Q/A column – for release October 8, 2008

Dan Culbert - Extension Horticulture Agent 

 How Does Your Garden Grow?

Planting Ficus

I have several very large Ficus trees in pots outside and I thought about planting them outside. Is this a good idea and where would be the best place to plant them and give me some soil and planting suggestions? - Ann from Okeechobee -

Ficus trees can get to be very large trees, 50 feet tall and 80 feet wide, that is if they don’t freeze back.  They also are shallow rooted, so they may get blown over by hurricanes.  Their roots are always on the lookout for sources of water, like water or sewer pipes, septic tanks, and swimming pools.  Because some Ficus are invasive, such as the False Banyan or Laurel Fig, UF does not recommend using them in South Florida landscapes.  

Our neighbors in Miami are also dealing with a new insect pest, a fig whitefly that is making many large evergreen trees lose their leaves like a Maple tree in winter.

Those are the down sides. On the plus side, Ficus grows quickly and can provide lots of shade.  If planted in a row and kept pruned, they can be used as a hedge.  They are tolerant of poor soil and except as noted above, usually need little care. 

My suggestion is if you have a very large yard and don’t expect a freeze, you can plant it 50 feet away from any building, water source. But begin to put a little bit of money away each year in your “tree removal” fund for that day when that Ficus may need to be removed. 

 

Transplanting Rose Bush

Another question from Ann – When is the best time to move rose bushes? 

Roses can be planted year-round except in north Florida, where planting is best delayed until early spring.  Regrowth from transplanting will be stronger if temperatures are warm, so if you begin now the move can be completed before the coolest months of the year arrive.

If the plant is well established, you may wish to prepare it for moving by “root pruning.”  At the same time that the shoots are normally cut back, push a shovel straight down about 8-10 inches from the main stem.  Cut the roots this way - all around the plant.  This will stimulate new roots, which will help it when it is transplanted.  Wait a month after this root pruning before finally moving the rosebush to its new home.

Be sure to provide adequate (but not excessive) water, and when new leaf growth begins, fertilizers may be added.  Ask for our UF Extension bulletin, Growing Roses in Florida http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP339 for more details.

 

Queen Palms from Seed

I planted some queen palm plants in my yard when K-Mart closed several years ago. Now they are 12-15 feet high and have little "fruits" that drop to the ground that have seeds in them. Can you plant those for more trees?  Please tell me the best way to plant them and get them to grow. -Anonymous-

These one-seeded fruit can be used to grow new Queen Palms.  In the landscape, the seed stalks are often cut off before the fruit begin to fall so yard cleaned up is easier.

Unlike other palms, the green fruit from the Queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana) sprout better than those fruit that are half or fully yellow in color.  Make sure they are full sized.  

Palm seeds are covered with a fleshy fruit wall that should be removed before planting.  Try using a knife to cut away the fruit tissue. (Note that the flesh of some other palms may contain irritating substances – but not the Queen Palm.)  Soak the cleaned palm seed in water for 1 to 7 days, and change the water daily.

Immediately plant the soaked seed in a well drained potting soil.  For Queen Palms, cover them with an inch of the planting medium. Keep the soil moist but not overly wet, which will cause rotting. Place the pots in a partially sunny area, and hold back on any fertilization fro a few months.

For lots more on growing palms from seed, see our UF Extension bulletin, Palm Seed Germination http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP238

 

 Adding Compost to Vegetable Garden

I am starting a vegetable garden for the first time and I will be starting my plants from seeds this weekend. How long should I wait until I put organic manure on or near the seeds? Is there a better type of fertilizer to use instead? - Teresa -

Ideally any organic materials like manure added to the garden should be well decomposed and tilled into the garden soil before planting.  If you are adding it after sowing seed, be certain that they are not going to be covered too deeply. Side dressing with a mulching layer of compost can be done after setting the transplants, but don’t pile it up against the stems (Tomatoes, however, can handle some stem burial.)

If you are adding the manure as a means of providing plant nutrition, consider making a “manure tea.” This could be used much like synthetic soluble fertilizer solutions.  The “blue powder” type plant food crystals should be diluted according to the labeled directions and used as a “starter solution” to give your garden plants a jump start on the season. Check the Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/VH021 for more details.

 

Wormy Cabbage

Amy asks - How do I get rid of the tiny worms that get inside of my cabbages? 

To manage any pest, the first step is to identify it.  “Worms” on the leaves are most likely to be small caterpillars that can be managed with the use of the bacteria-based insecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis.  (We call it B.t. for obvious reasons – you can ask for Dipel or Thuricide at our locally owned garden centers.)   If they are boring into the stem, it may be something else, so the best bet is to bring in a sample or submit a clear digital photo to our office for positive ID.  

Resist the temptation to apply chemical insecticides to your vegetable garden unless you are absolutely sure that the product is labeled for home gardens.  Be certain it will control the pest you have on your vegetables and be sure to follow instructions about how long you have to wait before you can put your pride and joy into your garden basket.  Read and follow all label directions, and HAPPY GARDENING!

 

Send your favorite garden question by fax (863-763-5901), email ( okeenews@newszap.com) or just drop it off at the Okeechobee News office at (107 SW 17th St. suite D, Okeechobee, FL 34974).  The University of Florida - Okeechobee County Extension office will pick out questions that would be of greatest interest to local residents and publish brief answers in the Okeechobee News.

The questions for today are REAL questions that have been asked in the past few days.  To continue the column, we need YOUR real questions. Be sure to include your name and phone or email address in case we need more information (We can publish a question as anonymous if you wish).  Clear photographs (digital preferred) may also be submitted.  Do not drop by actual plant specimens (unless it is a prize tomato for our salad or a beautiful flower for our office!)  We reserve the right to edit all questions for space.  The answers will be placed on the Okeechobee Extension website; they will include links to additional references.

More information is available on the award-winning Okeechobee web page, http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu. If you need additional information on your Florida Yard or garden, please email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu or call us at 863-763-6469.  Local residents can stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North in Okeechobee, and visit our Okeechobee County Master Gardeners from 1 to 3 PM on Tuesday afternoons.  Go Gators! 

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Trade  names, where used, are given for the purpose of providing specific information. They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of products named, nor does it imply criticism of products not named. The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin.  Florida Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS / University of Florida.  Larry A.  Arrington, Dean. Last update: 10/06/2008.  This page is maintained by Dan Culbert