Grow Your Own

Blueberry Gardener’s Guide

How better to eat like a local than to grow your own food locally? Whether you’re a gardening greenhorn or blessed with a green thumb, Master Gardener Volunteers and staff with the UF/IFAS Extension of Polk County have food-growing tips you’ll dig.

We spoke with the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for the UF/IFAS Extension of Polk County, Anne Yasalonis, to guide us on our food-growing journey. Her job is to educate the residents of Polk County on research-based information related to horticulture, including gardening, landscaping, and water conservation. Yasalonis also manages and coordinates the Master Gardener Volunteer Program in Polk County. “Master Gardener Volunteers have been trained by the extension agent in their county using the University of Florida IFAS curriculum. They have intense training and then give back to the program by volunteering,” she said. Polk County has about 90 volunteers who act as arms of the program.

The best part about growing most fall veggies is you don’t need acres of land to do so. Depending on what you’re looking to grow, you can use something as small as a coffee can. In fact, starting small is key, says Yasalonis. “It’s work, and you’ve got to maintain it and put money into it,” she said. It’s best to start with one plant like lettuce, see how you like that, and continue from there versus planting all the ingredients for your favorite salad at once (if this is your foray into farming, that is). “There’s quite a lot that you can plant in the fall in Central Florida,” said Yasalonis. “I like to grow things like lettuce, arugula. I like a lot of the greens. I feel like there’s always a use for collard, kale, or turnip greens.”

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Polk County residents should start their fall vegetable planting in late July. That involves getting them started by seed and ready for transplanting later. “The earlier you start, you can get started with seeds,” she said. In October, November, and December, you can plant and harvest things like beans, broccoli, collards, bunch onions, radishes, and more. “When you’re talking about starting a seed – you’ve got to start from the seed, allow it to grow bigger, and then you’ve got 100 more days to grow it. If you’re starting very late, you might not have the time for the seeds. It’s very dependent on the vegetable or fruit that you’re growing.”

This is where transplanting comes in handy. Yasalonis referenced the Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide. “It gives information about when to plant, spacing, and if you can transplant them. Some plants like to be directly sown by seed in the ground and not moved, and some are easily transplantable.” The main thing you need is at least six hours of direct sunlight for almost all vegetables, whether in a container, raised bed, hydroponics, or in the ground. If using a container, drainage holes are a must, as well as a well-drained potting mix. Also, be sure you have enough space for whatever you are growing.

If you find yourself in a plantmergency, have no fear!

UF/IFAS Extension Polk County maintains a plant clinic. You can call the plant clinic to troubleshoot problems and ask questions.