It is hard to tell that we are in the middle of fall with temperatures still in the 80s and 90s. Since it is colder in the North, the vultures, the grackles and the bald eagles are back. Geiger trees continue to bloom. Yellow Elders (Tecoma stans) are in full bloom in the fall, although they bloom on new growth all year long. The county is planting these lovely trees in the medians on U.S. 19 near Cortez, which means that they are tough. Growing in full sun, in any well-drained soil, and surviving on rain alone, this short evergreen tree is an excellent low-maintenance choice for a home yard.
Because the warm weather continues, our gardens are still troubled by insect pests. Several people have called in complaining of scorpions in their garages. We do have a native scorpion whose sting is not fatal, but which hurts like a wasp sting. Scorpions eat termites and other insects; so if you see one in the home, look around for termites. White flies are bothersome in the vegetable garden. They can be treated with soap and oil sprays.
Weeping Fig Thrips have shown up in Manatee County, infesting some of the ficus species. The thrips feed on young expanding leaves causing purplish red spots or galls on the lower leaf surface. The leaves become curled and fall off. Homeowners can cut off and dispose of the young infested leaves.
I held a huge 6-inch long caterpillar in the Plant Clinic last week. It was one of those “we’re not in Kansas” moments. These black, yellow, and red Frangipani Hornworms are relatively rare in Manatee County and grow up to be a Tetrio Sphinx Moth. The caterpillar appears at the same time the Frangipani loses its leaves, eats five or six leaves, and then falls off the tree and pupates underneath the dead leaves. It becomes a large grey moth in the spring.
My small vegetable garden, grown in earth boxes, is starting to produce tiny green tomatoes.
I have two heirloom tomatoes and am looking forward to the sweet tomatoes they will produce. Unfortunately, many heirloom tomatoes are not resistant to the viruses and bacteria in the soil or carried by insects and I may lose my plants again this year.
The only way to avoid some of these diseases is to plant modern varieties labeled “VF Resistant” and to avoid planting the same crop in the same place every year. I keep a Better Boy (VF Resistant) in one corner of my Earth Box, just in case.
If you see a black spot on the bottom of your squash or tomato fruits, it could be blossom end rot, a nutritional problem caused by lack of calcium in the soil and uneven watering. N. C. State University recommends about two cups of lime per plant worked into the top 12 inches of the soil.
If your vegetables are having problems a good place to look for information online is http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu.
Early November is the time for forcing amaryllis bulbs into bloom for the holidays. Make this a family project. Amaryllis in bud make a lovely gift for a lucky teacher or neighbor. Select big bulbs and put them into a roomy pot with two to three inches of gravel at the bottom.
Cover the bottom half of the bulb with soil, water once until foliage appears, and then keep the pot in bright light with damp soil. Flowers should appear in six weeks after planting. Keep them in pots until the weather warms up and then put them in the outside flower garden to come back year after year.
More information is available at the Plant Clinic (941) 722-4524 or online at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep060.
Joy Derksen, a master gardener with the Manatee County Extension Program, writes a column monthly for the Herald. She volunteers at the Plant Clinic, which helps homeowners with gardening problems. Plant Clinic hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Information: 722-4524.
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