FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Most of the world’s olives grow in southern European countries, such as Spain and Italy. In the United States, California has more than 30,000 acres dedicated to the commodity. But Florida may be the next agricultural region for small-scale commercial olive production.
Olive trees are an important crop in…
The fall gardening season is exciting, especially because it is the time that many people begin planting after their summer break from gardening. Eventually the fall season slows to an end when mother nature provides a freeze to clear out some of the seasonal crops. But some vegetables avoid the frost burn all together and…
Wild Weeds – Weed of the Month Clasping Venus’s Looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata Clasping Venus’s Looking-glass is an annual herbaceous wildflower in the bellflower family. The bell-shaped flowers have five bluish-purple petals and develop on the leaf axil. Not all flowers open but they still produce seeds since the flowers are self-pollinating. The leaves are…
A Victorian-era Christmas card depicting a couple under the mistletoe.I know, I know, nobody really thinks about mistletoe unless it’s Christmas time and folks are kissing under it. But it’s winter, Valentine’s Day is coming up, and there’s still plenty of mistletoe to be seen in the leafless winter landscape. You may have noticed it way up…
In celebration of World Wetlands Day, celebrated on February 2nd, we will continue our exploration of the world of bog gardening. In one of my previous blogs, Introducing the Bog, we learned that bogs are poorly drained areas, rich in accumulated plant material, and often found near an open body of water. They are essential…
Jessica M. Ryals, Agriculture & Sustainable Food Systems Agent UF/IFAS Extension Collier County Jeff Wasielewski, Commercial Tropical Fruit Agent UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County Next to labor, equipment can be one of the largest expenditures in commercial farming operations. Estimating equipment needs and costs will help you be more successful and efficient in your operation. Click…
Weeds and invasive plants can be a nuisance to a home or business landscape, and some of them are also toxic to people or animals. A new UF/IFAS publication details some of the most common poisonous plants found in Florida residential landscapes. Ingestion of poisonous plants make up only 3% of Poison Control cases, but can be fatal…
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection sent the following information Jan. 31 regarding a grant program for beach restoration projects resulting from Hurricane Ian and/or Hurricane Nicole damages: For Immediate Release: Jan. 31, 2023 Contact: DEP Press Office, 850-245-2112, DEPNews@FloridaDEP.gov DEP to Launch Hurricane Restoration Reimbursement Grant Program for Impacted Coastal Homeowners ~Applications will be…
Nourishment, a common thread woven through school gardens, and for many it is the reason to have them. Why would teachers have a school garden? After all, for some- it adds another responsibility, to an already full plate. It can require time in a day that doesn’t seem to have enough minutes to spare. And…
The Joys of Growing Elephant Garlic
One of my all-time favorite vegetables to grow and eat is elephant garlic. While related to garlic, elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum) is actually considered a bulbing leek. Like garlic, it is in the genus Allium, a family of flowering plants that includes over 600 different species of onions, leeks, and garlic…