The Neighborhood Gardener – November
Happy Florida fall gardening!
Wildflowers for All Seasons
November is the time to sow wildflower seed! Whether you’re trying to save the bees, support native wildlife, or just enjoy the sense of place that native plants offer, Florida’s wildflowers will bring a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes to your garden. This article organizes wildflowers by bloom season to help you add a little color to otherwise dull seasons in your landscape.
Lythrum alatum photo by Jennifer Anderson, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database.
Florida's Homegrown Teas
Did you know that dozens of tea plants thrive right here in Florida? Just in time for the first cool weather of the year, here is an article to help you get the most out of the holiday season. Whether you prefer caffeinated and herbal, there are so many options for gardeners seeking homegrown tea. See our suggested Florida-Friendly tea plants.
Wendy's Wanderings
“To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose” is an old saying I consider as fall rolls into our Florida gardens and landscapes. In the yard we see the oh-so-subtle change in the deciduous trees and the fall show of wildflowers. Florida aster, golden rod and native sunflowers let us know that we are getting our mild seasonal change. In the veggie garden, if we planned correctly or got lucky, we can eat with the season too. Read "Season's Eatings."
Plant of the Month: Seminole Pumpkin
Traditionally grown by the Calusa, Creek, and Miccosukee peoples, Seminole pumpkins remain one of the tastiest and most reliable pumpkins for Florida gardens. They also make an excellent substitute for pumpkins in your favorite pumpkin recipes! This Thanksgiving, why not try this local favorite for a truly Floridian pumpkin pie? We have step-by-step instructions.
Large Patch in Florida Lawns
Large patch is a fungal disease that affects lawns throughout the Southeast. It attacks all warm-season turfgrasses but is especially problematic in St. Augustinegrass and zoysiagrass. Fungicides can stop the spread of large patch in the short term, but to avoid yearly battles with the disease we suggest adjusting your lawn care practices. Learn more about preventing large patch.
MGV Book Club
Next week is the final live meeting of 2020 for the Florida MGV Book Club! We’ve just finished reading “Bringing Nature Home,” an award-winning book about welcoming wildlife to our urban and suburban jungles. If you're passionate about gardening, interested in native insects and plants, or devoted to caring for the world around you, you can listen in and even join the conversation on November 20th. More
November in Your Garden
A warm November is a good time to divide and replant overgrown perennials and bulbs so they'll have time to establish before the cooler weather arrives. There are many vegetables you can plant now: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and greens, as well as radishes and turnips. Turn off lawn irrigation systems and water only if needed; plants need less supplemental watering in fall.
For more month-by-month gardening tips, check out the Florida Gardening Calendar. Three different editions of the calendar provide specific tips for each of Florida's gardening regions—North, Central, and South.
What's Going On?
If your Master Gardener Volunteer program or Extension office is having an event, be sure to share it with us.