Author | Lightnews

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · 1d

More creepy-crawly critters for October! While they get a bad rep, spiders are beneficial, preying on pest insects and keeping their populations in check. Read about six Florida spiders you might encounter on UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. buff.ly/1ZdKzrp

The golden silk orb weaver, aka banana spider, has long yellow legs with black bands and an elongated body, brown with white speckles. Photo by Lisa A. Taylor, UF.

The garden orb weaver comes in a variety of colors but this one is black and yellow. Photo by Jennifer L. Gillett-Kaufman, UF/IFAS.

The green lynx spider is pale green. This one has caught a reddish wasp. Photo by Michael Patnaude, UF/IFAS.

The black widow spider has a bulbous abdomen with the characteristic red hourglass mark on its underside. UF/IFAS photo.

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · 2d

Fall can bring out "fuzzy" caterpillars, but don't touch! Some have barbed hairs that easily break off and cause sudden or gradual building pain. This Ask IFAS pub can help you ID stinging crawlies like this hag caterpillar (Photo by Lyle Buss, UF/IFAS). buff.ly/xMbArOQ

Hag caterpillar, Phobetron pithecium is a tiny, crabby looking insect covered in short tan hairs.

2 2

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · 3d

Using organic gardening principles not only reduces chemical use, it benefits your local environment and prevents pollutant runoff. Learn more about organic vegetable gardening at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/xq6cTgY

A man works in a wildly tall and lush garden, full of flowers and vegetables growing side by side.

2

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · 5d

This week's “Healthy Harvest” features legumes suited for Florida gardens. They're fiber-rich and easy to grow, even in poor soil. Learn about bush beans, Southern peas and more in this UF/IFAS publication co-authored by our statewide coordinator, Wendy Wilber. buff.ly/frs54Gh

A pile of beans commonly called black-eye peas. They are creamy tan with a black spot.

2 3

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · 8d

Is Halloween your favorite holiday? Is the front yard already full-on spooky? For a garden that also shows your deliciously dark side, we have some plants. From night-blooming moonflowers to wickedly funky foliage, suggestions for your goth garden: buff.ly/TNuNTXI

White, simple moonflower in Big Cypress National Preserve.

1 1

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · 9d

In honor of World Food Day, let’s celebrate home gardens! Growing your own vegetables can give you access to a healthy diet and maybe even a deeper relationship with nature. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions has a series of articles on sustainable home food production: buff.ly/QdJ497X

A garden of wooden raised beds, filled with green plants. In the foreground a bright pink stick is labeled "Broccoli" and stuck next to a plant.

2 1

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · 10d

With October comes beautyberry. The native shrub dazzles this time of year with jewel-like clusters of purple fruits, attracting birds and other wildlife. Ideal for naturalized settings, beautyberry can be planted throughout the state. Learn more at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/fGXitg9

Close look at the clusters of small purple fruits growing directly on the beautyberry stem, in between the large matte green leaves.

1 3

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · 12d

“Healthy Harvest” Monday! Tubers and root vegetables are hearty, healthy options for the Florida garden. This UF/IFAS publication, co-authored by our statewide coordinator Wendy Wilber, discusses the history, benefits and recommended care of these vegetables. buff.ly/D8M51e6

A pile of freshly harvested orange carrots (Daucus carota subspecies sativus)

White tuberous sunchokes (Helianthus tuberosus) fresh out of the dirt, with the plant's yellow flowers visible.

Freshly pulled sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas).

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) plant with its bulbous pale green base visible at the soil line, and celery-like stalks topped with a profusion of lacy green foliage.

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · 15d

Welcome to spooky season, gardeners. This month's newsletter features not-so-scary organic vegetable gardening, but also spiders! Plus a selection of ghoulishly mysterious plants for your goth garden. Read the October Neighborhood Gardener on our website: buff.ly/hOQghCf

Many Floridians call this a banana spider, but scientists call it a golden silk orb weaver. It's big and pale orange with black and brown marks.

2

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · 16d

Break out the yellow, orange and purple! Fall is a fab time to add a porch planter or redesign an existing one to match the season. From ornamental grasses to bromeliads, crotons and okay, fine -- even mums, UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions has ideas for your fall planter: buff.ly/zRb244a

Our favorite fall planter, with orange crotons, an orange-flowering spiller, tall feathery ornamental grass, and peeking out from the back, deep purple ornamental pepper.

1 1

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · 17d

Pine needles are dropping! Put them to good use for an October gardening task: gather the pine needles and use as mulch in your garden beds. Reusing plant material is sustainable and saves money. More monthly tips can be found in the UF/IFAS Florida Gardening Calendars: buff.ly/3iD4DVd

A gravel path winds through a lush green tropical home landscape. The beds are mulched with pine straw, and a wheelbarrow full of pine straw in nearby.

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · 19d

Mondays in October we'll be sharing publications from the new Ask IFAS series “Healthy Harvest,” co-authored by our own statewide coordinator Wendy Wilber and featuring the wide variety of healthy food Florida producers grow. This week: Fruits and nuts! buff.ly/NCWr6Cm

Strawberries, botanical name Fragaria x ananassa

Chinese/Japanese persimmons, Diospyros kaki

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · 22d

Amaryllis, gladiola and society garlic can be planted in autumn with no chilling requirement. With incredible nutrient and water storage capacity, bulbs are resilient during extended periods of cold, heat and drought. More bulbs for Florida at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/fAHue2M

Amaryllis have large trumpet shaped flowers that appear on leafless green stems in spring. This photo was taken by Wendy Wilber, UF/IFAS.

Gladiolus flowers come in a range, but this plants has an upright stem spiked with orange-red, funnel-shaped flowers that have yellow throats. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental.

Society garlic has small stems topped with clusters of lavender star-shaped flowers. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental.

1

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · 23d

There's more to October than box-store mums. Plant sweet-smelling alyssum, warm-colored calendula and more. There are plenty of flowering options for the fall garden bed. Find the text and printable versions of this infographic on UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/rU8qBds

List of Florida-Friendly flowers to plant in October.

1

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · 24d

Happy World Vegetarian Day! There are many high-protein plants that grow in Florida, including peanuts, pigeon peas, amaranth, winged beans and more. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions has growing tips on all of these, but why not start with peanuts? buff.ly/ZdumY9z

A pile of peanuts, freshly pulled from the soil, still attached to the plant.

1 5

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · 26d

It's National Coffee Day and soon you might be able to celebrate with a cup of Florida-grown coffee! UF/IFAS researchers are exploring it as a new crop, but South Florida gardeners can grow this attractive shrub now (and even roast the beans). More at Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/lfNhmmO

Close look at a coffee plant branch to see how the small oval fruits grow directly on the stem. Most of these aren't ripe and are green, but a few are turning red which means they'll soon be ripe and ready to pick.

3 4

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · 29d

What the kale? How is it nearly October? Gardeners throughout Florida can seize the short window of time this month to plant strawberries. And there's more to plant. Find the text and printable versions of this infographic on UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/NObr0O9

A list of Florida-Friendly fruits and vegetables to plant in October.

1 1

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · Sep 25

The two-spot cotton leafhopper is a serious pest of okra, eggplant, roselle, sunflower, tropical hibiscus and more. There is a new alert out to growers about this pest damaging crops in South Florida. More at UF/IFAS News: buff.ly/AJHSWr0
Photo: Alexandra Revynthi, UF/IFAS

A tiny pale green flying insect. Its two translucent wings have a black spot at the tip.

1

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · Sep 25

The gopher tortoise is a keystone species, meaning many other wildlife species rely on them to survive. Florida's only native tortoise, these endangered animals are protected by state law. More about the gopher tortoise at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/yd3QT3L

A gopher tortoise, with a dull brown shell and stumpy elephant-like back legs which are not webbed. Their front feet are shaped like shovels for digging burrows.

1 3

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · Sep 24

Jaboticaba is a unique tropical tree with fragrant flowers and grape-like fruits that cling directly to the bark. The patient South Florida gardener will be rewarded with a tasty bounty. Learn more about September's featured plant at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/1y0SFov

A grove of jaboticaba trees, small with peeling bark similar to crapemyrtles but these trees are covered with large round fruits, so deeply purple that they appear black, growing directly on the trunks.

2

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · Sep 22

Happy first day of autumn! In Florida, fall is an excellent time to plant vegetables and even those with limited space can join in. Edible container gardens can be on window sills and patios, along fences and balconies, and even on roofs. Learn more at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/zqdgjug

Herbs and vegetables planted in containers. One is a hydroponic container painted with a Jack o' lantern face.

1 3

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · Sep 19

Ahoy there, mateys! It’s Talk Like a Pirate Day, so we've brought aboard the eastern lubber grasshopper. Many gardeners might like these land lubbers to walk the plank. Arrrr ye curious? Learn more about these hungry pests at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/lFKnxVo
(📷 Adam Dale, UF/IFAS)

A huge yellow grasshopper with black markings sits on a man's hand. Photo courtesy of Adam Dale PhD, UF/IFAS

1 1

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · Sep 18

Did you know that Florida has some truly great botanical gardens? They can be a source of inspiration for your own landscape, a place to learn more about our great state or even entertaining guests. Learn more about Florida's botanical gardens at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/DSFXwr0

The Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park is in Tallahassee. This photo features a reflection pool looking out to a lake, surrounded by green trees and shrubs.

The Harry P. Leu Gardens are in Orlando. This photo features a mass of tall pentas plants, some with clusters of white flowers and others with clusters of bubble-gum pink flowers.

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens are right outside Delray Beach. This photo shows a lakeside formal garden with carefully manicured shrubs.

This photo of Naples Botanical Garden features the lily pond with waterfall feature and bromeliads.

2 3

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · Sep 17

"Lawn shrimp” are harmless amphipods, not shrimp. But finding a pile of tiny dried-out crustaceans in your pool drain can still be a nuisance. (📷: thirty_legs, some rights reserved, @inaturalist.bsky.social)
More about lawn shrimp at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/yTUV7Vw

This is a photo of one species of lawn shrimp, Talitroides alluaudi. It was taken by user thirty_legs for iNaturalist, under Creative Commons license Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 (cc-by-nc). Link to that original photo can be found on our article. Big thanks to photographers at iNaturalist for making their work available.

Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · Sep 15

Kids can have green thumbs too! Children reap many benefits from being outside and interacting with nature, both physically and mentally. We have suggestions on ways to get kids interested and engaged in gardening at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/7IWddOC

In a home garden with raised beds, a toddler wearing an adorable bucket hat attempts to pick a yellow bin up that is as big as he is.

1 1