, community empowerment, and environmental benefits. Trees and tree pollen can also be a headache for people with allergies. Proper landscape planning and species selection can reduce the potential that trees will cause problems for people with pollen allergies, and a few simple steps will minimize the effects of pollen around your home.

Polyethylene Mulching for Early Vegetable Production in North Florida

George J. Hochmuth, Robert C. Hochmuth, and Stephen M. Olson

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for Commercial audience(s). Published by Sustainability of production systems and alternatives