Karen: The Garden Lady

Pollination Heirloom tomatoes are pollinated by insects, birds, wind, and other natural means (open-pollinated). All tomatoes can also be pollinated by its own pollen (self-pollination). Wind self-pollination will produce fruit and seed true to the parent plant. Both bees and man can pollinate one tomato variety with pollen from another tomato variety. This process creates a hybrid. When hybrid seeds are planted and grown, the plant has characteristics of both parent varieties. Seeds saved from a hybrid plant can cause uncertain results which could be pleasing, but also might be undesirable. Saving seed that is true to its parent To save “true” seed from an heirloom tomato, cover new blossom clusters with a sheer fabric before they open to prevent insects from cross-pollinating. Remove bags once fruit has formed so the fruit can expand without restriction. Mark the cluster loosely with yarn/cord as a reminder. What tomatoes to use  Select the characteristics that you...

Originally it was believed that the amount of daylight affected certain plant’s ability to flower. Science has proven that it is actually the hours of darkness that trigger flowering. Despite this, the terms long- and short-day, referring to hours of light, are still used. Short-day A plant that requires a long period of darkness to bloom. Plants form flowers only when day length is less than about 12 hours. Long-day Plants that require a short night to flower. These bloom only when they receive more than 12 hours of light. Day Neutral Some plants form flowers regardless of day length, flower once they’ve reached a certain age. Do you want your edible plant to flower? YES to broccoli, cucumber, tomatillo, melons, cauliflower, tomatoes, pumpkins, eggplant, peppers, beans, peas. These terms are used for other things... These terms are often used for plants that are SUITABLE for certain times of the year. Not just when they flower. Example: Onions. Mos...

“GMO” stands for “genetically modified organism”. This is a process during which the plant’s DNA is altered in a way that cannot occur naturally, and sometimes includes the insertion of genes from other species.

A hybrid is created by cross-pollinating two different, but related plants. If you try saving seed from a hybrid plant, it will not reproduce true to itself. Seeds produced by F1 hybrid plants may or may not have the desired traits you valued the hybrid for. If you personally want to see what F2 Hybrids bring to the garden that is all good. However, eBay and craigslist offer F2 hybrid seeds with no explanation.

Open Pollination All heirlooms are open-pollinated but not all open-pollinated varieties are heirlooms. Pollination done by insects, wind, birds, or natural means. Heirlooms Commercial heirlooms have been passed down for at least 50 years Are open pollinated Have stable traits from one generation to the next. Seeds can be saved and the plants will be very close to the parent. Provide a genetic diversity for future breeding Cross Pollination The transfer of a flower’s pollen from the anther to the stigma of genetically DIFFERENT flower. Does not preserve the characteristics of the “parent” plants. Cross pollinated plants create HYBRIDS. Self Pollination The transfer of a flower’s pollen from the anther to the stigma of the same flower or to the same variety’s flower. Self pollination produces pure lines when the seeds are saved.

Starting seeds in pots will give them a head-start against root knot nematodes. If desired, pre-soak large seeds 1-2 hours to expedite germination. Buy seed starting mix or prepare your own (see recipe in SOIL section). Do not use backyard soil. Buy, reuse (sterilize with 1 part bleach to 9 parts water), or make newspaper pots. Remember to make drainage holes in recycled plastic containers. Leave an allowance of 1/16 to 1 inch clear at the top depending on the size of the pot. Plant 1-2 seeds per pot, to a depth that is equal to 3-times the thickness (not length) of the seed. If seeds are tiny, barely cover with a very fine layer of soil or vermiculite. Compress soil to allow seeds to make contact with the soil. Label pots. Old cutup blinds work well with a pencil marking. Keep seeds moist, but not soggy. Most seeds prefer 78 degrees to germinate. After germination, most seedlings prefer 65-70 degrees. After seeds sprout, place in sun or part sun. Br...

4 packed gallons shredded peat moss 2 gallons perlite 2 tablespoons garden lime 1/4 cup 10-10-10 slow release fertilizer Handful of crushed eggshell (calcium) The pH of this mix is about 6.5 Peat Moss Reduces runoff of nutrients and releases slowly Decomposes in about a year pH is about 3.4 to 4.8 “Soilless” Free of insects, weeds, seeds, salts and chemicals Vermiculite A sterile, lightweight, mica product Holds water and nutrients pH is about 6.5 to 7.2 Comes in several sizes The smaller size is suitable to cover seedlings Perlite A sterile material made from volcanic rock pH is about 7.0 to 7.5 Aerates the soil Can cause fluoride burn on the tips of leaves on some plants

Animal manure of animals that do not eat meat Ashes from REAL WOOD Bamboo skewers Cardboard Cereal boxes Coffee filters Coffee grounds Cotton balls Cotton rags or clothing Cotton swabs made with cotton and cardboard Crumbs Dead houseplants (not sick) and soil Dry beans Dryer lint Egg shells Envelopes (no plastic window) Feathers Flowers from floral arrangements Fruit Fur Grains Grass Hair Hay Herbs Latex balloons Leaves Liquid from canned foods Nail clippings Natural potpourri Nut shells (except walnut) Paper, all products not coated with plastic Pasta Pencil shavings Pine needles Pizza crusts Rice Sawdust Seaweed Shredded bills and documents Shredded newspaper Spanish moss Spices Stale beer and wine Stale crackers, cookies, bread, cereal, pretzels Straw Tea bags Toilet paper rolls Toothpicks Tree bark Urine Used facial tissues Vacuum cleaner bag contents Vegetables Weeds, seedlless Wine corks made of cork Wool clothing DON...

Peat moss (pH of 3.0-5.0) is one of the best ways to lower pH of small gardens. Peat moss is a great source of organic matter, however it contains no nutrients. Add a 1-2” layer of peat moss and work it into the top 8+” of soil before planting. Granular sulfur is the least expensive, however it is the slowest acting product to lower soil pH. References Ipm.iastate.edu,. ‘How To Change Your Soil’s Ph | Horticulture And Home Pest News’. N.p., 2015. Web. 18 Feb. 2015.

The best pH range for vegetable and flower gardens on sandy soil is 5.8 to 6.3. That pH allows plants to uptake the most nutrients.  If your soil pH is between 5.5 and 7.0, there is no need to adjust pH 5.4 and under: add lime, organic matter 7.1 and higher: add sulfur, acid fertilizers, organic matter References Amy L. Shober, and Geoffrey C. Denny. ‘SL 256/SS480: Soil Ph And The Home Landscape Or Garden’. Edis.ifas.ufl.edu. N.p., 2015. Web. 18 Feb. 2015.

Quick cheat sheet:  Easy Home Gardening in South Florida copyright ©2020 (share the link to this page to everyone but do not copy and paste) Easy vegetables that grow anytime. If this is your first garden, stick with easy vegetables that your family will east and that grow anytime of the year. Multiplier onions, arugula, eggplants, hot peppers, yams, sweet potatoes, everglades/wild/cherry tomatoes, lima beans, most Chinese greens, edible luffa, yard long beans, okra, Seminole pumpkin, garlic chives, tomatillos, some Chinese melons, dwarf pigeon pea, moringa (tree). Easy vegetables for late fall/winter/early spring. Short days of winter are perfect for cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi, lettuce, rutabaga, short day onions, celery, collards, peas, kale, Swiss chard, radishes, carrots. Challenging vegetables for late fall/winter/early spring. These are all very susceptible to disease and insects: cow peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, beets, corn, sweet peppers. Summer vegetables und...

The following website is a one-stop information source for all UF/IFAS diagnostic services including plant disease, insects, nematodes, soil/water and plant/weed ID. Additionally, it provides links to other related resources, and digital diagnostic and identification system (DDIS) to submit digital samples to UF/IFAS diagnostic labs, clinics and specialists for quick diagnostics. https://plantpath.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/plant-diagnostic-services/

Water. Water. Water. Soil should be moist prior to the night of frost so that the water in the soil can warm up during the day and HOLD HEAT throughout the night. It is a hot water bottle for plants. DO NOT throw plastic over plants. Plastic touching plants does not protect them. Believe it or not, the plant is better off without it. Tuck plants in. Edges of covering cloth or a container must touch/seal the ground and preferably NOT TOUCH THE PLANT unless you have purchased special frost protection covers. Think of yourself outside in freezing weather with only a moist sheet for clothing. Soil is the warmest place when air temperatures drop. The goal is to allow the soil's warmth to fill up inside the covering cloth or container and heat inside it similar a hot air balloon. Remove covers during the day. If temperatures warm up past freezing that is. Covers prevent the plant from fully photosynthesizing (form of eating) and evaporating moisture from the leaves during the ...

Insects keep reproducing unless killed off by a cold snap. Remember to BAG and THROW away your fall crops if you had ANY insect problems. Don't leave them in your garden or compost them... they will attack your next crop.

When is Sevin not Sevin? Mike Merchant Texas A&M February 14, 2018 The name Sevin® has long been associated with flea control in pets, as well as with vegetable garden pest control. Any gardener who’s been around the block a few times has probably used the insecticide Sevin®, known generically as carbaryl. First introduced to the public in 1956, carbaryl was the first commercially successful product in the carbamate insecticide class.  Since then, it has been a pest control workhorse for vegetable gardeners and fruit growers.  It’s relatively low cost, broad spectrum activity, and relatively short (usually 3-day) interval between application and harvest made carbaryl a popular choice for growers.  Its relatively low oral and skin toxicity to mammals also made carbaryl a favorite treatment choice for on-pet use against fleas. In recent years, newer, more powerful pyrethroid insecticides have come to dominate store shelves, making carbaryl harder...

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To get the best results: select any variety if it is October to March, but keep in mind that the inevitable winter frosts we get will kill tomato plants if they are left unprotected. If it is Mid-March to September, choose a grape or cherry variety. During these months, the high temperatures prevent "back home" tomato varieties from setting fruit. Settle for the smaller fruit of indeterminate varieties during the summer instead of being disappointed. Ready to plant? Plant late in the day or on a cloudy day so the sun does not fry your new plant. Water the tomato plant, in the pot you bought it in, if dry. Carefully remove at least half of the lower leaves by pinching with your fingers or using scissors. Remove pot by placing the base of the stem between two fingers, turn the pot upside down, and gently but firmly smack the bottom of the pot. DO NOT PULL PLANT OUT OF POT. This might damage the plant. Cut it out of the pot if you have to. If the tomato plant is ro...

These pumpkin vines can look awful suffering from downy mildew, but they live anyway, even without spraying fungicides. Plants prefer growing in our summertime heat and rain and the vines get very, very long. Roots develop along the vines, at the leaf nodes, so even if something happens to the planted end of the vine it just keeps growing. I pick up and move the vines to where I want them to be, keeping it nice and tidy so that they are not all over my garden. The biggest issue I have had with this pumpkin is POLLINATION. Without getting into details, bees perform sex between a male and female flower so the female can give birth to a fruit. If the female is not pollinated, the fruit drops from the vine. Photo below is of a FEMALE flower. Look at the base of the flower. Below photo is of a MALE flower. Look at the base of the flower. After one of our pumpkins rotted on the ground, we started putting each pumpkin on a cement block or an inverted Styrofoam egg...

After making batch after batch of these breads, this has become my standard for making fruit/veggie bread. I love easy... Preheat oven to 350º Mix well in bowl 1: About 2 cups mashed or grated garden item such as bananas, sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkin. They can be raw or cooked. Dash molasses (I use blackstrap) 2 eggs 4 tablespoons melted butter dash vanilla Mix well in bowl 2: 1.25 cups sugar 2 cups flour (I use King Arthur WHITE Whole Wheat) 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt I mix "bowl 2" in bulk. Each recipe fits perfectly into a 24 oz, wide mouth canning jar . That way I can just pull a jar from my pantry and add the wet ingredients. Bread addition ideas: Cinnamon (I use up to 2 teaspoons per batch) Allspice (just a tad) Nutmeg (just a tad) Chocolate chips (1-2 handfuls) Chopped nuts (1-2 handfuls to mix or sprinkled on top) Raisins (1-2 handfuls) Edible seeds (1-2 handfuls) Mix dry into wet Mix should...