Some September chores for getting your garden winter-ready. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The beginning of September is a good time to divide irises and day lilies, fertilize fescue lawns, and start cool-season vegetable seedlings. It’s also a good time to plant cover crops, such as peas, oats, crimson clover, and annual rye grass on the fallow winter …
Runner Beans are a Colorful Climbing Edible Perennial Plant
A colorful climbing and edible plant to add to your garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Until recently, you’d typically only find runner beans in British gardens, but now, they claim spaces in gardens all over the world. It’s easy to see why. These tall vines produce colorful flowers and beans, acting as an edible and ornamental …
Fiddle-Leaf Figs are an Evergreen Ornamental “In” Plant to Have
One of the top-selling houseplants known for it’s style in magazines and hotel lobbies. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Native to West African lowland rain forests, fiddle-leaf figs are an evergreen ornamental also known as banjo fig or lyre leaf tree. You can grow them outdoors if you live in the right climate, but they are more …
Crop Dumping by Mexico Targeted by Florida Ag Commissioner Nikki Fried
Concerns about crop dumping have been a refrain in the state since shortly after the North American Free Trade Agreement was approved more than a quarter century ago. (TALLAHASSEE/August 30, 2021) — Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried on Monday urged people to purchase Florida-grown blueberries, strawberries and other produce to help counter what she described as “unfair foreign trade practices” by …
Growing One of the Tastiest Tropical Fruits on the Planet
What you need to know about growing one of the tastiest tropical fruits on the planet. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Mangosteen is also known as the Queen of tropical fruits. It’s native in many countries, but in the United States, you will find it in Florida and Hawaii. It has amazing flavor, is slightly acidic, and the …
Safety Tips for Flying Drones Offered by UF/IFAS Researchers
Some people view drones as toys, but they can be dangerous. In fact, about 1,000 people per year are injured from using drones incorrectly. To address the potential peril, two University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers are offering ways to keep people from getting hurt while using drones. For legal advice on personal injury related to …
2022 Farmers’ Almanac Released This Week
The 2022 Farmers’ Almanac hits store shelves this week and contains 184 pages of helpful tips, calendars, and guides to help you plan your year ahead. It also features weather forecasts for the next 16 months, plus useful advice on ways to take cues from nature to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Editor Pete Geiger states, “we encourage readers to …
Before You Spray
We often think about pesticide safety and best management practices when we are in the field spraying. You’re outside, you’re potentially exposed to the pesticide, and a gust of wind in the wrong direction could send it flying back into your face. However, your first interaction with pesticides on spray day takes place well before you step foot in the …
National Farmers Market Week Underway
The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture proclaimed this first week of August as National Farmers Market Week. It is a way to champion the direct-to-consumer producers, market managers, and customers that make their communities come alive during market days. According to a story from Rod Bain, highlights of the week are not only the markets themselves, but the innovations that allow these institutions to …
Best Summer Bulbs to Have Growing in Your Garden
The best summer bulbs to have in your garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Summer flowers electrify your garden with some of the most spectacular color of the entire year, whether they are annuals or perennials. Try planting these summer flowers, in the form of bulbs, in your garden for some stunning blooms. Dahlias come in nearly every …