EDITOR’S NOTE: Environmental Horticulture Agent III, Rebecca Jordi, addresses questions about landscaping and gardening in northeast Florida. She is the Extension Director in Nassau County, Florida and also a University of Florida faculty member.
Garden Talk Q & A
QUESTION: When do I harvest rutabaga? I am concerned about the cold temperatures coming and did not want it to get destroyed before I get a chance to eat it. GG
JORDI: Rutabaga is a cool season vegetable, which means it grows best in the winter in Florida. Rutabaga will withstand frosts and mildly freezing temperatures so there should be no problem for the next few days. For the most part, it is found primarily in home gardens here in Florida with no large commercial growers currently producing it.
Rutabagas require a longer growing season (about 90 days) than do turnips so expect to harvest them 3 months after planting. Rutabagas are often confused with turnips but turnip leaves are light green, thin, and hairy whereas rutabaga leaves are bluish green and smooth like cabbage. The leaves of rutabaga are edible but I’ve been told they are not pleasant. The flesh of turnips is white but rutabaga flesh has a yellow tint. Turnips have no neck or elongated area where the leaves attach to the root. Rutabagas have a slightly elongated neck area.
If you grow rutabagas from seed be sure to space them 3-4 inches apart in 30-inch rows. The main varieties are ‘American Purple Top,’ ‘Macomber,’ ‘Purple Top Yellow’, ‘Long Island Improved,’ ‘Sweet Russian,’ ‘Laurential,’ and ‘Zwaan’s Neckless Purple Top.’ For more info see http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/MV/MV12700.pdf
QUESTION: What is the name of the tree with the salmon colored seed pods? It is so pretty, I just love it. GL
JORDI: While it is true that this tree is beautiful it is also considered a pest tree. Golden rain tree, Koelreuteria elegans, is native of Taiwan and it has become a very popular landscape tree because of its colorful yellow petals and rose colored fruit capsules. Even though this tree is loved and valued by many, we cannot ignore the invasive characteristics which initiated its appointment as a Category II exotic invasive.
Koelreuteria is a fast growing plant able to grow in an array of environmental conditions. Golden rain tree seeds are thought to be spread by birds and have the capability of germinating as quickly as 6-8 days. It is a deciduous tree that grows 25 to 50 feet in height, with a 35 to 50 foot diameter spread. Introductions of Koelreuteria as an ornamental tree have made it possible for this tree to escape from cultivation and naturalize in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida. Because it is a fast grower and has greater seed viability in warmer climates, Golden rain tree has the ability to crowd out desired native species which means it can and does completely alter the local landscape. It is best for us to refrain from purchasing, propagating, or planting Golden rain tree due to its ability to escape into natural areas.
QUESTION: My peach tree is looking anemic. What could be wrong? BG
JORDI: I am glad you brought in a soil sample so we could test the soil pH for you. We discovered your particular soil was alkaline (over 7.0). Most of our fruit and vegetables prefer a slightly acid soil which is between 6.0 and 6.5. When the soil becomes alkaline, often there are limitations to the absorption availability of some nutrients through the roots of the tree. Iron is one of those nutrients. It is involved in the manufacturing process of chlorophyll (the green pigment in leaves), which is important in carbohydrate production and it is required for certain enzyme functions. In high alkaline soils, iron is often unavailable to the plant which is why plants will often develop yellow leaves or look anemic.
The University of Florida recommends adding chelated iron to the root area of the fruit tree when soils are above 7.0. Chelated iron is basically a type of iron with a special coating on it which will make it more available to the plant when the soil is alkaline. Many of our areas, especially along the coastal parts of Nassau, will have high alkaline soils. Fruit trees, such as your peach tree, could benefit from incorporating chelated iron into the soil around the roots. The directions on the package of chelated iron will provide the appropriate amount to apply. Please follow the directions on the package as too much chelated iron can cause other problems. Remember, you can always use less than the label recommendations but NEVER more. The “Label is the Law.”
Nassau County Extension Director
UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture
543350 U.S. Highway #1
Callahan, FL 32011
904-530-6351
http://nassau.ifas.ufl.edu
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