Are You Getting Ready for the Fall Vegetable Garden?

Backyard Gardener

IN THIS UF/IFAS EXTENSION, V OLUSIA COUNTY AUGUST 2015 ISSUE Are You Getting Ready for the Fall Vegetable Garden? Joe Sewards  Are You UF/IFAS Extension, Volusia County Getting Ready Urban Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator for the Fall Vegetable You should be getting ready. Have you purchased and Garden...Page 1 started your seeds? Many vegetable garden plants  Fun With should be started now so that they can be set out Space... Page 4 later this month or in early September. Crops like, to- matoes, peppers, pumpkin, and watermelon can be  Ivies...Pg. 5 started now and set out later. You can also direct sow  Save an Ailing seeds of cucumber, onion, pepper, southern peas, pumpkin, turnips and watermelon now. Be sure to Oak...Page 6 select varieties that mature early so that they will pro-  Camp T- duce before fall temperatures get too cool. Later this month, you can set out your transplants of cole crops such as broccoli, cauliflower, Rec...Page 7 cabbage and others.  Florida Rain Garden...Pg. 8 Soil Testing

 Calendar of Before setting out your plants it is important to Events...Page 9 prepare the soil. Start by sending samples to the University of Florida/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory (ESTL). The UF/IFAS Exten- sion Soil Testing Laboratory in Gainesville of- fers a variety of tests for mineral soils, container media and irrigation water. Information about these tests can be obtained either di- rectly from the Lab or by contacting your local County Extension Office. The website is: http://soilslab.ifas.ufl.edu/ESTL% Continued on Page 2 The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions, or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A&M University Coopera- tive Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions, or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A&M University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County

Are You Getting Ready for the Fall Vegetable Garden? -- Continued from Page 1 20Home.asp

Soil testing cannot diagnose the presence of nematodes or soil-borne pathogens but, it can provide ex- tremely valuable information about the nutrient profile of your soil and help guide decisions about what, if any fertilizer applications need to be made prior to planting your vegetable garden. It is also an accurate measure of the relative acidity/alkalinity of your soil. This is all important information that will help prevent over application of fertilizers and lime. So many times, fertilizers and lime are applied indiscriminately which can damage vegetable plants or limit productivity. Information is power! So, taking a soil test is a way to gather information about your vegetable (or any other) garden and act according to what you learned rather than guessing.

It is important to test vegetable gardens soils regularly. Typically, I recommend testing twice per year. When you think about it, harvesting crops removes nutrients from the soils and vegetable are particularly efficient at mining nutrients from the soil so, testing will help you determine what nutrients need to be replenished.

Organic Matter

Organic matter normally occupies the smallest portion of the soil physical makeup (approximately 5% of total soil volume, and is usually 1 to 3% for Florida's sandy soils) but is the most dynamic soil component. Organic matter had been shown to have tre- mendous positive impacts upon gardening. As it was just stated, Florida soils are noto- riously low in organic matter. Our climate is conducive to rapid organic matter decom- position so, it should be replenished regularly. Soil organic matter is important for maintaining good soil structure, which enhances the movement of air and water in soil. Organic matter also plays an important role in nutrient cycling. By replenishing organic matter on a regular basis, you do the following for your garden:

 Reduce water use – Organic matter (O.M.) acts like a sponge when worked into the soil. Water conserva- tion is important as we all know so, this is a case where more (O.M.) is better.  Reduce fertilizer use – Excess nutrients can be leached through our sandy soils and excess nutrients can be washed away by heavy rains or overwatering. By incorporating O.M. you are, by definition, adding necessary plant nutrients thereby reducing the amount of applied fertilizers. Research at UF several years ago showed that the greatest tomato yields came from a combination of added O.M. and fertilizers.  Increased biological activity – Soil microorganisms are responsible for converting applied nutrients to forms that plants can actually absorb. Many of our urban soils are devoid of O.M. and beneficial microorganisms and this negatively affects plant growth and productivity. By providing food again, O.M.) microorganisms can flourish and increase nutrient cycling in the soil environment.  Reduced nematode populations – O.M. has been shown to have an antagonistic effect on plant-parasitic nematode populations. Nematodes are microscopic unsegmented worms that can infect plant roots thereby reducing productivity and can lead to plant death as well. Also, by providing a more favorable growing environment, plants can be more resistant or tolerant of nematode populations.

You can purchase commercially prepared forms of organic matter such as cow manure, mushroom compost and others or, you can make your own Continued on Page 3 2

Are You Getting Ready for the Fall Vegetable Garden? -- Continued from Page 2 compost by building or buying a compost bin. This is a great way to recycle the plants from your vegetable garden once the fruits have been harvested. You can also recycle yard wastes, kitchen scraps (no meats) and more. This will save money and help take advantage of nature’s natural processes. More information about composting can be found at the Florida Online Composting Center: http://sarasota.ifas.ufl.edu/compost-info/ index.shtml.

Water and Fertilizer

Many publication will give advice about what fertilizers to apply, how much and how often. I generally refrain from doing that because there is no way of know what is needed without the advice of a soil test (see above). Your garden may be deficient in potassium and your neighbor’s garden may not be. Also, Florida soils are naturally high in phosphorus (P) and applying more phosphorus will not be of benefit. In fact, excess P can be washed away and contribute to declining water quality in our streams and lakes.

Fertilizer applications will also vary according to which growing method you use. If you grow in amended, native soil the fertilizer recommendations will be much different than if you are growing in raised beds, contain- ers or other alternative growing methods.

As for water, again, there are no hard, fast rules about how much and how often. There are too many variables out there. How often it rains, how hot/cold it may be, O.M. content, crop densities, and so on, all have an effect on how often your garden will need to be irrigated. The same variables that determine what kind and how much fertilizer you will use will also determine how much and how often you water.

I will say, however, that employing low volume irrigation is very important in the vegetable garden. Not only does it conserve water, it reduces the amount of time that foliage is wet which is important for reducing insects and diseases in the garden. Also, those who have low volume (drip) irrigation, you are exempt from day-of-the-week watering restric- tions.

Pests and Diseases

While these are still present in the fall vegetable garden, pest pressures are greatly reduced. Temperatures are cooler, days are shorter and many environmental stresses are greatly reduced. By reducing many forms of stress, most vegetable plants are better able to fend off pests. It is still important to inspect your garden daily and keep an eye out for problems. Employing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques will reduce, if not eliminate pesticide applications. For more information about IPM and natural products used to control garden pests, visit: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in197.

Conclusion

Preparation is the key to any successful garden, especially vegetable gardens. Having a plan is the first step. Know what you want to grow and how much space you will need. Prepare the soil starting by adding lots of or- Continued on Page 4

Are You Getting Ready for the Fall Vegetable Garden? -- Continued from Page 3 ganic matter. Start small too; you can always add more if you are successful! And if you don’t have a lot of space, there are alternative ways of growing fresh produce that can be equally as rewarding. Hydroponic towers, square foot gardening principles, container gardening and other innovative ways of growing can enable even apartment dwellers to grow at least some of the food they eat.

Also, be sure to attend our class “Preparing the Fall Vegetable Garden” on August 15th, from 10 till noon at the Extension Office auditorium. Admission is $5.00 and includes handouts, light refreshments and a raffle ticket. We will be raffling off a “Garden Soxx” and an “Earth Machine” composting bin. Additional raffle tickets can be purchased for $3.00 each or two, for $5.00. Space is limited for this, always popular, class so call ahead and save yourself a seat! The number to call is: 386-822-5778.

Fun with Space Submitted by Mary Wright, Master Gardener UF/IFAS Extension, Volusia County

Spot The Station helps you track when the Interna- station looks like a fast-moving plane in the sky, but tional Space Station will be over your house so you it is dozens of times higher than any airplane and can go out and see it flying by. Sign up to receive traveling thousands of miles an hour faster. It is bright enough that it can even be seen from the emails telling you all the details. middle of a city! To learn more http://spotthestation.nasa.gov/ about the space station, its international crew, and how they live and From their website, “See the Inter- working in space, please visit the national Space Station! As the third space station mission pages.” brightest object in the sky the space station is easy to see if you know I viewed the ISS (International Space when to look up. Station) going by last week. There is nothing else like it in the sky and NASA’s Spot The Station service once you see it, it will be easy to find gives you a list of upcoming sighting next time. The ISS moves pretty fast opportunities for thousands of locations worldwide, compared to other bright objects overhead. It has and will let you sign up to receive notices of oppor- no blinking lights - that’s an airplane. Try it and see tunities in your email inbox or cell phone. The space for yourself!

IVIES Rebecca Turner, Master Gardener UF/IFAS Extension, Volusia County

On a good day you think you know something and plants not native to the U.S., but to parts of then you find out that the Boston Ivy you’re grow- Europe, Africa and the Far East. They bloom in ing so nonchalantly as a houseplant is actually umbels usually in late fall to early winter, and pro- Epipremnum aureum, of the Arum family and duce black berries which are a fortunate food source for birds. There are varieties you probably are familiar with, such as the Algerian Ivy or the Hedera nepalensis, or the Hedera helix (English Ivy) and they are relatively easy to care for if you follow the recommendations of the American Ivy Society.

The Society notes that Ivies should be watered in- frequently, but amply. They like humidity and Boston Ivy need filtered light. Fertilizer should be higher in nitrogen, and should not be applied to the leaves. Ivies are recommended as houseplants and not for known as Pothos, native to Polynesia. Much the the outdoors where they can become aggressive same story for your German Ivy, (Senecio mika- and, in the U.S., have few pests or diseases. As noides) and Grape Ivy, (Cissus rhombifolia)—they houseplants, they are not true ivies. Even the Swedish Ivy is not may get spider Ivy, but (Plectranthus verticillatus)— and they are mites and scale, and all in different families – let’s hope they never in those cases the have an Ivy category on Jeopardy! Boston Ivy leaves should be (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) and Grape Ivy are in washed with water the Vitaceae family, the Swedish Ivy in the La- and a few drops of miaceae family. Not only that, but the Boston Ivy dishwashing deter- English Ivy - Hedera helix is also called the Grape Ivy. And be darned if the gent, weekly if nec- Poison Ivy is not ivy either! Actually the fearsome essary, until the pests are gone. You should not Toxicodendron radicans is in the Anacardiaceae get the leaves of Ivies wet except in the above cir- family. cumstance, to avoid bacterial and fungal diseases; i.e., leaf spotting. Should this occur, cut away the The true picture is that the true (English and Alge- infected areas of the leaf or remove it altogether rian) ivy (Hedera genus) has only 12-15 species in before it has a chance to spread. the Araliaceae family of the Apiales which is an important plant order that includes foods (carrots The beauty of true Ivies is in their versatility of and parsnips, for example) and plenty of herbs and use. They can look beautiful growing graceful spices and trailers from a hanging basket or they can be even the poi- grown on topiary forms, and, if managed well out- sonous Hem- side, can partially cover a wall or be espalier- lock plant. The trained. You could almost say a house is not a Hedera are home unless there’s Ivy growing. It is rich in sym- climbing or bolism and historical folklore from ancient times. ground creep- You can keep your pothos, but have Ivy too – true Pothos ing woody Ivy.

SAVING AN AILING OAK By Carolyn Kieler, Master Gardener UF/IFAS Extension, Volusia County

We moved to our Deland home in November. There wasn’t much in the way of landscaping and I think the lack of it, and the potential it has, is what drew me to this piece of land. There is a little over a half acre, with a huge pine in the back, and one front yard tree, a majestic but ailing live oak (Quercus virginiana). It had four huge balls of mistletoe at the top (not a good sign), lots of harmless Spanish Moss (http:// edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep485) waving from its branches, and a tortured set of limbs with many wounds. We learned from neighbors that it was this yard’s lone survivor of the 2004 hurricanes, its two siblings up- rooted and destroyed by what may have been a small tornado. It has been hanging in there for over 10 years though, so…….

What to do? I had literally cried when, at our previous home, a very sick water oak (Quercus nigra) had to be taken down. It was rotten to the core, seeping a sweet/sour ooze that attracted many pollinators, and yet I sent the tree service away because I just couldn’t bear watching its de- mise. However, a forestry person confirmed that it could not be saved and I asked my husband to wait until I was out of town to have it taken down.

That would not be this tree’s fate.

I attended a Master Gardeners class at the Volusia County Ag Center where a certified arborist talked all day about saving trees! An arborist is a professional who generally focuses on the health and safety of in- dividual plants and trees. After class I got his card, gave him a call, and he came out to be introduced to our lovely, but decidedly limp, live oak. He spent a good bit of time with our tree, said it was slowly dying, but could grace our yard for a lot of years with some weight reduction pruning. We needed a special tree service to accomplish this, and were referred by a friend to a group in Palatka. They are arborists who spe- cialize in helping tree huggers like us and the trees we love. And they came straight away!

I could almost hear that tree breathe a sigh of relief as the weight of dead limbs and heavy moss was re- moved. The “surgeons” ascended the branches using ropes and pulleys, rather than sharp spikes, which would do further damage. Cuts were carefully made so that wounds could heal and as much growth as possible was left to nourish future growth.

It remains to be seen if we did the right thing. It was not an inexpensive endeavor! But we put mulch left here by the tree service, three inches deep and approximately 10 feet out from the trunk in all directions, being careful not to let the mulch touch the trunk. As the mulch decays it will feed the tree. The tree is now a healthy color, with lots of new growth, and I closely inspect it almost every day.

And of course, hugs don’t hurt either. Stay tuned.

Camp T-Rec By Patsy Graham, Master Gardener UF/IFAS Extension, Volusia County

Lori Koplin has been the master mind behind a very with their names on them. Lori told us that even special summer camp for students ages 7-18 at the the parents were checking on the progress of the Ormond Beach Nova Recreation Center for more seeds each day. To demonstrate how plants get than 10 years. All of the campers have disabilities water up their stems to their leaves, we brought but also many talents and gift that they share with fresh celery to class and put cut stalks into water others. This summer four Master Gardeners volun- colored with food colors of red, blue and green. By teered to share their knowledge about gardening the next day the leaves were lighted up with color, with the campers. After meeting with Lori and her and the campers could see the tiny “straws” that amazing staff of 8 assis- sucked up the colored water to the leaves. The tants, Al Manassa, Judy campers also planted kale, broccoli, beet, and let- Hays, Russ Royce, and tuce seeds in flats, used spray bottles to dampen Patsy Graham began the soil, covered them, and within a week were planning gardening les- able to see micro-greens sprouting from seeds, put- sons adapted for the ting out roots and first leaves. very diverse students that we would work with. For the first four Thursdays in July, we spent part of each morning using brief presenta- tions, posters, magic tricks (that would be Al) and lots of hands on activities to teach the campers and their assistants who averaged more than 30 partici- pants each session.

Lessons focused on the parts of plants, how they grow, what they need to grow and how plants take the sunshine, rain, soil nutrients and air and turn it into energy for their bodies when they eat fruits, Al, ”Your Garden Pal”, dressed up in his bug vest vegetables and grains from plants. Judy came up and butterfly wings when he taught metamorpho- with a great art project using cupcake liners, green sis of butterflies and pollination of plants. He straws, construction paper, sunflower seeds, and brought in actual butterflies that were preserved as markers to create beautiful flowers. Everyone’s well as visual aids to teach the butterfly’s develop- project became one of the bulletin boards that mental stages. He also did an art project with lots highlighted the class- of stickers of flowers and insects. His magic tricks room. usually ended in a bang and lots of giggles and cheers. Campers learned to sprout lima bean seeds The real surprise of the month was that Russ Royce in wet paper towels was one of the members of the Ormond Beach tucked safely inside their committee to develop the Central Park Community own special plastic bag Gardens. He used all the Florida Friendly Landscap- Continued on Page 8 7

Camp T-Rec -- Continued from Page 7 ing Principles to help the committee create a very lovely facility of 30+ plots, and he rented one for the handi- capped. On the last day of the camp the campers traveled by bus to see the gardens and have an opportunity to plant a green bean in Russ’s plot. Al rode on the bus with the kids and spent the day with them. We all agreed that the children had taught us more than we taught them about experiencing life to its fullest, while

they were enjoying squirting water bottles at seeds and each other and getting soil everywhere. One little girl, with multiple handicaps, (who had just carefully sprinkled seeds and then used the spray bottle to water them in) said, “I just love doing this.” I realized I loved it and her joyful face more than she would ever know. Our thanks to Lori and her staff for giving all of us a great July filled with gardening, joy and gratitude!

Patsy, Judy, Al and Russ

Florida Rain Garden Dodie Ulery, , Master Gardener UF/IFAS Extension, Volusia County

Because of our coastal rain patterns, high water table and humidity, rain gardens are natural parts of Florida gardening. They’re easy to maintain and with the right plants almost no fertilization is necessary. In areas with sugar sand or along the coastal regions, amending the soil with organic matter of some kind, such as compost, may be the key to success.

Many times you’ll find the necessary plants classified as marginal, or littoral plants, because they grow near the margin or edge of ponds. These specimens thrive in soggy soil but can easily deal with dry periods.

Canna lilies (Canna flaccida), ginger (many species) and marsh mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) are perfect to give height and color to your garden. Corkscrew rush (Juncus ef- fusus ‘Spiralis’), marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris pubescens) and wild native iris (Iris virginica) are ideal for lower profile. For archi- tectural interest, I often use horsetail (Equisetum hyemale).

For a special center piece, you could plant a small patio tree called Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia) to add spring color and draw butterflies and hummingbirds.

Calendar of Public Events August/September

Topic Date/Time Location Ormond Beach Library Plant Clinic August 3, 10 am —12 Noon Ormond Beach Library Soils, Fertilizers & Other Chemicals (1.5 CEUs) August 6, 1-2:30 pm DeBary Hall—Howard Jeffries Port Orange Library Plant Clinic August 11, 2-4 pm Port Orange Library Basic Pest Control (1.5 CEUs) August 15, 10-11:30 am DeBary Hall—Howard Jeffries Preparing the Fall Vegetable Garden (2 CEUs) August 15, 10am—12 N Ag Center Auditorium $5.00 Sugar Mill Garden Q&A Workday August 19, 9-11 am Sugar Mill Garden, Port Orange Upgrading Your Landscape (1.5 CEUs) August 20, 1-2:30 pm DeBary Hall—Howard Jeffries Bromeliads and Succulents (2 CEUs) August 26, 9-11 am 1179 Furlong Drive, DeLand Ask a Master Gardener Plant Clinic September 1, 10 a –12 N Edgewater Library Ormond Beach Library Plant Clinic Sept. 7, 10 am —12 Noon Ormond Beach Library Port Orange Library Plant Clinic September 8, 2-4 pm Port Orange Library Master Gardener Plant Clinic September 15, 1—3 pm New Smyrna Beach Reg. Library Strawberry Class September 26, 10 a—12 N Ag Center Auditorium $5.00 FNGLA Landscape Show September 24-26th Orange County Convention Ctr.

For more details Master Gardeners should check the VMS calendar. The general public may contact the Volusia County Agricultural Center. Volusia County Agricultural Center 3100 E. New York Ave. (S.R. 44), Deland, FL 32724 At the Volusia County Fair Grounds West Volusia… 386-822-5778 Daytona Beach… 386-257-6012 New Smyrna Beach… 386-423-3368

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