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Strawberries, a Cold Hardy Delight in Florida

Strawberries, a Cold Hardy Delight in Florida

by | Nov 4, 2020

Who doesn’t like strawberries, right? Backyard gardeners grow these low-growing herbs throughout the state and there is a significant commercial industry too, as Florida’s climate is ideal for cool season production.

Strawberries like well-drained sandy soils, so they’re a perfect fit for many areas in the Panhandle. Strawberries should be planted in the months of October or November as the plants are quite cold hardy. Shorter days and temperatures between 50°F and 80°F are ideal for fruit development.

Photo Credit: Cristina Carriz, UF/IFAS

Strawberries are also very versatile. You can plant them in the ground, in raised beds or even containers. Transplants should be planted 12” to 18” apart, with 12” row spacing. For best results, use a rich soil balanced with compost and sandy soil and both fertilize and water regularly. Mixing in 2 ½ pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer into a 10’ x 10’ bed space should be sufficient to start. A sprinkle of fertilizer applied monthly throughout the growing season should also help ensure a solid yield.

Berry production begins to ramp up roughly 90 days after planting, but plants will continue to produce throughout the spring. When the weather gets warmer, the plants start to expend energy into producing runners instead of fruit. These runners will be new fruit producing plants for next season.

Transplants can be purchased from most garden centers. There are many varieties on the market, but “Florida-Friendly” cultivars include “Sweet Charlie”, “Camarosa”, “Chandler”, “Oso Grande”, “Selva”, and “Festival”. “Camarosa” has proven to be the most productive variety in North Florida. Any of these varieties are capable of producing two pints of fruit per plant.

As stated earlier, Florida has a significant strawberry industry and UF/IFAS has a supporting role. The UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) is home to the Strawberry Breeding Program. Cultivars are developed by traditional means, for the Florida commercial industry on an 11,000+ acres research site. Appearance, shelf life, sweet flavor and disease resistance are just some of the areas of selected breading research that is conducted on site. There is also a white strawberry soon to be released!

Photo Credit: Cristina Carriz, UF/IFAS

For more information, contact your local county extension office.

Supporting information for this article can be found at the website: https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/fruits/strawberries.html

UF/IFAS Extension is an Equal Opportunity Institution.

 

Video: Stevia, As Sweet as Can Be

Video: Stevia, As Sweet as Can Be

by | Oct 21, 2020

Stevia grows well when planted in the ground or in a container. Learn basic care in the garden and how to use fresh leaves to sweeten your next dish or drink with UF IFAS Extension Escambia County’s Garden to Table segment.

Advice for Vegetable Garden Success

Advice for Vegetable Garden Success

by | Sep 8, 2020

The modern carrot is available in many sizes, colors, and flavor profiles thanks to thousands of years of plant breeding. Photo by Kelly Thomas.

The University of Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide is a wonderful resource for those who are getting started gardening and growing some edible plants.  As you look through the publication, you will see a chart for the different portions of Florida about when to start different fruits and vegetables.  Remember this is just a guide.  We may have to adjust some of our starting dates depending on local temperatures and other weather patterns.

A good example is that the guide states to start carrots beginning in August.  For many years now our August temperatures are just too hot for starting carrots. Portions of September in North Florida  may also be too warm for carrots. The ideal temperatures for growing carrots are 75 degree F. days and 55 degree F. nights.  We need to at least wait until our temps are in the low to mid 80’s before even trying carrot seeds.

When you plant your carrot seeds, they will need good moisture to germinate. Be patient. Carrots are not always the fastest to come up. It normally takes at least 7 days for germination to occur and can take a little longer at times.

Use the Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide as a way to help you plan for your next fun gardening experience.  Add in the expertise of your local county Extension Agent, along with local observations about current weather, and you will have success in your home garden.