Tasty Homegrown Heirloom Tomatoes & Native Florida Plants

GARDEN TALK — Read more about growing tomatoes in Florida.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A University of Florida faculty member and Nassau County Extension Horticultural Agent, Rebecca Jordi addresses some of the questions she receives about landscaping and gardening in northeast Florida, in GARDEN TALK. The Extension also offers helpful clinics throughout the year, providing assistance to local gardeners on Amelia Island and in the surrounding areas of Nassau County, Florida. __________

GARDEN TALK

Roma Tomatoes on the Vine (Northeast Florida)

QUESTION: Will you give me a list of heirloom tomatoes to grow in Florida?  PH

JORDI: A growing number of garden enthusiasts are becoming interested in producing tomatoes.  There are several reasons for the increased appeal in gardening which involve food safety issues, reduced cost, and better flavor.

According to Taylor’s Guide to Heirloom Vegetables, a tomato must meet three criteria to be considered an heirloom variety:

1) the variety must grow “true to type” from seed saved from each fruit;
2) seed must have been available for more than 50 years; and
3) the tomato variety must have a history or folklore of its own.

Tomatoes are labeled “IND” for indeterminate or “DET” for determinate.  The indeterminate types are vines which will continue to grow and produce until cooler temperatures arrive making a favorite for many home growers.  These vines will need to be staked or allowed to grow on a trellis.  You may consider growing them from a hanging basket, but the larger beef steak varieties may become too heavy.

Tomatoes require about 1-2 inches of water a week, be careful not to over water them as they can develop a root rot.  Avoid over-head irrigation whenever possible.

There are numerous seed catalogues available for heirloom tomatoes such as Mary Ann which is a classic pink-orange beefsteak tomato, Green Zebra for salads, Nebraska Wedding or Eva Purple Bell.  Look for varieties able to handle heat and humidity in addition to demonstrating disease resistance.

For more information on growing tomatoes in Florida please see the attached University of Florida publication is titled “Tomatoes in the Florida Garden”: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vh028

Southern Wax Myrtle Fruit (northeast Florida)

QUESTION: I would like the name of some native plants which will grow in this area?  BB

JORDI: There are numerous lists of native plants to grow in Northeast Florida. If you are thinking about adding natives to your landscape I would encourage you to consider adding plants in small increments to determine how they will fit.

In addition, reflect on what you want to ultimately achieve. Is it your desire to attract wildlife? If so, remember birds, bees, and butterflies will need to be protected from pesticides in order for your garden to be successful.

When adding any plants to your home landscapes cluster them according to their needs. Full sun plants should be grown in full sun; partial shade plants will need to be protected from harsh afternoon light. Drought tolerate plants should be grown together and separated from plants requiring more water.

Take into account the mature height and spread of the plants to allow for enough room to grow. One of the biggest mistakes made by home landscapers is to place plants too closely together which can increase disease opportunities.

University of Florida has a publication (which is by no means complete), but it will give you a place to get started. The above photo is of our native Southern Wax Myrtle. The fruit was at one time used to make wax candles. The title of the publication is called, “Native Florida Plants for Home Landscapes”: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep011

Lichen on Shrub (Northeast Florida)

QUESTION: I have this green, bearded stuff growing on my roses. What is it and how do I get rid of it?  MV

JORDI: The growth is lichen which is a combination of algae and fungi which is called symbiosis. The alga provides the food and lichen supplies the protection in the form of a home. Hand pulling the lichen off could be done as the lichen is not truly harming the plant. Something else must be causing your roses to be under stress.

After our discussion, we realized the use of heavy river rock around the root area of the roses was most likely the culprit for the rose discomfort. I know of no woody ornamental plant which will do well in Florida’s hot summers with rock mulch around the roots. River rock can be very heavy; it retains heat and has a tendency to compact the soil.

I would suggest you remove the rock and replace it with a light soil medium such as compost, peat moss and sand especially around the roses. Top your roses with a couple of inches of pine straw or melaleuca mulch. The rock is not a total loss because you could use it around yucca, aloe, or cacti and we have several varieties which do well here.

NEED A DIAGNOSIS OF A LANDSCAPE PROBLEM? ATTEND A PLANT CLINIC

Bring your tired, diseased, insect-infested plants for a consultation. Remember, local area residents are welcomed to bring clippings from your landscape and have problems diagnosed at the Nassau County, Florida Extension satellite office anytime between the hours of 10 am – 2 pm on these dates in 2010: February 22, March 8 & 22, April 19, May 3 & 17, and June 14.  Remember to put your clippings into bags to reduce the opportunity of spreading insect or disease infestations. Check out the UF/IFAS Nassau County Extension website for more information.  http://nassau.ifas.ufl.edu

Rebecca Jordi

Rebecca L. Jordi
University of Florida/IFAS
Nassau County Extension
Environmental Horticulture Agent III
543350 U. S. Highway #1
Callahan, FL 32011
904 548-1116 or 904 879-1019
http://nassau.ifas.ufl.edu