New study uncovers data showing how bountiful it can grow in the subtropics (UF/IFAS) — Scientists at University of Florida’s Tropical Research and Education Center have unlocked the mystery behind a highly sought-after berry known as the Miracle fruit in a study published this week. This news brings much needed insight to local growers, and food and drink manufacturers who …
New Blueberry Variety Honors Benefactor and UF Alumnus Alto Straughn
(UF/IFAS) — When Patricio Muñoz developed the University of Florida’s newest blueberry variety, he wanted to name the fruit in honor of Alto Straughn, a longtime, strong supporter of UF’s blueberry breeding program. Muñoz decided to call the new variety the ‘Sentinel.’ “A ‘sentinel’ is a watcher or guardian,” said Muñoz, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of horticultural sciences. “It is …
Florida Ag Expo Decides to Forego its 2020 Event
Florida Ag Expo, an annual trade show with educational seminars for vegetable and specialty crop growers, has decided to forego its 2020 event. “While we see businesses reopen and people are returning to a sense of normalcy, we know that has only been made possible by everyone doing their part. Therefore, we made the decision not to go forward with …
Recycling Your Pumpkins After Halloween
How to recycle your pumpkins after Halloween. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Once all the trick-or-treating is over you may be wondering what to do with all your Halloween pumpkins. According to the Energy Department, about 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins end up in landfills. When Jack-o’-lanterns may be looking a little shriveled and sunken but they can …
Carving Halloween Pumpkins is a Tradition
Why carving Halloween pumpkins is a tradition. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The history of Halloween as we know it is based on an ancient Celtic holiday known to honor the deceased. Celts believed that from dusk on October 31 until the dusk of November 1, souls of those who had died that year would pass on, …
Best Ways to Pick Your Halloween Pumpkin
The best ways to pick your Halloween pumpkin. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Pumpkins, which are members of the squash family, produce fruits in all shapes, sizes, and colors. You could pick a pumpkin from the grocery store, but you’ll get a fresher and more interesting selection at a pumpkin farm. Many farms grow different types of …
Transplanting Your Homegrown Bell Pepper Plants
How to transplant your homegrown bell pepper plants. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Once your seedlings have produced true leaves it’s time to harden them off. This is the process where plants are acclimated to new environment by slowly introducing them to outdoor weather. Start in the morning and bring them in later and later each day …
New Blackberries: Eclipse, Galaxy, and Twilight
(USDA/ARS) — The best of eastern and western blackberry genetics have been melded to create Eclipse, Galaxy and Twilight, three new blackberry varieties released by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). ARS’ Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon, working in cooperation with the Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station, has blended the desirable traits of eastern erect-cane blackberries and western …
Get Started Growing Your Very Own Bell Peppers
How to get started growing your very own bell peppers. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Depending on the variety, growing bell peppers from seedlings can take up to 100 days to reach maturity. So it’s a good idea to start them indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date. Use a seed starting mix and …
The Many Varieties of a Crunchy and Tasty Fruit
The many varieties of a crunchy and tasty fruit you can grow in your own backyard. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Bell peppers are fairly easy to grow at home as long as the weather plays along. They are a perennial in tropical areas. But in colder climates, they are grown as annuals and they really have …