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Gardening Guide
June Gardening Guide 2009
By: Patricia Porchey
The recent rains were enthusiastically greeted by gardeners after a
drought-stricken winter and spring. Now the much anticipated afternoon
summer rains can make us forget about droughts, but we need to
remember that the three prior years left us with a 30-inch deficit.
Water conservation is extremely important and more and more people
are embracing conservation measures - it’s becoming "fashionable." The
acronym LID (Low Impact Development) is now being used in conjunction
with water conservation. Reducing stormwater runoff and keeping rain
water on site is the crux of LID.
There are measures that any homeowner can employ to increase water
conservation to reduce the use of potable water. Reroute gutters away
from driveways to planting beds or rain barrels. Use micro-irrigation
in beds and properly operating irrigation systems on turf areas. Rain
or soil sensors will run your irrigation system only when it is
needed. Unnecessarily watering plants will waste water, but can also
lead to disease and pest problems.
Imposed water restrictions remind us that water conservation is a
year-round problem. Following are some of the current water
restrictions for Sarasota County including the cities of Sarasota,
Venice, North Port and Englewood. (Reclaimed water is exempt)
- Irrigation system watering is permitted once per week before 8
a.m. or after 6 p.m.
- Even numbered addresses on Tuesdays and odd numbered addresses
on Thursdays.
- Hand water is permitted any day, but is prohibited between 8
a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
- Car washing is permitted once per week and is recommended to be
done on turf areas.
- New installations are limited to 15-days daily watering for turf
and 30 days daily watering for ornamentals (before 8 a.m. or after 6
p.m.)
- Fertilizer/pest control applications before 8 a.m. or after 6
p.m.
- Fountains/waterfalls are permitted to operate only 4 hours per
day.
Violators will be fined $100 up to $500 per violation. No warnings
will be given. Call 861-5000 to report violations. For more
information on water conservation and water restrictions, go to
http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/ or visit our office.
Timely reminders:
- The new fertilizer ordinance makes it illegal to apply Nitrogen
and Phosphorus June 1 – September 30. If your turf needs greening up
this summer, you can apply chelated iron.
- Every time a palm is "hurricane cut," it is stressed. When
pruning palms, only remove the brown fronds
Blooming and planting guide:
- Vegetables & Herbs (plant herbs from transplants and vegetables
from seeds or transplants): Basil, borage, catnip, collard and
mustard greens, eggplant, lemon balm, marjoram, mint, okra, oregano,
rosemary, southern peas, summer savory, sweet potatoes, thyme and
turnip.
- Annuals: Begonia Celosia, Coleus, Crossandra, Gazania, Gerbera
daisy, Gomphrena, marigold, Melampodium, Nicotiana, periwinkle,
Portulaca, Salvia, Torenia, and Zinnia.
- Perennials: Blue daze, Gaillardia, Coreopsis, daylily, Pentas,
Ruellia caroliniensis (native), Salvia, Shasta daisy, society
garlic, Stokes aster and Verbena.
- Fruits in season: Banana, blueberry, Carambola, guava, citrus (calamondin,
key lime, lemon and lime), Jackfruit, fig, kumquat, lychee,
macadamia, mango, papaya and pineapple.
- Blooming plants: African tulip tree, Allamanda, beautyberry,
bird of paradise, Cannas, crape jasmine, crape myrtle, dwarf
Poinciana, Gardenia, Jacaranda, Jerusalem thorn, Ligustrum,
Magnolia, Mexican flame vine, ponytail palm, Plumbago, Plumeria,
royal Poinciana, thryallis, and Yucca.
Upcoming educational classes:
Call 861-9900 to register for the following classes.
- Florida Yards & Neighborhoods: Creating Your Florida Yard, Twin
Lakes Park, 10:00 a.m. June 10
- Hurricanes vs. Trees, Twin Lakes Park, 10:00 a.m. June 17
- Termites, Shamrock Park, 2:00 p.m. June 18
- Organic Vegetable Gardening, Laurel Park, 10:30 a.m. June 20
- Let It Rot (Composting), Twin Lakes Park, 10:00 a.m. July 1
- Partnering with Pollinators, Twin Lakes Park, 1:00 p.m. July 1
- Hurricanes vs. Trees, Shamrock Park, 2:00 p.m. July 2
- Florida Yards & Neighborhoods: Creating Your Florida Yard, North
Port Library, 6:30 p.m. July 7
- The Bed Bug Menace, Twin Lakes Park, 1:00 p.m. July 8
- Turf Alternatives: Small Plants for Small Places, Gulf Gate
Library, 1:30 p.m. July 10
For information
The Master Gardener Help Desk now has an email address:
mghelpdesk@scgov.net to
answer questions. It is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m.-Noon and
1:00-4:00 p.m. You can call (941-861-9807) or visit our office at Twin
Lakes Park on Clark Road east of I-75 with landscape questions. We
also have weekly satellite help desks at the four south county
libraries and every third Saturday of the month at the Downtown
Farmer’s Market.
(Patricia Porchey is an Urban Horticulture Agent with University of
Florida/IFAS Sarasota County Extension. Website:
http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu)
Submitted: June 2, 2009
May Gardening Guide (2009)
By Patricia Porchey
The Master Gardener program was first conceived in Washington State
by Extension agents who needed help assisting homeowners whose
interest in horticulture was increasing in urban areas. Volunteers
were trained by land-grant college staff so they would have the
knowledge to provide information and answer questions for the public.
From Washington State, the program has become an important part of
Extension programs in land-grant universities across the nation.
Fifty-four counties in Florida have active Master Gardener programs
affiliated with the University of Florida’s Extension Service.
Sarasota County has one of the largest programs with 119 Master
Gardeners. These volunteer educators provide research-based
information to homeowners about planning and maintaining urban and
suburban landscapes with an emphasis on environmental stewardship.
When you call the Extension office with a question, your call will be
answered by a Master Gardener at the Help Desk. They also assist
homeowners at five satellite Help Desk locations.
In addition, Master Gardeners staff information booths and give
demonstrations at special events, give presentations to garden clubs,
work with youth groups (4-H, Scouts, public and private school
students), assist with community gardens, and facilitate horticultural
activities for the developmentally and physically-challenged as well
as senior populations. They grow plants for their annual fund-raising
plant sale in October; whose proceeds are for educational grants for
community projects. They are responsible for maintaining the landscape
and conducting tours in the demonstration landscapes at the Florida
House Learning Center and Extension office.
Our Master Gardeners are continually recognized for their
contributions to the community at the community gardens, schools,
parks and other facilities. They donated over 16,000 hours of their
time in 2008. In the past two years, two Sarasota County Master
Gardeners have received national awards for their work in the
community from the MetLife Foundation’s Older Volunteers Enrich
America.
Once a year, new Master Gardeners are recruited and trained to be a
part of this volunteer program. There are no prerequisites, just a
genuine desire to volunteer your time to assist others in the
community. If you are interested, visit our website for more
information
http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu or attend the upcoming
orientation program on June 3.
Blooming & planting guide
- Vegetables & Herbs: Anise, beans, black-eyed peas, borage,
catnip, chervil, cilantro/coriander, comfrey, corn, cumin, dasheen,
eggplant, marjoram, mint, okra, oregano, peas, summer savory, sweet
potatoes, tarragon and watermelon.
- Annuals: Ageratum, Begonia, Celosia, Cleome, Coleus, Cosmos,
Crossandra, dusty miller, four o’clock, Gazania, marigold, morning
glory, Nicotiana, periwinkle, Portulaca, Salvia, sunflower, Torenia,
Verbena and Zinnia.
- Perennials: Blue daze, Caladium, Coreopsis, Dahlberg daisy,
daylily, Gaillardia, Gaura, Gerbera daisy, Kalanchoe, Mexican
heather, Pentas, Rudbeckia, Salvias, shell ginger, shrimp plants,
Tithonia and Verbena.
- Fruits in Season: Banana, blackberry, blueberry, carambola,
citrus, (calamondin, grapefruit, key lime, lemon, and lime,), guava,
kumquat, loquat, macadamia, papaya, pineapple, Surinam cherry, and
tamarind.
- Blooming Plants: Amaryllis, birds of paradise, crape jasmine,
daylily, devil’s backbone, Gardenia, dwarf Indian hawthorn,
Jacaranda, Jerusalem thorn, Magnolia, Mexican flame vine, natal
plum, oleander, pipevine, Plumeria, silk oak Simpson’s stopper, star
jasmine, Texas sage, and Yucca.
Upcoming classes
Call 861-9900 to register for the following classes.
- Summer Gardening-Summer Cover Plants, Orange Blossom Community
Garden, 18th & Orange, 1:00 p.m. May 2
- Invasive Insect Pests, Twin Lakes Park, 1:00 p.m. May 6
- Florida Yards & Neighborhoods: Nine Landscape Principles, Twin
Lakes Park, 10:00 a.m. May 13
- Growing Herbs in Florida, Twin Lakes Park, 1:00 p.m. May 13
- Backyard Landscapes for Native Reptiles & Amphibians, Twin Lakes
Park, 3:00 p.m. May 13
- Organic Vegetable Gardening, Laurel Community Garden, Forest &
Collins, Laurel, 10:30 a.m. May 16
- Florida Yards & Neighborhoods: Nine Landscape Principles,
Fruitville Library, 2:00 p.m. May 18
- Invasive Plants, Twin Lakes Park, 1:00 p.m. May 20
- Beneficial Insects in the Garden, Shamrock Park, 2:00 p.m. May
21
- Sex in the Garden & other Plant Propagation Methods, Twin Lakes
Park, 10:00 a.m. May 27
- Florida Yards & Neighborhoods: Creating Your Florida Yard,
Fruitville Library, 2:00 p.m. June 1
- Master Gardener Program: What is it?, Twin Lakes Park, 1:00 p.m.
June 3
- Groundcovers: Small Plants for Small Places, Shamrock Park, 2:00
p.m. June 4
For information
The Master Gardener Help Desk now has an email address:
mghelpdesk@scgov.net to
answer questions. It is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m.-Noon and
1:00-4:00 p.m. You can call (941-861-9807) or visit our office at Twin
Lakes Park on Clark Road east of I-75 with landscape questions. We
also have weekly satellite help desks at the four south county
libraries and every third Saturday of the month at the Downtown
Farmer’s Market.
(Patricia Porchey is an Urban Horticulture Agent with University of
Florida/IFAS Sarasota County Extension. Website:
http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu)
Submitted April 28, 2009
April Gardening Guide (2009)
By Patricia Porchey
Are you a good "steward" of the land? This is becoming a more
familiar term as more emphasis is placed on being green and lowering
our carbon footprints.
Water conservation is at the top of the list for being an
environmental steward after three years of drought and a new year
where we are already five inches below the normal rainfall. Some
counties and municipalities are already imposing what some would
consider drastic measures to combat the water shortages.
If you have already established the practice of watering your
plants only when they "tell" you they are thirsty, you’ve already
started them down the road to being more drought tolerant. They will
develop longer roots as they search for water during the intervals
between watering and be better able to sustain themselves. This is
true of all plants, not just turf.
Here are other practices you can adopt to be a good steward and
still have a healthy landscape:
- Test your irrigation system routinely to make sure the heads are
functioning properly and water is hitting the intended target and
not running onto the street.
- Test the amount of water being generated by the heads and cut it
back to 3/4 inch each application.
- Allow turf to grow longer before mowing, as well as, adhering to
the rule to only remove 1/3rd of the blades at a time.
- Water in the morning so more moisture is taken in by the roots
and not lost to evaporation. Avoid watering in the evening as this
could lead to disease problems.
- Convert flower and shrub beds to micro-irrigation to more
effectively get water to the roots where it is needed.
- Incorporate the use of mulch into your landscape maintenance to
help hold the moisture in the soil longer as well as prevent weeds.
As mulch breaks down, it will improve the soil texture so moisture
and nutrients remain in the soil longer.
- Use fertilizers containing at least 50% slow-release nutrients
so nutrients don’t leach through the soil quickly.
- When pests are a problem, use the least toxic treatment, such as
soaps and oils.
- Treat plants only when the number of pests poses a threat and no
beneficial insects are present.
- Eliminate those plants from you landscape that attract pests and
require more treatment with pesticides.
- Always read the labels on pesticides and herbicides before using
them. Some herbicides may cause injury to plants when the
temperatures go over 85 degrees.
- Reward yourself financially and nutritionally by growing some of
your own food.
- Teach your children and grandchildren what you have learned and
encourage them to garden with you.
Blooming & planting guide
- Vegetables & Herbs: Anise, basil, beans, borage, cantaloupe,
chervil, comfrey, corn, cucumber, cumin, horehound, lemon balm,
marjoram, mint, okra, oregano, peas, summer savory, sweet potatoes,
tarragon and thyme.
- Annuals: Amaranthus, aster, Celosia, Cleome, Coleus, Cosmos,
dusty miller, Gazania, geranium, Impatiens, Lobelia, morning glory,
Nicotiana, ornamental pepper, Pentas, periwinkle, Phlox, Portulaca,
Salvia, Torenia, Verbena and Zinnia.
- Perennials: African iris, Amazon lily, Aztec lily, blue daze,
blood lily, Caladium, Canna, Coreopsis, Crossandra, Dianthus,
Gaillardia, Gaura, Gerbera daisy, Gloriosa lily, milkweed, Mexican
heather, Philippine violet, rain lily, Salvia, Scabiosa, shell
ginger, shrimp plants, Tithonia and Verbena.
- Fruits in Season: Banana, blueberry, carambola, citrus, (calamondin,
grapefruit, Key lime, lemon, lime, and orange), kumquat, loquat,
Mysore raspberry, Surinam cherry, and strawberry.
- Blooming Plants: Amaryllis, avocado, azalea, bottlebrush,
Bougainvillea, confederate jasmine, dwarf Indian hawthorn,
Jacaranda, Cordia, Lantana, Macadamia, Magnolia, Nasturtium, orchid
tree, rose, society garlic, Simpson’s stopper, trumpet trees, Turk’s
cap, and Viburnum.
Upcoming classes
Call 861-9900 to register for the following classes.
- First Saturdays Class on Organic Vegetables, Orange Blossom
Community Garden, Orange Avenue Park, 18th & Orange, 1:00
p.m. April 4
- Backyard Landscapes for Native Pollinators, Twin Lakes Park,
4:00 p.m. April 8
- Container Gardening, Selby Library, 2:00 p.m. April 13
- Container Gardening, North Sarasota Library, 2:00 p.m. April 13
- Butterfly Gardening, Twin Lakes Park, 10:00 a.m. April 15
- Butterfly Predators, Twin Lakes Park, 1:00 p.m. April 15
- Are You Fire Wise?, Twin Lakes Park, 4:00 p.m. April 15
- Chinch Bugs & White Grubs, Shamrock Park, 2:00 p.m. April 16
- Urban Trees: Growing the Future, Gulf Gate Library, 2:00 p.m.
April 17
- Third Saturdays Class on Organic Vegetables, Laurel Community
Garden, Laurel Community Garden, Forest & Collins, Laurel, 10:30
a.m. April 18
- Florida Yards & Neighborhoods: Creating Your Florida Yard,
Fruitville Library, 2:00 p.m. April 20
- Insect Biodiversity in the Garden, Twin Lakes Park, 1:00 p.m.
April 22
- Termites: What to Know & Do About Them, Twin Lakes Park, 1:00
p.m. April 29
- First Saturdays Class on Organic Vegetables, Orange Blossom
Community Garden, Orange Avenue Park, 18th & Orange, 1:00
p.m. April 4
- First Saturdays Class on Organic Vegetables, Orange Blossom
Community Garden, Orange Avenue Park, 18th & Orange, 1:00
p.m. May 2
For information
The Master Gardener Help Desk now has an email address:
mghelpdesk@scgov.net to
answer questions. It is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m.-Noon and
1:00-4:00 p.m. You can call (941-861-9807) or visit our office at Twin
Lakes Park on Clark Road east of I-75 with landscape questions. We
also have weekly satellite help desks at the four south county
libraries and every third Saturday of the month at the Downtown
Farmer’s Market.
(Patricia Porchey is an Urban Horticulture Agent with University of
Florida/IFAS Sarasota County Extension. Website:
http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu)
Submitted March 31, 2009
March Gardening Guide (2009)
By Patricia Porchey
After an unusually cold winter for us, there is more damage to our
plants than we would normally see. Before you start removing damaged
areas, however, first determine if branches are really dead. These
three tests will help you. First, newly emerged leaves, triggered by
the warm springtime temperatures, will show you that branches are
still alive. Second, test the branch for flexibility; if it’s stiff
and brittle, it is probably dead. Third, scratch the bark to see if
it’s still green; green means it is alive.
Once you have removed the dead branches, you may decide to do some
structural pruning. If you only remove about 25% of the total growth
at one time, this will allow you to shape the plant without stressing
it. Structurally prune spring-blooming plants only after they have
bloomed
Once you’ve determined pruning is needed, here are some guidelines
to follow to maintain a healthy plant.
- Remove the dead wood on the periphery or interior areas of
plant.
- Remove all broken branches.
- Remove a branch that crisscrosses another branch, resulting in
bark stripping. Keep the branch that is structurally best for the
plant.
- If there are diseased branches with canker, galls, or "witches
broom," make your cut six to twelve inches below the infected area.
After each cut, the pruners should be sterilized. Make a sterilizing
solution with 80%water and 20% bleach or with 70%water and 30% Pine
Sol, or its equivalent. The tools need to remain in the sterilizing
solution for 5 minutes and then rinsed before reusing.
- Avoid leaving stubs where you remove larger branches by leaving
only the "bark ridges" at the top and the collar swelling at the
base of each branch cut.
Drought alert
After three years of drought, and a
fourth on-going, rain has become a scarce commodity for our plants.
During the winter months while our nights are still cool, irrigating
twice a month is usually sufficient for healthy turf, shrubs and small
trees. It’s not necessary to water large trees because of their
extensive root systems. However, fruiting plants will need sufficient
moisture to fully develop their fruit in a timely manner.
Don’t be misled by plant
characteristics; even "drought-tolerant" plants may or may not survive
during a prolonged drought period. Supplemental watering may be needed
to keep the plants from undergoing tremendous stress. Monitor plants
regularly to see if they need water. Symptoms in appearance indicating
the need for supplemental water are dull-colored leaves and wilting.
Blooming & planting guide
- Vegetables & Herbs: Anise, basil, beans, beets, borage,
cantaloupe, chervil, comfrey, corn, cucumber, cumin, kohlrabi, lemon
balm, lettuce, marjoram, mustard, okra, oregano, peas, summer
savory, sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, radish, summer
squash, tarragon, thyme, tomatoes, and watermelon.
- Annuals: Ageratum, alyssum, Begonia, Browallia, Celosia, coleus,
Cosmos, Dahlberg daisy, dusty miller, Gazania, geranium, Impatiens,
Lobelia, marigold, Nicotiana, Petunia, Phlox, Portulaca, Salvia,
Torenia, Verbena, and Zinnia.
- Perennials: African iris, Amazon lily, blood lily, blue daze,
Caladium, Canna, Coreopsis, Crinum lily, daylily, Gaillardia,
Gerbera daisy, Gaura, gloriosa lily, Mexican heather, milkweed,
Pentas, Salvia, Shasta daisy, and society garlic.
- Fruits in Season: Banana, carambola, citrus (calamondin,
grapefruit, key lime, lemon, lime, orange, and tangerine),
jaboticaba, kumquat, loquat, strawberry, and papaya.
- Blooming plants: Angel’s trumpet, azalea, blue flag iris, blue
sage, bottlebrush, Bougainvillea, Buddleia, cape honeysuckle,
Carolina Jessamine, citrus, dwarf Indian hawthorn, flame vine,
fuchsia skullcap, geranium, lantana, Mexican flame vine, Nemesia,
orchid tree, silk floss tree, society garlic, Surinam cherry,
Walter’s Viburnum, and white bird of paradise.
Upcoming classes
Call 861-9900 to register for the
following classes.
- Florida Yards & Neighborhoods: Creating Your Florida Yard, Elsie
Quirk Library, 10:00 a.m. Mar.3
- Living Baskets, Twin Lakes Park, 10:00 a.m. Mar. 4
- Florida Yards & Neighborhoods: Creating Your Florida Yard,
Venice Library, 10:00 a.m. Mar.5
- Creating Wildlife Habitat in and around Ponds, Shamrock Park,
2:00 p.m. Mar. 5
- Organic Vegetable Gardening, Orange Blossom Community Garden, 18th
& Orange, 1:00 p.m. Mar. 7
- Chinch Bugs & White Grubs, Twin Lakes Park, 10:00 a.m. Mar. 11
- Florida Yards & Neighborhoods: Creating Your Florida Yard, Twin
Lakes Park, 4:00 p.m. Mar. 11
- Insects Out There: What Bug Is That? (2-hour nature walk), Curry
Creek Preserve, entrance 1.5 miles south of Laurel Road on Pinebrook,
Venice, 10:00 a.m. Mar.13
- Florida Yards & Neighborhoods: Nine Landscape Principles,
Fruitville Library, 2:00 p.m. Feb. 16
- Annuals & Perennials for your Landscape, Twin Lakes Park, 10:00
a.m. Mar. 18
- Stinging Insects, Twin Lakes Park, 1:00 p.m. Mar. 18
- Partnering with Pollinators, Shamrock Park, 2:00 p.m. Mar. 19
- Organic Vegetable Gardening, Laurel Community Garden, Forest &
Collins, Laurel, 10:30 a.m. Mar. 21
- Hurricanes & Trees, North Port Library, 10:00 a.m. Mar.24
- Sex in the Garden & other Plant Propagation Methods, Twin Lakes
Park, 10:00 a.m. Mar. 25
- Spiders, Twin Lakes Park, 1:00 p.m. Mar. 25
- Food Choices & Your Carbon Footprint, Twin Lakes Park, 4:00 p.m.
Mar. 25
For information
The Master Gardener Help Desk now
has an email address:
mghelpdesk@scgov.net
to answer questions. It is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m.-Noon and
1:00-4:00 p.m. You can call (941-861-9807) or visit our office at Twin
Lakes Park on Clark Road east of I-75 with landscape questions. We
also have weekly satellite help desks at the four south county
libraries and every third Saturday of the month at the Downtown
Farmer’s Market.
(Patricia Porchey is an Urban
Horticulture Agent with University of Florida/IFAS Sarasota County
Extension. Website:
http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu)
Submitted February 23, 2009
January 2009 Gardening Guide
By Patricia Porchey
Whenever I drive through an older neighborhood, I am
either struck by the sight of majestic mature shade trees or the
bareness created by their absence. Studies have shown that wooded
residential areas can decrease air temperatures by 8-15% when compared
to paved commercial areas. Newer subdivisions have landscape
requirements, including trees, that over time will provide many
benefits for these homeowners.
Trees have always been an important part of our
landscape for aesthetics and shade on a hot summer day. However, there
are many other reasons why trees are so valuable in our landscape.
According to the Florida Urban Forestry Council, annually one million
trees provide $3.5 million in stormwater runoff savings, $5 million in
air pollution clean-up savings, and $1 million in energy savings. Tree
leaves intercept rain water and roots hold the soil in place as they
aid in the percolation of rain water through the soil. Trees lining
public streets can reduce ozone levels by 40% and induce traffic
speeds to drop by 7-12 MPH. Air conditioning bills can be reduced by
nearly half with well-placed trees around your home.
Did you know that plants are our only source of oxygen
and trees play a dominant part? Plants remove carbon dioxide (CO2)
from the air and produce oxygen. One tree can remove 32 pounds of CO2
per year. One acre of trees can produce enough oxygen per day for 18
people to breathe.
We can’t forget the benefits to wildlife – trees
provide habitat and food. They provide shelter and nesting areas for
birds large and small as well as some mammals. Their diverse array of
seeds and fruits provide food for much of our wildlife.
For 23 years, Sarasota has been recognized by the
Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA. In fact, in April 2000, the
national Millennium Arbor Day Celebration was held here in Sarasota.
To commemorate the occasion, the Millennium Tree Trail was dedicated
at the Ringling Museum and remains open to the public today.
Plant a tree for Florida Arbor Day, January 16, so you
too can reap the benefits of trees.
For more information about trees and their benefits as
well as selection, visit the Trees4Florida website http://treesarecool.com
and the Florida-friendly plant database website http://floridayards.org.
Upcoming educational classes:
You may now register for classes on-line at our
website: http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu/EdSched.htm or call
861-9900.
Frost Protection for Home
Vegetable Gardens, Orange Blossom Community Garden (18th
& Orange Ave.), 1:00 p.m. Jan. 3
Partnering with Pollinators, Twin Lakes Park, 1:00 p.m. Jan. 14
Florida Yards & Neighborhoods: Nine Landscape Principles, Twin
Lakes Park, 4:00 p.m. Jan. 14
Invasive Insects, Shamrock Park, 2:00 p.m. Jan. 22
Florida Yards & Neighborhoods: Nine Landscape Principles,
Fruitville Library, 4:00 p.m. Jan. 26
Houseplants in Florida, Twin Lakes Park, 10:00 a.m. Jan. 28
Pests In & Around the Florida Home, Twin Lakes Park, 1:00 p.m. Jan.
28
Florida Yards & Neighborhoods: Nine Landscape Principles, Elsie
Quirk Library, 10:00 a.m. Feb. 3
Step by Step Florida-friendly Landscape Training (5 sessions: Feb.
4, 11, 18, Mar. 4, 11), Twin Lakes Park, 1:00 p.m. ($20.00 fee)
Valentine Topiary, Twin Lakes Park, 10:00 a.m. Feb. 4
Florida Yards & Neighborhoods: Nine Landscape Principles, Venice
Library, 10:00 a.m. Feb. 5
Snakes of Florida, Jacaranda Library, 10:00 a.m. Feb. 5
Non-native Invasive Plants, Shamrock Park, 2:00 p.m. Feb. 5
Florida Yards & Neighborhoods: Nine Landscape Principles, Gulf Gate
Library, 1:30 p.m. Feb. 6
Blooming and planting guide
Vegetables & Herbs: Beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower,
celery, Chinese cabbage, chives, collards, coriander, dill, eggplant,
endive, fennel, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, onion,
parsley, peas, pepper, potatoes, radish, rosemary, sage, tomatoes,
turnips, and watermelon.
Annuals: Alyssum, ageratum, Calendula, dusty miller, geranium,
Lobelia, nasturtium, pansy, ornamental cabbage and kale, petunia,
phlox, snapdragon, Statice and Verbena.
Perennials: Agapanthus, Amaryllis, calla lily, Clivia, Crinum lily,
daylily, Dianthus, blue sage, Shasta daisy, society garlic, Tithonia,
Viola, and walking iris.
Fruits in Season: Avocado, banana, carambola, citrus (calamondin,
grapefruit, key lime, lemon, lime, orange, and tangerine), hog plum,
Indian jujube, kumquat, and papaya.
Blooming plants: Bougainvillea, bromeliad, Cassia, Chinese hat
plant, crown of thorns, desert rose, firebush, Kalanchoe, Lantana,
lion’s ear, loquat, mango, Mexican flame vine, orchid tree, porterweed,
rose, Tabebuia, Thunbergia, and Turk’s cap.
For
information
If
you have questions concerning your landscape, please call or visit our
office at Twin Lakes Park on Clark Road east of I-75.
The
Master Gardener Help Desk
is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m.-Noon and
1:00-4:00 p.m. (941-861-9807). We have weekly satellite help desks at
the four south county libraries and at the
Downtown Farmer’s Market
every third Saturday
of the month.
(Patricia Porchey is
an Urban Horticulture Agent with University of Florida/IFAS Sarasota
County Extension. Website: http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu)
November Gardening Guide 2008
By: Patricia Porchey
The hum of our air conditioners seems especially prolonged this
year as our cool autumn weather has been slow to arrive. Our citrus
fruits are still green on the tree as a result of the continued warm
nighttime temperatures. Navel oranges and grapefruit are usually ready
to harvest this month. If we wait until the fruit is fully orange or
yellow, the fruit may actually be overripe and the pulp, dry. Mother
Nature usually helps us know the fruit is ripe by dropping some on the
ground. To confirm it’s ready to eat, pick one and cut it in half.
Just the smell can trigger the appetite.
If you don’t have a large yard, you can still enjoy homegrown fruit
by growing it and other edibles in containers. The restricted root
space will slow down the upper growth of trees, but still allow you to
have fruit to harvest. All of the vegetables and herbs listed below
can successfully be grown in containers. Using containers also helps
you to avoid some of the problems with soil borne nematodes and
disease. Location is still key to growing healthy plants so place your
containers in a sunny well-ventilated area.
To learn more about growing vegetables and herbs, attend the open
house on November 1 at Orange Blossom Community Garden located in the
Orange Avenue Park at 17th and Orange Avenue. Parking is
available on the north side of the park on Carver Street. Gardeners
will be eager to share their knowledge and experiences with you
throughout the day from 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Dr. Robert Kluson,
Agricultural & Natural Resources Agent, will be talking about "Organic
Vegetable Gardening" at 2:00 p.m.
Gardening activities
- Now that the temperatures are lower that 85 degrees, it’s OK to
apply an herbicide to turf weeds. Alternatives are to weed by hand
or just keep them mowed so they don’t go to seed.
- It’s time for the final pruning for most ornamentals before the
onset of colder weather. The exception is those spring-blooming
plants such as azalea and gardenia which have already set their buds
for next year.
- Monitor for pests causing serious damage to ornamentals.
Notching on the margins of leaves is probably due to the influx of
the Sri Lanka weevil. Distorted new growth on Hibiscus is due to a
resurgence of the pink Hibiscus mealybug. Call our office for more
information on addressing these serious pests.
- We are in the driest months of the year and this is the third
year our total rainflall is 20 inches below normal. Replenish
mulches 2-4 inches to aid in soil moisture retention and weed
control.
Blooming & Planting Guide
- Vegetables & herbs: Basil, beets, Borage, broccoli, Brussels
sprouts, carrot, cauliflower, celery, chervil, collards, coriander,
dill, fennel, garlic, leek, mustard, onions, parsley, peas,
rutabaga, sage, spinach, strawberries, Swiss chard, thyme, tomato,
and turnips.
- Annuals: Ageratum, Alyssum, Begonia, Calendula, Celosia, Coleus,
cosmos, dusty miller, foxglove, geranium, Impatiens, Lobelia,
marigold, Melampodium, nasturtium, pansy, Pentas, petunia, Salvia,
snapdragon, and statice.
- Perennials: African iris, aster, blue daze, bush daisy,
Chrysanthemum, cigar plant, Coreopsis, Dianthus, Gaillardia, Gerbera
daisy, Liatris, Mexican petunia, Salvia, Scabiosa, Shasta daisy,
society garlic, and Verbena.
- Fruits in Season: Atemoya, avocado, banana, carambola, citrus (calamondin,
grapefruit, key lime, lemon, lime, orange, tangelo and tangerine),
kumquat, papaya, pecan, persimmon, pomegranate, sea grape, and sugar
apple.
- Blooming plants: Allamanda, bottlebrush, Bougainvillea, Cassia,
Cordia, firecracker plant, firespike, goldenrod, Liatris, lion’s
ear, oleander, Philippine violet, red and yellow shrimp plants,
Salvia, thryallis, Turk’s cap, Thunbergia, and yellow elder.
Upcoming classes
You may now register for all classes on-line at
http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu/EdSched.htm or call 861-9900.
- "Insect Pests of Woody Plants," Twin Lakes Park, November 5 at
1:00 p.m.
- "Out Native Air Plants (Epiphytes)," Shamrock Park, November 6
at 2:00 p.m.
- "Color in the Winter Landscape," Twin Lakes Park, November 12 at
1:00 p.m.
- "Creating Your Florida Yard," Gulf Gate Library, November 14 at
2:00 p.m.
- "Florida Yards & Neighborhoods: Nine Landscape Principles,"
Fruitville Library at 2:00 p.m.
- "Do You Know What Spider That Is?" Shamrock Park, November 20 at
2:00 p.m.
- "Organic Foods: A Consumer’s Guide," Twin Lakes Park, December 3
at 10:00 a.m.
- "Palms in the Landscape," Twin Lakes Park, December 3 at 1:00
p.m.
- "Florida Buggy Critters: The Bad, Good & Harmless," Twin Lakes
Park, December 3 at 4:00 p.m.
For information
If you have questions concerning your landscape, please call
(941-861-9807) or visit the Master Gardener Help Desk at our office at
Twin Lakes Park on Clark Road east of I-75. The Help Desk is open
Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m.-Noon and 1:00-4:00 p.m. We have weekly
satellite help desks at the four south county libraries and every
third Saturday of the month at the Downtown Farmer’s Market.
(Patricia Porchey is an Urban Horticulture Agent with University of
Florida/IFAS Sarasota County Extension. Website:
http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu)
Submitted October 28, 2008
October 2008 Gardening Guide
By: Patricia Porchey
According to the book, A Place to
Grow: Voices and Images of Urban Gardeners, "Community vegetable
gardens-and the hope they bring for changing people’s lives-are at the
very heart of urban renewal. With seeds, soil, and sweat, inner-city
gardeners work steadily with genuine passion and commitment to make
their neighborhoods better places to live." Sarasota’s own Rosemary
District Community Garden was a shining example. It was located in a
blighted area north of downtown eleven years ago and became the
stimulus for a new vitality in that area. It spawned a group of
dedicated gardeners and became a gathering spot for all.
The recent escalation in food prices
has renewed the interest in community gardens nationwide. The high
cost of feeding a family has increased the interest in community
gardens as a way to reduce the amount of food consumers buy at the
grocery.
In addition to the economic factor,
there are other reasons people like to be part of a community garden.
More consumers electing to eat organically-grown produce have decided
to grow their own food. Sometimes, there is a desire to grow one’s own
food, but there is no area for a vegetable garden where they live. The
desire to be with others sharing the same interest in gardening leads
some to the community garden. These gardens are called "community"
gardens for multiple reasons, but here the sense of bonding people
together becomes real.
Florida’s climate allows for growing
vegetables year round, a few can even tolerate the summer heat. There
are four community gardens in Sarasota County. If you would like more
information on how you can become a part of this phenomenon and feel
the satisfaction of growing your own food, go to our website for an
application or call our office.
There will be an open house at Orange
Blossom Community Garden (formerly Rosemary District) in November to
showcase this community garden. There will be a children’s garden and
an opportunity garden for those with physical challenges. In addition
to the normal ground-level beds, there will be raised beds, vertical
beds, and even some recycled bathtubs. It will be a place for all ages
and abilities to share the rewards of gardening.
Upcoming classes
Step by Step: Florida
Friendly Landscaping is a series of five classes covering how to
create and maintain attractive landscapes that protect Florida’s
natural environment. They are being offered on October 7, 14, 21 and
November 4 & 18 at the North Port Library from 10:00 am-Noon. There is
a $20.00 registration fee. You may now register for all classes
on-line at
http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu/EdSched.htm
or call 861-9900.
- "Termites: What to Know & Do about Them," Twin Lakes Park, Oct.
8 at 1:00 p.m.
- "Backyard Landscaping for Birds," Twin Lakes Park, Oct. 8 at
4:00 p.m.
- "After the Storm: Caring for Damaged Trees & Palms," Jacaranda
Library, Oct. 9 at 10:00 a.m.
- "Termites: What to Know & Do about Them," Shamrock Park, Oct.16
at 2:00 p.m.
- "Creating Your Florida Yard," Fruitville Library, Oct. 20 at
2:00 p.m.
- "Living Green: Environmentally Sound Pest Management Practices,"
Twin Lakes Park, Oct. 22 at 1:00 p.m.
- "Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Workshop," Twin Lakes Park, Oct.
22 at 4:00 p.m.
Blooming & Planting Guide
- Vegetables & herbs: Basil, beans, beets, Borage, broccoli,
Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, chervil,
collards, coriander, cucumber, cumin, garlic, leek, lettuce,
mustard, onions, parsley, peas, radish, rutabaga, spinach,
strawberries, thyme, tomato, and turnips.
- Annuals: Ageratum, Alyssum, Begonia, calendula, Celosia, Coleus,
dusty miller, geranium, Impatiens, Lobelia, marigold, Melampodium,
nasturtium, pansy, petunia, Salvia, snapdragon, and Zinnia.
- Perennials: Agapanthus, beach buttercup, blue daze, calla
lily, Chrysanthemum, cigar plant, Coreopsis, Crinum lily, Dianthus,
elephant ears, Gaillardia, Gerbera daisy, iris, Liatris, Pentas,
Salvia, Shasta daisy, society garlic, and Verbena.
- Fruits in season: Atemoya, avocado, banana, carambola,
citrus (calamondin, lemon, and lime), fig, guava, hog plum, kumquat,
muscadine grape, papaya, pecan, persimmon, pomegranate, sea grape,
sugar apple, and tamarind.
- Blooming plants: Allamanda, bird-of-paradise, bottlebrush,
Cassia, Cordia, dwarf Poinciana, false dragonhead, firecracker
plant, firespike, goldenrain tree, Mexican heather, oleander,
Philippine violet, red and yellow shrimp plants, rouge plant,
Plumbago, rose, Salvia, thryallis, Turk’s cap, Thunbergia, and
Tibouchina.
Reminder
The Master Gardeners are holding their
fourth annual plant sale at Bee Ridge Park on October 11 from 8:00
a.m. – 2:00 p.m. An extensive selection of native, drought-tolerant,
and edible plants will be available as well as information about the
Florida Yards and Neighborhoods program. The park is located at the
corner of Wilkinson and South Lockwood Ridge Roads.
For information
If you have questions concerning your
landscape, please call (941-861-9807) or visit the Master Gardener
Help Desk at our office at Twin Lakes Park on Clark Road east of
I-75. The Help Desk is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m.-Noon
and 1:00-4:00 p.m. We have weekly satellite help desks at the four
south county libraries and every third Saturday of the month at the
Downtown Farmer’s Market.
(Patricia Porchey is an
Urban Horticulture Agent with University of Florida/IFAS Sarasota
County Extension. Website:
http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu)
Submitted September 30, 2008 |
Larry Briden
