EDITOR’S NOTE: UF/IFAS County Extension Director for Nassau County and Horticulture Agent III, Rebecca Jordi addresses questions about landscaping and gardening in northeast Florida. She is also a University of Florida faculty member.______
QUESTION: I did not remove all the kumquats off my tree before the freeze. Some of them look wrinkled and white but others look firm and orange. Are they safe to eat? AW
JORDI: The citrus fruit is most likely safe to eat but the white ones are showing freeze damage and the taste will not be very appealing. It would be best to remove all the freeze damaged fruit and either throw them away or use them in your compost bin. The orange colored fruit should probably be picked also so it can be enjoyed now before our next expected freeze.
FREE LANDSCAPE MATTERS CLASS JANUARY 12, 2011 AT NASSAU COUNTY, FLORIDA EXTENSION OFFICE
If you are interested in learning more about growing citrus in Nassau County, please attend the Landscape Matters class I will be holding at 10am on January 12, 2011 at the Yulee County Building. The session is free of charge.
QUESTION: I know I am supposed to cover the head of my cauliflower so it will stay white but I don’t know when I should do it. MC
JORDI: Although you have been successful, cauliflower can be a difficult vegetable to grow successfully in the vegetable garden mostly because it prefers temperatures in the 60 to 70 degree range. At higher temperatures, cauliflower will not head properly. It also requires adequate water and fertilizer for optimal performance.
In order to maintain its flavor and firm consistency, cauliflower must be kept snowy white. This is done by tying the leaves together over the heads when the heads are between 2-3 inches in diameter. The heads should be examined from time to time to determine when they are ready to harvest. If you let them stay too long, the heads get loose and grainy, and lose much of their tenderness.
In North Florida, cauliflower can be planted in the following months: January – February or August – October. The best varieties for Florida are Snowball Strains or Snow Crown. Brocoverde is a green-headed variety. Be sure to space plants 24-30 inches apart.
QUESTION: I just moved to Florida. Can I grow artichokes here? CK
JORDI: Welcome to Florida and especially Nassau County.
The quick answer is no, we do not have the completely frost free area and mild temperatures required to grow the globe artichokes you mentioned. Ideally, they prefer daytime temperatures between 70 and 75 degrees F. with night time temperatures around 50 – 55 degrees F. We might have temperatures similar in the spring but not long enough for the plant to develop the globe fruit which takes about 80 days.
Globe artichokes, which are part of the Composite family, typically grow in California but I found some information from Texas A&M Extension suggesting home growers in the southern coastal regions of Texas have had some success. The immature globes are surrounded by fleshy flower-like parts called bracts. The base of these bracts are broken off, dipped in a delicious sauce and eaten. Harvesting occurs from March through May.
I am linking to a wonderful article from the University of Illinois regarding some varieties which have been grown in colder Midwest environments. I have also attached a University of Florida publication with other information on the globe and Jerusalem artichoke. That said, the long answer is – it may be possible. You will have to experiment with different varieties to see what might possibly work here. Good luck and keep me posted on your progress – you might just end up being very successful.
Rebecca L. Jordi
County Extension Director
UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture
Nassau County Extension
543350 U.S. Highway #1
Callahan, FL 32011
904-491-7340 or 904-879-1019
http://nassau.ifas.ufl.edu