Tag Archives: Duval County Extension Office

The rainy season has settled in, full force, and the heat of the summer is taking hold. Folks will flock to Florida for their summer vacations but to many of us who live here year round, we wonder why. The bugs are big, the sun is relentless, and the heat can easily overwhelm a native Floridian, let alone a visitor. The bugs, heat, and sun are also three big contenders for reasons to put the garden to bed for the summer. No doubt, there is a benefit to letting the soil rest while we, ourselves, take a rest. Pile on …

In March of this year, I attended a workshop on  at the . There were several very interesting presentations, but one in particular, “Grow Bucket Gardening,” really caught my fancy. According to the class description, using grow buckets would help me water more efficiently, reduce weeds, and reduce the costs associated with growing vegetables. The presenter, Kay Robbins, had used this approach for a number of years with consistent success. She was particularly fond of growing tomatoes in grow buckets, but she was quick to say that peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, okra, and squash would also work well. The concept is …

Are you (or do you wish to be) a Florida-Friendly gardener? If so, the  invites you to have a  visit your yard. This team of volunteer Master Gardeners will not only confirm your successful practices; they will also suggest how you can make your outdoor environment even more Florida-Friendly. If you aren’t familiar with the Florida-Friendly concept, go to http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/ to see what is involved. You may be surprised to know you probably already employ some or even all nine Florida-Friendly practices: 1. Select plants that do well in our area and place them in a location where they will …