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Articles by Matthew Orwat
Dormant Sprays Protect Fruit Trees from Future Insects and Diseases
By Matthew Orwat During cold January weather, you may not often think about spraying your orchard of fruit trees, blackberries, muscadines, and blueberry shrubs for spring insects and diseases. It’s just not on the radar. The fact is January and February are the best time to apply dormant sprays to combat insect and disease issues. So, “What are dormant sprays?” Caption: Phomopsis leaf and stem symptoms. Credit: NFREC, UF/IFAS Dormant sprays act on insects or disease pathogens differently.
Plan now for success with muscadines and scuppernongs next year
Matthew Orwat Saturday Dec 21, 2019 at 10:01 AM CHIPLEY - Although muscadine harvest can begin as early as July and as late as September, peak time ranges from August and early September for the bulk of the muscadines grown in the Florida Panhandle. Generally, muscadines do not store well or last long after harvest, so growers need the ability to spread out the harvest season.
Mayhaw - a Native Fruit Tree Worth Considering for Niche Markets
By Matthew Orwat The last year has been wet and stormy and the trend continues as we leave winter behind for spring. Fruit growers may be searching for a variety tolerant of excessive moisture, that will grow well in our waterlogged soils? Well, look no further than the humble mayhaw (Cratagus aestivalis, C. rufula, C. opaca), a fruit that’s been enjoyed in parts of the southern U.S. for generations, but is virtually unknown in other locales.
Winter gardening after Hurricane Michael
Matthew Orwat | UF /IFAS Extension Washington County Horticulturist Sunday Dec 23, 2018 at 9:03 AM Dec 23, 2018 at 9:03 AM WASHINGTON COUNTY - After hurricane Michael many fall vegetable gardens were uprooted, wind whipped or destroyed. All is not lost. You can still garden this winter, and have plants in the ground now, ready for February and March production. The first step is to assess the condition of the garden. Have plants been uprooted, blown over, or just superficially damaged?
Florida Pecans: Webworms - First Sign of Fall
Bare limb tips and clusters of webbing in pecan trees are often the first sign that fall is right around the corner. This webbing is caused by clusters of the larvae of the Fall Webworm (Hyphantria cunea (Drury)) which is often also called Pecan Webworm. “Fall Webworm” is a bit of a misnomer in our region since they are able to strike in spring and summer thanks to our long growing season. They are most noticeable in the fall thanks to cumulative effects of earlier feeding.
HOME AND FARM: Unique roses for your garden this spring
By Matthew Orwat, UF /IFAS Extension Washington County Horticulturist Home gardeners, when they think of roses, their mind inevitably turns to the ‘Knockout’ rose and its offspring. That’s fine, there’s nothing wrong with ‘Knockout’ roses, it makes a great ornamental landscape plant, and it’s easy to propagate. With all the ‘Knockout’ mania, since the early 2000s, many garden roses that are well adapted to the Northwest Florida climate have been left out of the home garden to a large degree.
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