Caring For Mums - Marion County, FL

MARION COUNTY GOVERNMNT
October 2015
Table of Contents:
Caring For Mums
Edibles to Plant for
October
Oriental Fruit Fly
Gardening For Seniors
Gardening Related Phobias
Timely Gardening Tips for
Marion County
Upcoming Events
Published by Norma Samuel
UF/IFAS Extension Marion County
Horticulture Agent
Timely Gardening Tips
for MARION COUNTY
by Josephine Leyte-Vidal, UF/IFAS
Extension Marion County Master
Gardener
This is the ideal month to plant
trees and shrubs. The trees
will have enough time to grow
a good root system before the
Spring flush of growth begins.
Strawberries also like to be
planted in October along with
cool weather annuals such as
aster, petunia, chrysanthemum,
snapdragon and foxglove.
Remember that October begins
Florida’s dry months. The sod
web worm takes advantage of
lower temperatures and drier
weather to damage your lawn.
Look for webs on the surface
of your grass in the early
morning. If you need to spray
you can us bacillus thuringensis
(an organic pesticide) or Sevin.
We still have about 90 days
Caring For Mums
by Norma Samuel, Urban Horticulture Agent
The chrysanthemum is one of the
most colorful of all fall flowering
perennials. A wide selection of
varieties is available in white, pink,
yellow, lavender, bronze, salmon,
orange, or red. In addition to this
extensive color range, flowers vary
greatly in type and size. One of the
most popular flower types is the
Source: Stockphoto.com
single or daisy form. Other flower
types are anemone, spoon, spider, standard, and pompon. Here is
Dr. Robert J. Black of the UF/IFAS Horticulture Department recommendations
for purchasing and caring for your chrysanthemums (mums).
Mums can be purchased in bloom from nurseries and garden supply stores.
This is an advantage over growing them from cuttings because you can see
the flower color and type, and you can have instant color in your flower
beds. When buying potted mums, look for healthy, well-shaped plants with
many flower buds, since a plant with many partially opened buds will have a
longer period of bloom than a plant in full bloom.
The mums you plant this fall will carry over the winter and resume growing in
the spring. The plants (clumps) should be divided to prevent the shoots
comprising the clump from becoming too crowded. Failure to divide the
clumps will cause weak, spindly growth with few flowers. Select stronggrowing clumps and separate the individual shoots with an adequate root
system, so the new small plant can become reestablished quickly. Avoid
using the shoots in the center of the clump because a crown rot fungus,
which may weaken or kill the young plants, is often present.
Chrysanthemums grow best in well-drained soil. The yearly addition of
compost or other suitable organic matter to the planting bed is desirable.
Apply a three to four-inch layer of organic matter and two pounds of 6-6-6
Page 2
Caring For Mums
Timely Gardening Tips for
MARION COUNTY
by Josephine Leyte-Vidal, UF/IFAS
Extension Marion County Master
Gardener
(continued from page 1)
before freezes may set in so you
can still plant some vegetables,
such as broccoli, cabbage,
carrots, spinach, and beets.
Now is also the time to plant
spring blooming bulbs. A favorite
is the daffodil that will show its
face when nothing else is
blooming in February.
The
Florida Daffodil Society has
developed bulbs that will succeed
in our climate such as Carlton,
Early Pearl and Soleil d’Or. Plant
them among other perennials
and don’t disturb them after they
are planted.
by Norma Samuel, Urban Horticulture Agent
fertilizer per 100 square feet over the bed and till them into the soil to a
depth of six inches. The plants should be set 18 to 24 inches apart to provide
adequate space for development. Vigorous varieties may need a 30-inch
spacing to prevent crowding.
Pinch off the top one to two inches of the item after the plants are
established and at least six inches tall. This will encourage lateral branching
and produce lower, bushier plants. When the lateral branches are six to
eight inches long, they too can be pinched. This practice should be
continued with the final pinch made between August 1 and 15. If pinched
later, the plants may not have sufficient stem length by the time days are
short enough for bud formation and flowering.
Two to three applications of a 6-6-6 fertilizer at the rate of one pound per
100 square feet of bed during the growing season are sufficient to grow a
good crop of flowers. Water beds thoroughly to distribute the fertilizer
throughout the root area. As the days get shorter in the late summer,
flower buds will begin to develop and at this time of year some varieties
should be providing color in your landscape.
Contact UF/IFAS Marion County Master Gardeners at 671-8400 if you need
additional information on caring for mums or other plants in your garden.
Survives
Transplanting
Transplant
with Care
Use
Seeds
Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower,
Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce,
Strawberry
Mustard, Spinach
Carrots, Onions, Radish, Turnips
Page 3
State of Emergency:
Oriental Fruit Fly
On September 15th, Florida Commissioner of
Agriculture Adam H. Putnam declared a state
of agricultural emergency due to the Oriental
Fruit Fly infestation in Miami-Dade County.
The Oriental Fruit Fly is considered one of the
most serious of the world's fruit fly pests due
to its potential economic harm. It attacks
Source: FDACS
more than 430 different fruits, vegetables and
nuts, including: avocado, mango, mamey, loquat, lychee, longon, dragon
fruit, guava, papaya, sapodilla, banana and annona. The fruit flies lay their
eggs in host fruits and vegetables. Since the first detection of the Oriental
Fruit Fly on Aug. 26, 2015 in Miami-Dade County, a total of 158 flies have
been detected, specifically in the Redland area (156), Kendall (1) and Miami
(1).
“The Oriental Fruit Fly is one of the world's most destructive pests and poses a significant threat to Florida's $123 billion agriculture industry and the
two million jobs it supports. Miami-Dade County's agriculture industry is a
$1.6 billion industry, and we will use every weapon in our arsenal that's
necessary to eradicate this pest and protect Florida agriculture and our
economy,” stated Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.
The infestation threatens the area's ability to produce the fruit and vegetables the nation has grown to rely on during the winter months, the region's
overall economic health and the thousands of jobs that rely on this industry. Miami-Dade County is the state's leader in the production of tropical
vegetables, tropical fruit and ornamental nurseries, and overall agricultural
production generates more than $1.6 billion in annual economic impact and
supports more than 11,000 jobs. Efforts include:

Quarantining an 85-square-mile area around the areas where detections have been made in order to prevent the spread of the fly;

Treating a 1.5-square-mile area around each fly detection. The application will continue for at least two life cycles of the fly after each find,
which is approximately 60 days;

Removal of fruit from host trees — while leaving the trees — within 200
meters of a larval or mature female fruit fly find; and

Ground spraying with a pesticide certified for use in organic farming.
It is important to note that all appropriate protocols are in place and that
the fruits and vegetables introduced into the marketplace from this area
are certified for movement and safe for consumption by the public.
Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
UPCOMING
LECTURES/EVENTS:
Educational seminars and events
are presented by UF/IFAS
Extension Agents and/or
Master Gardeners.
Unless otherwise indicated, to
pre-register, please call
352-671-8400 or e-mail
[email protected].
October
Master the
Possibilities Series:
Turf Pests
October 9, 2015
9:00—10:30 a.m.
On Top of the World
8415 SW 80th St, Ocala
Fort McCoy Library:
Fall Gardening
October 17, 2015
10:00-11:00 a.m.
Fort McCoy Public Library
14660 NE Highway 315, Fort McCoy
Reddick Library:
Winter Flowers
October 17, 2015
11:00 a.m.– Noon
Reddick Public Library
15150 NW Gainesville Rd, Reddick
Forest Library:
Fall Gardening
October 17, 2015
2:00-3:00 p.m.
Forest Public Library
905 South Hwy 314A, Ocklawaha
Dunnellon Library
Winter Gardens
October 20, 2015
2:00—3:00 p.m.
Dunnellon Public Library
20351 Robinson Rd, Dunnellon
Page 4
Gardening for Seniors
UPCOMING
LECTURES/EVENTS:
by Elizabeth Argiannis, Master Gardener
Autumn is a lovely season; a favorite time for
many. Nature is slowing down. Everything
seems to mellow, starting to rest in preparation
for winter to come. The trees are resplendent
with colors of red and yellow and nature puts on
a wondrous spectacle. It is also a time for
harvesting the bounty bestowed on us.
November
Master the
Possibilities Series:
Annuals & Perennials
November 13, 2015
9:00—10:30 a.m.
On Top of the World
8415 SW 80th St, Ocala
Florida-Friendly
Landscape Challenge
October 17, 2015
9 a.m.—5 p.m.
Fee: $15 (includes lunch)
Marion County Extension Auditorium
2232 NE Jacksonville Rd, Ocala
Pre-registration required.
Source: uf.ifas.org
Our lives mirror the four seasons and autumn
has arrived for many of us. We are now called
“seniors”. Everyone is looking for that magic
bullet to extend a high quality of life into their
older years. It is important for us seniors to stay
active and involved, doing things that give us
pleasure and are good for us.
Gardening is a great way to maintain flexibility, muscle tone and strength
without the nagging feeling that we should exercise to achieve that. It’s
more rewarding emotionally and mentally than any other form of exercise.
It keeps us in the fresh air and sunshine, soaking up the important vitamin
D, and as an added benefit it promotes sleep.
Many seniors are no longer able to do heavy digging, lifting or pushing
wheelbarrows. So get someone else to do that for you! Or perhaps it
makes sense to get rid of those high-maintenance bushes and shrubs and
replace them with sturdy, native plants and carefree perennials.
Perform easy tasks like watering, deadheading flowers, growing a variety of
plants in containers or in raised beds. Fill the bird baths, put seeds in bird
feeders or just enjoy the beauty around you.
If growing vegetables is the desired goal, it not only contributes to physical
wellbeing, but give seniors the added satisfaction of having contributed
healthy food and needed nutrients to their diet.
Gardening is a healthy activity for seniors and brings joy and benefits both
physically and emotionally. It was found that seniors that indicated they
were gardeners scored higher in all the “quality of life” indicators than nongardeners.
A garden is a place where you can find peace and serenity. So raise your
eyes to the sky and remember the quote, “you’re nearer to God in a garden
than anywhere else on earth”.
Page 5
Gardening Related Phobias
People have more fears than you can shake a Zucchini at. There's someone
out there, who is scared of just about anything and everything. If new,
undocumented fears arise, psychologists are more than willing to create a
new name for it.
Listed below are gardening related phobias that just might scare the
daylight out of you. Although, we hope that none of them fit you!
Alliumphobia - the fear of garlic
Anthophobia - the fear of flowers
Apiphobia - the fear of bees
Arachnophobia - is the fear of spiders
Ceraunophobia - is the fear of thunder
Dendrophobia - the fear of trees
Entomophobia - the fear of insects
Hydrophobia - the fear of water
Lachanophobia - the fear of vegetables
Mycophobia - is the fear of mushrooms.
Many mushrooms are poisonous. Perhaps
this fear has some merit.
Source: stockphoto.com
Ombrophobia - is the fear of rain
Pagophobia - the fear of ice or frost. Gardeners are justified in having this
one.
Panthophobia - is the fear of disease. Not limited to plant disease.
Parasitophobia - the fear of parasites
Ranidaphobia - the fear of frogs and toads
Rupophobia - is the fear of dirt
Scoleciphobia - the fear of worms
Seplophobia - the fear of decaying matter. Watch out for that compost
pile!
This article is reproduced from:
http://gardenersnet.com/fun/phobias.htm
Source: ifas.ufl.edu
For those of you born in
October—your birth
flower is the Calendula,
also known as the
Marigold. Calendulas got
their name from blooming
at the beginning of each
month. Marigolds are
symbols of protection,
comfort and healing. They
bloom practically non-stop
through the summer . They
are not finicky about
where they grow and are
very rugged plants.
Page 6
Items below are
available for purchase at
the UF/IFAS Extension
Marion County. We also
have many other items
available in our Shop
Extension store. The
store is open Mon-Fri
from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Please come to see these
environmentally-friendly
products, as well as many
other agricultural-related
items.
Foundation for the Gator Nation
An Equal Opportunity Institution
Florida-Friendly Landscaping™
Book of the Month Sale
Each month, we will be offering one of
the books available in the Extension
Bookstore at a substantial discount
(sorry, walk-ins only).
October’s offering is
The Naturescaping Workbook
By Beth O’Donnell Young
Regularly $24.95—on sale for $14.97
40% off until the end of October