Get your fall garden going

September 25, 2012

One of the great things about gardening in the Deep South is the ability to grow things pretty much year-round. In Zone 8b, particularly here in the Florida Panhandle, October is the time to plant what are considered cool-weather crops. For those of us who moved here from climes farther north, these may be crops […]

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Searching for mosquito-breeders

September 17, 2012

Take a few minutes to walk around your yard, looking for things that hold water and provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes; empty any that you find and turn them over so they won’t fill up again. Saucers under potted plants, children’s toys, even fallen magnolia leaves can hold enough water to create a problem. […]

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Welcome to my blog!

September 16, 2012

Hello, and welcome to my gardening blog. According to Southern Living magazine, gardening is the No. 1 hobby in the United States. With a temperate climate and abundant rainfall most years, the southeastern United States is a great place to practice this hobby. I’m a certified Advanced Master Gardener with the University of Florida Institute of Food and […]

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In Search of the Perfect Backyard Tomato

September 16, 2012

By Audrey Post MS. GROW-IT-ALL Q: What’s the secret to growing good tomatoes in Tallahassee? A: There’s no single secret to growing tomatoes successfully in Tallahassee and the Florida Panhandle. Rather, it’s multiple factors that combine to create beautiful, tasty fruit – yes, fruit – in your own yard. Notice I didn’t say “back yard.” […]

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Gauging the rainfall

September 15, 2012

Afternoon thunderstorms have become less frequent and less widespread, so your plants might need supplemental watering. Invest in a rain gauge and check it, and empty it, every day so you’ll have accurate, current information about the amount of rainfall in your yard. Consider keeping a record of rainfall totals. (Sept. 16, 2012)

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Soil May Be Holding Back Pomegranate’s Performance

July 7, 2011

Q: I have a pomegranate several years old, never pruned and seldom fertilized. It blooms but fails to set fruit. It is not a very robust plant and has several dead branches. My soil is primarily red clay. Suggestions? A: Pomegranates do best in full sun, which in our area is eight hours a day […]

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Readers Share Tips on Growing Tomatoes, Thwarting Squirrels

June 30, 2011

My columns often include an invitation for readers to share their expertise on the topic or issue of the day, and I am delighted when you send your suggestions. Today’s column is entirely devoted to reader tips. Keep ‘em coming. Top tomatoes: Master Gardener Glenn Mayne, the best vegetable gardener I know, wrote after he […]

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Grape, Cherry Tomatoes Can Take High Heat

June 23, 2011

Q: My tomato plants have stopped producing. They did great earlier this season, but now the flowers fall off without setting fruit. What do I do? A: Wait for cooler weather. Most varieties of tomatoes will stop producing fruit when temperatures soar above 85 or 90 degrees. Once it cools off, they’ll start producing again. […]

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Wait Until Cooler Weather To Move Shrub

June 16, 2011

Q: Awhile ago in your column, you recommended cutting into the soil all around a gardenia bush to encourage growth of feeder roots prior to moving it. We did this, as we have a gardenia bush that hasn’t thrived, I think, because it was planted too low in the ground. Now it’s June and time […]

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Critters Can Wreak Havoc With Plantings

June 9, 2011

Q: Last summer, I had lovely pots of verbena, potato vine and Knockout roses on my deck that the squirrels completely ignored. This summer, the squirrels continue to strip all leaves and flowers from these same plantings. Crushed red pepper doesn’t faze them. The deck is in full sun. What can I plant that squirrels […]

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