North Florida

Mary L. Duryea

This document summarizes the results of surveys conducted after Hurricanes Erin and Opal in 1995, which assessed tree damage in the Florida Panhandle. It ranks the wind resistance of various tree species, highlighting that species like dogwood, live oak, and sabal palm showed high wind resistance, while species like sand pine and Carolina laurelcherry were less resistant. The findings emphasize the importance of selecting wind-resistant trees for hurricane-prone areas and suggest that proper tree care and maintenance can mitigate damage. First published: May, 1997.

Gail Hansen, Kelly B. Perez, Kelly B. Perez, Esen A. Momol, andEsen Momol
Other Contacts: Keighly Graves andClaire Lewis

The Florida-Friendly landscape pattern books provide homeowners with design guidelines and suggested plants for typical residential site conditions in four USDA Hardiness Zones in Florida, including North Florida, North Central Florida, South Central Florida, and South Florida.

Daniel K. Fenneman, Robert C. Hochmuth, Wanda L. Laughlin, and Sean R. McCoy

Jeffrey G. Norcini

Vivek Sharma, Charles Barrett, De Broughton, and Thomas Obreza

Susan K. Jacobson, Kathryn E. Sieving, Greg Jones, John McElroy, Beida Chen, Mark E. Hostetler, and Sarah W. Miller

Blake R. Thaxton and Robert C. Hochmuth

Tere Davidson, Melissa DeSa, and Héctor E. Pérez

Seed saving is the art and practice of preserving and sharing seeds from desired open-pollinated plants. Saving seeds has many benefits and motivations that may include improving the adaptability of a crop to a region or microclimate, preserving cultural traditions and foods, growing for nutrient density and flavor preferences, saving on the cost of seed purchases, and connecting to local communities through seed sharing. For example, you may start saving seeds to preserve a beloved heirloom variety with flavors that remind you of home or to improve on a crop that performed particularly well. Saving your own seeds can save money, as one good growing season can produce many years' worth of seeds. This publication is for farmers and gardeners interested in producing, using, or donating seeds from open-pollinated plants. It recommends practices to produce, harvest, and store seeds from annual vegetable, fruit, and herb crops. This guidance is not intended for commercial purposes.

Ethan Carter, Tyler Shaw, Libbie Johnson, and Silvana V. Paula-Moraes

Pheromone trapping is a common scouting method used in collaboration with integrated pest management. A major crop pest of many plant species, including Panhandle crops like peanut and cotton, is the soybean looper.  A soybean looper pheromone-trapping study performed in Panhandle commercial peanut and cotton fields also attracted other species with similar appearances, sometimes in high numbers. Misidentification would result in overestimation of soybean looper populations and likely unnecessary insecticide applications. The sharp stigma looper, due to its high seasonal abundance and flight pattern similar to that of the soybean looper, was most concerning. This insect is not a pest and can be discerned from the soybean looper easily through its wing markings, if someone knows what to look for, but if these harmless moths were unwittingly thought of as soybean loopers, it could greatly skew population numbers and prompt improper applications of pesticides.

Sydney Park-Brown andLarry Williams

Give cold-damaged palms proper care to encourage their recovery in February. In April, monitor landscape plants weekly for aphids on tender new growth. Annuals that can take full sun during hot summer months include celosia, portulaca, vinca, and some coleus. In September, plant cool-season vegetable crops, such as radish, carrot, cabbage, and lettuce. This 10-page fact sheet tells what to plant and what to do in your north Florida garden year-round.

Joris Van Zeghbroeck, Guodong Liu, andYuncong Li

Florida is one of two states (FL and CA) that produce spring potatoes, FL having the highest crop value out of any state in the country ($469.67 per ton). Due to the low phosphorus use efficiency (PUE), high rates of phosphorus (P) are applied to ensure adequate yields. This has led to a buildup of legacy P, resulting in mehlich-1 levels as high as 375 mg kg-1. These levels are significantly higher than the critical values for potatoes (25-35 mg kg-1), yet farmers still report increased yields with P applications. Several organic amendments, management practices, and new fertilizers have been shown to help increase P availability in potato cropping systems by reducing P fixation and maximizing the available P fraction throughout the growing season. New fertilizers and management strategies should be researched in the TCAA to find methods that maintain yields while reducing the environmental impact of potato cropping systems.

Laura Jalpa, Rao Mylavarapu, George Hochmuth, Yuncong Li, andBalasubramanian Rathinasabapathi

Tomato is a vital commercial crop in north Florida, where the unique sandy soils present specific challenges for nitrogen (N) management. This publication evaluates the benefits of using polymer-coated controlled-release urea, which demonstrates a capacity to maintain crop yields comparable to those achieved using conventional fertigation methods and N sources. Our research findings emphasize the importance of adjusting N application rates to align with the crop nitrogen requirement and account for seasonal variability in natural soil mineralization rates. These adjustments are crucial for optimizing nitrogen use efficiency and sustainability in tomato cultivation. The publication offers practical recommendations for local growers on selecting optimal N rates and sources. Additionally, these guidelines aim to enhance the sustainability of commercial tomato production by incorporating advanced fertilizer technologies and precise N management practices tailored to local conditions.

Muhammad A. Shahid, Ali Sarkhosh, and Shahid Iqbal

Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki) are a good source of vitamins A and C and dietary fiber, while also being low in calories and fat. These fruits are popular in many Asian cuisines and are enjoyed in various ways, including fresh, dried, or cooked in multiple value-added products. This publication will provide information on persimmon phenological growth stages of four established varieties grown at the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy, Florida. The nine major persimmon growth stages are divided into two categories: vegetative and reproductive stages. This publication provides illustrative figures for each development stage. Accurate identification of phenological stages is important for making informed decisions on plant care, fertilizer, irrigation, and fruit harvesting. This information will be helpful to students, growers, homeowners, nursery workers, and Extension agents interested in growing persimmons in Florida.

Christian T. Christensen, Lakesh Sharma, andLincoln Zotarelli

This new 6-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department focuses on the adjustment of potato seed piece spacing of table-stock cultivars for Florida production. The aim is to provide management strategies that minimize potato seed costs, increase yield, and reach the marked demand for specific tuber size distribution, all of which are important factors for the table-stock potato industry. Written by Mario H. M. L. Andrade, Luis G. Pesantes, Christian T. Christensen, Lakesh Sharma and Lincoln Zotarelli.

Amanda S. Marek, Mark T. Bailey, andGail Hansen

Well-designed edible ornamental landscapes, also called foodscapes, provide landowners with aesthetically pleasing, multipurpose gardens that provide food, color, and cover year-round. Not only can these landscapes provide a source of healthy, locally grown food in urbanized communities, they can also promote energy and water conservation, improve food security, and provide wildlife habitat. By converting conventional yards into sustainable, edible ornamental landscapes that utilize the principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™, we may quell some of the health and environmental impacts of rising population growth and urbanization. The purpose of this publication is to guide Floridians on how to design, install, and maintain their edible ornamental landscape using reliable plants suitable for north-central Florida and the best management practices of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™.

Jennifer A. Seitz and Francisco J. Escobedo

Trees are an integral part of our communities. They are a source of shade, beauty, community empowerment, and environmental benefits. Trees and tree pollen can also be a headache for people with allergies. Proper landscape planning and species selection can reduce the potential that trees will cause problems for people with pollen allergies, and a few simple steps will minimize the effects of pollen around your home.

Peter C. Andersen andMuhammad A. Shahid

Pecan recommendations for Florida have been updated to include new information about cultivar performance. Check out this revised 13-page fact sheet to select the best cultivars for yield, performance, resistance to disease, and resistance to limb breakage.

Christopher M. Demers, Patrick J. Minogue, Michael G. Andreu, Alan J. Long, andRick Williams

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Invasive Species

George J. Hochmuth, Robert C. Hochmuth, and Stephen M. Olson

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for Commercial audience(s). Published by Sustainability of production systems and alternatives