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My squash fruits get about 3-4" long, then shrivel up and die. What is the
problem?
This is a pollination problem. A small squash always subtends a female bloom.
It will begin to develop and may reach the size you have described 3-4",
without being pollinated. If it is pollinated, it will continue to develop.
Pollination of cucurbits requires bees. Bees will not be present if the
garden is regularly dusted or sprayed with insecticides. Hand pollination of
the female bloom can be done when bees are absent.
What causes the hard white or colorless spots on the outside of my
tomatoes?
This is damage done by stinkbugs. These pests insert their mouth parts below
the tomato skin and suck out the tomato sap. These empty cells create a
hard, colorless spot. Stinkbugs do cause the fruit to have poor aesthetic
quality, but the fruit is still edible.
Why do my tomato plants consistently drop their blooms?
This is a problem associated with several factors:
- Variety selection is of utmost importance for all crops, including
tomatoes. Varieties other than those that are recommended for this area by
the University of Florida will not be adapted to the climate or soil
conditions. Poor growth, bloom drop, and poor fruit set is to be expected
from varieties not recommended for this area.
- High nitrogen will cause a lack of blooms or bloom drop. High nitrogen
availability will cause plants to grow excessive and lush foliage at the
expense of bloom and fruit set. Reduce the nitrogen applied to the crop.
- Tomatoes have a very narrow optimum temperature range which is best for
bloom set and for production. Nights which are too cool or too hot will
cause the bloom to drop. Planting tomatoes or any crop out of season is a
common error and puts the plant under environmental stress resulting in poor
growth and flowering. Late spring or early fall planting subjects tomatoes
to temperatures that are too high for bloom set.
- A water cycle which subjects the tomato plant to a wet then dry condition
as opposed to a consistent moist condition results in bloom drop. This
problem is very common in container grown vegetables.
- Tomatoes require at least 6 hours of full sun. If tomatoes get less than 6
hours of full sun, poor blooming or bloom drop can occur.
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After my seeds germinate and start growing, the little seedling just
turns brown and collapses at the soil level. What is the problem and how can
I treat it?
This is a disease called damping off. It is caused by a soil borne fungus
called pythium. There is no treatment for this disease once the seeds are
planted. Soil sterilization is the only prevention and treatment against
this disease. Soil sterilization can be accomplished by solarization.
My okra and other vegetables were not growing well. When I pulled them
up the roots were covered with tumor-like growths?
The knots that you see are probably the result of a nematode infestation.
Nematodes parasitize the plant by intercepting water and nutrients which
would normally support active, healthy plant growth. The only treatment for
nematodes is soil sterilization by solarization. This must be repeated at
the start of all gardening seasons. Knot-like growths on the roots of
legumerous plants such as beans or peas probably are not from nematodes but
rather from beneficial nitrogen fixing bacteria.
When I plant onions, all I get are green onions. They never bulb?
There are two reasons why onions do not bulb: 1. Starting with onion sets
will only produce green onions. You must start with seeds or seedling
plants. 2. Planting too late in the season prevents bulbing. The seeds must
be planted in the fall and harvested in the spring. Onion tops need exposure
to the change in day length to stimulate the bulbing process. Garlic, like
onions, is a long season crop. The seeds must be planted in the fall and
harvested in the spring.
The bottom of my tomatoes have dark brown, rotten spots. What is this
and how can I prevent this problem?
This is a nutritional disorder called blossom end rot. This deficiency may
result from:
1. Soils being deficient in available calcium. Soil pH should be
6.0-6.8. A pH lower than 6.0 may not supply enough available calcium,
therefore, lime must be applied at a rate of 3-5 lbs./100 sq. ft.
2. Infrequent watering will cause calcium to go out of solution,
therefore, it is in a form which plants can not use. Soil must be
consistently moist to keep calcium in solution and available to plants.
Is it true that if I plant different plants from the same family,
cucumbers and squashes the will cross-pollinate and produce bad fruits?
Plants in the Cucurbit family (squash, cucumbers, melons) cross pollinate
readily, but the cross will not be expressed in that season's fruit. The
results of such a cross would show up if seeds were saved from these
cross-pollinated fruits at season's fruit and then planted. Therefore, do
not collect seeds from your vegetables, especially cucurbits, for planting
in the next gardening season.
I planted my vegetable seeds, but nothing came up?
Lack of germination can be caused by several factors:
- Some insects such as mole crickets like to eat the seeds. When
tunnels from these insects are seen, drench the soil with Diazinon and
replant.
- Seeds that are planted too deep may germinate but may not have
enough food reserves to make it to the soil surface. A general rule for
determining seed depth is to never plant a seed any deeper than 1 1/2
times the seed width.
- Too much water may cause the newly germinated seedling to develop
diseases such as damping off before it ever reaches the soil surface.
- Some seeds, for example - beets, must be kept continually moist or
germination will not occur.
- Seeds may be too old. Always use fresh seed.
Can I grown asparagus in Florida?
Asparagus is not well adapted to Florida due to our environment (mainly
temperature). For good asparagus spear production, a dormant period is
required. In Florida, growth is more or less continuous resulting in weak,
spindly spears. Hopefully newer varieties will prove to be better adapted to
our climate.
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