Dustin Huff

staff

biological scientist, UF/IFAS Department of Horticultural Sciences

Publications

Prácticas Culturales para el Caqui Japonés en Florida

Ali Sarkhosh, Dustin Huff, andPeter C. Andersen

Los caquis son considerados como un cultivo relativamente sostenible en Florida, con una calificación de 6 puntos en una escala de 10 para la evaluación de sostenibilidad agrícola. Los caquis tienen un potencial comercial moderado y altas probabilidades de llegar directamente al consumidor.

Japanese Persimmon Cultural Practices in Florida

Ali Sarkhosh, Dustin Huff, andPeter C. Andersen

Persimmons are considered a relatively sustainable crop in Florida, rated as a 6 out of 10 on an assessment of agricultural sustainability, with a moderate commercial potential and high direct-to-consumer potential. Consumer demand would mostly be for the nonastringent varieties.

Summer Pruning in Low-Chill Peaches Grown in Florida

Ali Sarkhosh, Dustin Huff, Trequan McGee, andJuanita Popenoe

After the harvest season in any peach orchard, large or small, while daily picking may have ceased, the focus quickly shifts to how to manage the trees to support the subsequent year's crop. The strong apical dominance of peach trees will cause them to continuously put energy into upward growth, which ultimately shades out and hinders the development of fruiting wood in the lower portion of the canopy.

Cultivares de caqui japonés en Florida

Ali Sarkhosh, Peter C. Andersen, andDustin Huff
translated_by Jonathan Clavijo-Herrera

El caqui japonés, Diospyros kaki L., es originario de China y fue cultivado por primera vez en Florida en el año 1870. En algún momento hubo plantaciones comerciales de cultivares astringentes con alrededor de 22.750 árboles. Debido a las dificultades de comercialización, esta industria cesó. California es el mayor productor de caquis japoneses, seguido por Florida y el sur de Texas.

The Pear (Pyrus spp.) in Florida Home Gardens

Juanita Popenoe, Ali Sarkhosh, andDustin Huff

Pears are a great tree to grow for an edible landscape or fruit garden. However, pears are not adapted to all areas in Florida, and only a few cultivated varieties will grow well here. Many plantings are just a few trees in backyards. This publication will provide information to help homeowners select and grow pears successfully in Florida.

The Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia Michx)

Peter C. Andersen, Ali Sarkhosh, Dustin Huff, andJacque W. Breman

The muscadine grape is native to the southeastern United States and was the first native grape species to be cultivated in North America. The natural range of muscadine grapes extends from Delaware to central Florida and occurs in all states along the Gulf Coast to east Texas. It also extends northward along the Mississippi River to Missouri. Muscadine grapes will perform well throughout Florida, although performance is poor in calcareous soils or in soils with very poor drainage. Most scientists divide the Vitis genus into two subgenera: Euvitis (the European, Vitis vinifera L. grapes and the American bunch grapes, Vitis labrusca L.) and the Muscadania grapes (muscadine grapes). There are three species within the Muscadania subgenera (Vitis munsoniana, Vitis popenoei and Vitis rotundifolia). Euvitis and Muscadania have somatic chromosome numbers of 38 and 40, respectively. Vines do best in deep, fertile soils, and they can often be found in beside river beds.

Japanese Persimmon Cultivars in Florida

Ali Sarkhosh, Peter C. Andersen, andDustin Huff

Japanese persimmons, Diospyros kaki L., originated in China and were first grown in Florida in the 1870s. At one time, there were commercial plantings of astringent types, numbering about 22,750 trees. Because of marketing difficulties, this industry ceased. California is the largest producer of Japanese persimmons, followed by Florida and southern Texas.

Jujube as a Florida Fruit Crop

Kevin M. Folta, Dustin Huff, and Ali Sarkhosh

Despite being cultivated in China for millennia, the Chinese jujube is mostly unknown to Western consumers. The fruits are borne from vigorous trees that are tolerant to drought and other stresses, as well as disease. A number of cultivars have been demonstrated to produce in Florida. This publication is a review of jujube genetics and management as this crop gains favor among growers on small farms and home growers.

Growing Feijoa Fruit in Florida

Kevin M. Folta, Dustin Huff, andAli Sarkhosh

Feijoa is often found in central and north Florida landscapes as a durable and cold-hardy plant for hedges and foundation plantings, and as a dooryard fruit. Its value as a potentially heavy producer of flavorful fruits (and flavorful flowers) is frequently overlooked due to issues in pollination and limited genetic improvement. This new 5-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department describes the opportunity and limitations of feijoa as a horticultural crop.