Two extraordinarily mild winters in Florida: 2018-2019 and 2019-2020

March 31, 2020

We’ve just had the second consecutive winter with no sub-freezing temperatures in my part of Florida, a weather occurrence I rate as freakishly unusual. I’ve been living in Florida since the mid 1990s, and in my area (between Ocala and Gainesville), winter usually features a number of cold fronts that drop overnight temps down to … More Two extraordinarily mild winters in Florida: 2018-2019 and 2019-2020

Another potential nematode resistant fig rootstock: hybrid Ficus pumila x Ficus carica

February 28, 2020

(Note: See here for a list of all posts I have made about nematode resistant fig roostocks.) In my search for nematode resistant rootstocks for common fig, I’ve recently acquired a new candidate to try out (actually two new candidates). I have already posted about how I’ve tried the ornamental creeping fig, Ficus pumila, which … More Another potential nematode resistant fig rootstock: hybrid Ficus pumila x Ficus carica

Evaluating mulberry varieties for early bud break, Jan 2020

January 26, 2020

Mulberries are a great fruit tree for Florida (and just about everywhere else). But a major challenge in growing them in North and Central Florida is that some varieties get fooled by warm spells during winter into thinking that spring as arrived, and they break dormancy too early. As long as a mulberry tree is … More Evaluating mulberry varieties for early bud break, Jan 2020

Fig nematode resistant rootstock project, 2019 status report

December 22, 2019

My project to test out various Ficus species as potential nematode-resistant rootstocks for edible figs has made slow but steady progress in 2019. Root-knot nematodes are one of the biggest challenges in growing figs in Florida and other warm climate regions around the world. I am trying to acquire every Ficus species that’s reported to … More Fig nematode resistant rootstock project, 2019 status report

Exploring Florida citrus history at the Winter Garden Heritage Museum

December 4, 2019

In growing a grove of fruit trees, I am carrying on a long tradition. I love learning about that long cultural practice, especially the history of the citrus industry here in Florida. One place you can learn about that citrus history is the Winter Garden Heritage Museum in Winter Garden, Florida (just west of Orlando). … More Exploring Florida citrus history at the Winter Garden Heritage Museum

The ‘Turkey Lake’ American persimmon: free fruits & scionwood are available in Gainesville

November 28, 2019

‘Turkey Lake’ is an American persimmon variety I selected from the wild, which has better fruit size and flavor than any other form of this species I’ve encountered in Florida. I have planted a tree of this variety in a public location in Gainesville, Florida, where it is accessible for anyone to sample the fruits … More The ‘Turkey Lake’ American persimmon: free fruits & scionwood are available in Gainesville

Lagenaria siceraria – a highly productive vegetable for hot, humid climates

October 31, 2019

Here in Florida, the months of June through September offer an ideal testing ground for how well vegetables can tolerate hot, steamy weather. Many common vegetables struggle in the sauna-like conditions, but we’re finding that Lageneria siceria produces food here all summer like a champion. A member of the squash family, Lagenaria is an aggressively … More Lagenaria siceraria – a highly productive vegetable for hot, humid climates

I tried a fruitarian diet for a week. Here’s what I experienced.

September 22, 2019

I’ve always been intrigued by something I’ve heard about raw food diets: the energy and mental clarity people say they experience while eating that way. I’ve heard similar stories from numerous people over the years about how eating diet of raw foods only, especially fruit only, gives them a high, a mental lightness, extra mental … More I tried a fruitarian diet for a week. Here’s what I experienced.