The best companion plants when planting broccoli in your home garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. As delectable as garden-grown broccoli can be, battling caterpillars, harlequin bugs, aphids, flea beetles and myriad other pests can take the fun out of growing broccoli. Try companion planting to spend less time fighting bugs and more time enjoying the garden and …
Delicious and Nutritious Leafy Greens to Grow
Some of most delicious and nutritious leafy greens to grow at home. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Leafy greens bring so much flavor to your table, why not grow your own favorites right at home. Start by choosing your a type, whether its iceberg, butterhead, loose-leaf or romaine. There are hundreds of hybrids you can toss into salads, cut …
Things to Do Now to Get a Head Start on the Fall Garden
The things you can do now to get a head start on the Fall garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. With another month of hot temps upon us there’s still much work to do in the garden. Including, getting it ready for fall crops. Take some time to remove spent vegetables such as summer squash and bean plants. …
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 …
Vegetables to Grow for Herbivore Pets and Companions
The parbest vegetables to grow for Herbivore pets and companions. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. If you have herbivore pets such as rabbits, small rodents, tortoises, or parakeets, then you know they eat a lot of plants. When you’re planning a food garden to feed your entire family, it’s important to also plant species that your non-human companions …
Looking Forward to Citrus, Vegetable and Specialty Expo
We are just three weeks away from the 2021 Citrus, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Expo in North Fort Myers, Florida. Anticipation for the event is rising for many, including Ray Royce, executive director of the Highlands Country Citrus Growers Association (HCCGA). He told AgNet Media that growers in his area always look forward to the Expo. Royce says he and …
Pests and Diseases that can Wreak Havoc on Spinach
The pests and diseases that can wreak havoc on your spinach. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. If you’ve tried growing spinach before you’re plants have probably come under attack by a number of different pests and diseases. Some pests causing only slight damage while others are complete crop killers. Aphids, Army Worms, Cabbage Loopers, to name a few. …
Avoiding Heat-Related Deaths
A new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) report showed 215 people in Florida died from heat-related causes in the last 10 years. The fact that heat-related deaths happen throughout the year surprised the researchers who wrote the report. Serap Gorucu, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, helped write the report. She and …
Small Space Gardening Doesn’t Have to Be a Struggle
Tips for edible gardens in small spaces. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Gardening in small spaces doesn’t have to be a struggle. Maximize your minimal gardening space by strategically pairing fruits, vegetables and flowers. Plant flowers that will attract beneficial bugs that will pollinate the vegetables. They can also deter harmful insects resulting in better growing conditions and …