Photo Credit: UF/IFAS Photo Archive

YES - it's time to plant Strawberries!

 In many parts of the country, strawberries are a summer crop, but in Florida they grow best during the cooler months of the year. Plant them in early fall to enjoy tasty berries in the spring.

 They require temperatures between 50°F–80°F and less than 14 hours of daylight for the strawberries to flower and produce fruit. In Florida, these conditions occur in fall, winter, and spring.

 Plant in September to early November. Flowering and fruit continue through April or May. Fruit set will not be constant, but there will be two or three cycles. This can be interrupted by freezes, so watch the weather and cover if necessary.

The plants are low-growing herbs that spread into clumps through runners. In Forida, strawberries are normally grown as annuals because they usually decline once temperatures heat up in the summer.

Photo Credit (left) Pinecone Ginger NC State Extension: Forest & Kim Star                             (right) Roselle Ansel Oomen bugwood.org 

Plants that aren’t just pretty….

 Pinecone ginger (Zingiber zerumbet)/'shampoo ginger' can be used in the shower! 

 The foliage resembles other ornamental gingers, but in the spring, the flowers appear within bracts that resemble red pine cones.  When squeezed, these cones release a clear liquid that can be used as shampoo!  

 This ginger is semi-evergreen and grows in large clumps that are up to seven feet tall and six feet wide. It thrives in zones 9 through 11 but will die back in the winter. Foliage appears in the spring - it can be either solid green or variegated depending on the variety. 

 In the fall, three- to five-inch-long 'pinecones' appear on stalks that are about a foot tall. They start out green with white flowers, then ripen to scarlet and fill with liquid. The cones have a sweet fragrance and are highly favored for floral arrangements. They will persist for weeks if left on the plant.

 Look for Pinecone ginger plants at our Fall Plant Sale on October 4th.  See flyer below.

Lather up and learn more about Zingiber zerumbet

 Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is a relative of hibiscus and okra. It’s also called Florida cranberry, red sorrel, or Jamaica sorrel, although it is actually native to Central and West Africa and is grown around the world.

 Roselle produces attractive foliage and flowers and will reach a height of about 7 feet. Flowers appear in October – they are typically yellow with a dark center and about 3 inches wide. The part of the plant most popular however, is found at the bottom of each flower. This fleshy, bright red cup-like structure contains the plant's seeds and is called a calyx. The color and tart taste of the calyces makes them a good replacement for cranberries.

For more information, follow this link: Roselle – Gardening Solutions