Horticultural Sciences Department Research Articles

How to Determine the Optimum Time to Harvest Hops

This article explains how to determine the optimum time to harvest hops. It is part of a series that examines the challenges and opportunities of hop production in Florida based on research at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (UF/IFAS GCREC). Written by Shinsuke Agehara, Mariel Gallardo, Christopher DelCastillo, Weining Wang, and Jack Rechcigl, and published by the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department; 4 pp.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1436

Yacon, a Potential Tuberous Crop for Florida

The purpose of this article is to introduce yacon as a potential crop to Florida growers and the Extension community by providing information on its propagation, production, and utilization as well as nutritional value. It is anticipated that the availability of such information will support the establishment of yacon as a higher-value crop and promote yacon production and utilization in Florida. Written by Sergio Marcelo Gutierrez Laredo, Jianjun Chen, and Guodong Liu, and published by the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department; 5 pp.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1435

Waterleaf, a Potential Leafy Vegetable for Florida

Waterleaf is a vegetable crop whose edible leaves are soft, succulent, and highly nutritious. It is available in some local grocery stores in Florida but is new to most people in Florida and its environs. Waterleaf production is economically attractive due to low cost for seeds, pesticides, and herbicides for producing the crop. Like other leafy vegetables, waterleaf can be grown in home gardens as well. This new 6-page article will give an overview of this emerging vegetable in Florida. The intended audience is county Extension faculty, students, growers, and consumers. Written by Christianah T. Oladoye and Guodong Liu and published by the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1434

La Producción de Lechuga en Sistemas Hidropónicos a Pequeña Escala

This publication presents an overview on the use of different small hydroponic systems that could be implemented by home gardeners. Recommendations on lighting, media, and other key aspects are presented in this publication as well. Spanish translation of HS1422, Growing Lettuce in Small Hydroponic Systems, by Germán V. Sandoya, Jonael Bosques, and E. Vanessa Vassilaros. Published by the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department; 8 pp.

Fingered Citron—A Fragrant Ornamental Fruit Crop for Florida

The purpose of this new 4-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department is to introduce fingered citron to county Extension faculty, students interested in crop production, growers, certified crop advisors, crop consultants, consumers, environmentalists, and policy makers in the agricultural sector for better production, consumption, and environmental sustainability. Written by Yuheng Qiu, Mary Dixon, Jonathan Denison, Fernando Alferez, and Guodong Liu.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1427

Irrigation Practices for Southern Highbush Blueberry in Florida

This new 4-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department provides guidance on irrigation requirements and practices to Florida Southern highbush blueberry growers. Written by Douglas A. Phillips and Jeffrey G. Williamson.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1432

Herbs and Spices in the Florida Garden

This 10-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department discusses culinary herbs and spices that can be grown in a Florida home garden or landscape. Information on the general cultural requirements, propagation, harvesting, and use of herbs is included as well as detailed descriptions of common culinary herbs. Major revision by Mary Salinas, Sydney Park Brown, and James M. Stephens.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vh020

Growing Feijoa Fruit in Florida

Feijoa is often found in central and north Florida landscapes as a durable and cold-hardy plant for hedges and foundation plantings, and as a dooryard fruit. Its value as a potentially heavy producer of flavorful fruits (and flavorful flowers) is frequently overlooked due to issues in pollination and limited genetic improvement. This new 5-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department describes the opportunity and limitations of feijoa as a horticultural crop.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1424

Nitrogen Fertilization Guidelines for Bare-Ground and Plastic Mulch Cabbage Production in Florida

This new 9-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department focuses on the nitrogen fertilizer best management practices (BMP) for green fresh-market and processing cabbage head production in Florida. This publication aims to provide management strategies that comply with statewide BMP guidelines to optimize economic yield while minimizing nitrogen losses to the environment. Written by L. Zotarelli, C. E. Barrett, A. L. B. R. da Silva, C. T. Christensen, and G. K. England.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1428

Strategies for Improving Phosphorus Use Efficiency in Lettuce Grown on Histosols

The global demand for P fertilizers has been significantly increasing, resulting in higher costs and environmental concerns associated with eutrophication. Fertilizer expenses and environmental risks can be reduced through the implementation of sustainable strategies. This new 6-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department compiles several strategies to improve the utilization of P fertilization in lettuce grown in the Everglades Agricultural Area.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1423

Growing Lettuce in Small Hydroponic Systems

This new 6-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department presents an overview on the use of different small hydroponic systems that could be implemented by home gardeners for lettuce. Recommendations on lighting, media, and other key aspects are presented in this publication as well. Written by Germán V. Sandoya, Jonael Bosques, Francisco Rivera, and E. Vanessa Campoverde.

El maracuyá en Florida

Passionfruit is a short-lived evergreen perennial vine that produces an aromatic, tropical-tasting fruit. This new 14-page Spanish translation of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department provides a description of passionfruit and its various species and cultivars, as well as a guide to culture and management, harvest and storage, its pests and diseases, and food and marketing. By M. Bailey, A. Sarkhosh, A. Rezazadeh, J. Anderson, A. Chambers, and J. Crane. Translated by J. Clavijo-Herrer.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1421

Exploring Opportunities for Malting Barley Production in Florida

This new 6-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department aims to inform Florida growers and the craft brewing and distillery industry about the current knowledge of the potential yield and challenges of barley cultivation in north Florida. Written by Charles E. Barrett, Lincoln Zotarelli, Sylvia M. Willis, Jay M. Capasso, Ethan T. Carter, De Broughton, Kevin R. Athearn, Andrew MacIntosh, Alicia N. Halbritter, Matthew T. Smith, Kevin A. Korus, and Daniel J. Leonard.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1420

Growing Strawberries in the Florida Home Garden

Florida is the winter strawberry capital of the world. In commercial and home production, strawberries are grown as an annual crop rather than as perennials. This 4-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department presents guidelines for the successful production of strawberries in the Florida home garden. Minor revision with an updated byline of Chandler, C. K., N. A. Peres, V. M. Whitaker, H. A. Smith, and S. P. Brown. 2014. "Growing Strawberries in the Florida Home Garden." EDIS 2008 (6). https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs403

Nutritional Benefits of Lettuce Consumed at Recommended Portion Sizes

This new 8-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department explains which nutrients are abundant among the major lettuce types compared to other leafy vegetables, encourages consumers to help satisfy dietary recommendations by eating lettuce at appropriate serving sizes, and outlines the basic growing conditions that help maximize its nutrition as a crop. Written by Jesse J. Murray, Gilles Basset, and German Sandoya.

Bacterial Leaf Spot of Lettuce Disease: An Unpredictable Enemy to the Florida Lettuce Industry

Bacterial leaf spot (BLS) of lettuce is caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas hortorum. BLS is more damaging in Florida, where the climate is conducive for disease development. The most effective control method is host resistance currently being developed by the UF/IFAS lettuce breeding program in all lettuce types. This new 4-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department was written by Germán Sandoya and D. Calvin Odero.

UF/IFAS Strawberries beyond the USA: A Success Story from Egypt

Currently, Florida strawberry varieties are grown in over 70 countries spread across six continents. The main objective of this Extension publication is to communicate the benefits of licensing UF/IFAS strawberries outside of the USA, with a special focus on Egypt. The target audience of this new 6-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department includes those involved in the strawberry industry as well as the general public. Written by Fahiem EL-Borai and Vance M. Whitaker.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1411

Crop Management Practices and Labor Inputs for Hop Production in Florida

The booming craft beer industry, rising prices of hops, and demand for locally-produced ingredients have recently increased interest in local hop production among growers and brewers. This article describes crop management practices and labor inputs required for small-scale hop production in Florida, with the aim of assisting growers with investment and farm management decisions. It is part of a larger series that will review the challenges of hop production in Florida, based on research experience at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Balm, FL. This new 6-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department was written by Shinsuke Agehara, Mariel Gallardo, Aleyda Acosta-Rangel, Zhanao Deng, Jack Rechcigl, Tianyuan Luo, and Qi Qiu.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1409

Nutrition and Irrigation Management for Florida HLB-Affected Trees

To improve production of huanglongbing (HLB) affected trees, nutrition, irrigation, and soil pH should be considered together, because each can influence the efficacy of the others in overcoming the effects of HLB on tree performance. This two-sided poster published by the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department through the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center was written by Tripti Vashisth, Davie Kadyampakeni, and Jamie D. Burrow.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1367

Production Guide of Vegetable Amaranth for Florida

Vegetable amaranth is a beautiful and nutritious vegetable in the family Amaranthaceae. This vegetable has been cultivated in China for more than 400 years and has been introduced to several US states, such as Mississippi and Missouri. Florida's mild climate combined with amaranth's exceptional taste, nutrients, and colorful foliage suggest amaranth is a potential crop for commercial production for Florida. This new 7-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department is intended to provide Florida growers with a production guide for vegetable amaranth to enhance its competitiveness and boost the economy by introducing this potential cash crop to growers. Written by Yuheng Qiu and Guodong Liu.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1407