How to keep plants cool in the summer heat. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. When it comes to our vegetable garden, we tend to worry most about protecting our plants from freezing temps and suffering frost damage. However, in some places, the summer heat can be a bear and pose a threat all its own. Even though most …
Next COVID Casualty Could be Coffee
COVID-19 shockwaves could create a round of trouble for the coffee industry, according to Purdue University. Starting in the 2011-12 growing season, a powdery orange fungus called coffee leaf rust spread throughout Latin America and Central America, damaging crops on 70 percent of farms and causing more than $3.2 billion in damage. Coffee crop management programs helped growers mitigate the …
Onion Diseases You May Encounter, and Dealing with Them
Onion diseases you may encounter, and how to deal with them. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. If you plan to grow onions, you’ll likely deal with some of these onion diseases. Such as Yellow Onion Dwarf, Purple Blotch, or Pink Rot. Damping-Off Disease is another issue you may encounter when starting your seedlings. It’s common when onions are …
Identifying a Few Common Pest That Will Go After Onions
Identifying some common pest that will go after your homegrown onions. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. If you plan to grow onions, you’ll likely deal with onion pests at some point. Although alliums tend to repel many insects, some stubborn species do like them an awful lot. The two-spotted spider mite — also known as the red …
How to Care and Plant a Sweet Treat, Sugar Cane
How to care and plant a sweet treat. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Sugar Cane is the number one commercially harvested plant in the world. Growing in your home garden is not only possible, it’s also easy. Plus it makes a lovely ornamental, sort of like a mix between a giant grass and bamboo. You can grow this …
Vegetables to Plant for a Bountiful Fall Harvest
Some vegetables you can plant now for your fall harvest. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Just as the summer garden gets in full swing, it’s time to start thinking about the veggies to plant for a fall harvest. Such as beans of all types. They grow quickly and can produce abundant harvests up until frost. This makes them ideal …
Educational Opportunities for Growers
Michael Rogers discusses several educational opportunities for citrus growers, including the Citrus, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Expo and Citrus Packinghouse Day. Rogers is the director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC). The Expo (Aug. 18-19) and Packinghouse Day (Aug. 26) will be held in-person this year after taking place virtually in …
Growing a Sweet Crop of Berries in a Small Garden Space
Growing a sweet crop in a small garden space. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Even if you only have a small amount of garden space, it’s still possible to enjoy your own homegrown strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries. You just need to select the right pot, variety, and location. Make sure your berry plants are getting about 6-8 hours …
Vegetable Plants that Outshine Others in Summer Heat
The vegetable plants that love the summer heat. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. When summer gets cranked up, certain vegetable garden crops naturally outshine others. Sweet potatoes, for example. In summer, they produce abundantly in as little as 90 days. Wait to plant them until the weather is good and hot for best results. Southern Peas, Yard …
Register Now for Citrus, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Expo
Preregistration is underway for the 2021 Citrus, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Expo. The event will take place August 18-19 at the Lee Civic Center in North Fort Myers, Florida. One of the purposes of the Expo is to bring together industry members, and this includes Florida FFA officers. They’ve been a big part of the Expo for the past few years, …