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Vegetarian Newsletter

A Vegetable Crops Extension Publication

University of Florida
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
Cooperative Extension Service

Vegetarian 99-10
October 1999

VEGETABLE CROPS CALENDAR

COMMERCIAL VEGETABLES

Suspension of the Watermelon Crop Insurance Program for the Crop Year 2000
Lettuce Cultivars for Warm Seasons
Field Production of Specialty Tomato Varieties in Southeast Florida

VEGETABLE GARDENING

Horticulture Events at 1999 4-H Congress
Cool-Season Vegetables for Florida Gardens

(Note: Anyone is free to use the information in this newsletter. Whenever possible,
please give credit to the authors. The purpose of trade names in this publication is
solely for the purpose of providing information and does not necessarily
constitute a recommendation of the product.)

Florida State Horticultural Society. October 31 - November 2, 1999. Indian River Plantation Marriot Resort, Stuart, FL. (561) 225-3700.

Southeast Vegetable and Fruit Expo. December 13-15, 1999. Joseph S. Koury Convention Center, Greensboro, NC. Contact: Bonnie Price Holloman (919)772-2204.

Australian Vegetable Tour. January 7-10, 2000. Contact: Dr. Doug Sanders, NC State University (919) 515-1222, E-mail: Doug_Sanders@NCSU.edu

2000 Florida Postharvest Horticulture Institute and Industry Tour.
Institute - March 6^th, University of Florida, Gainesville, with video-links to several sites in Florida.
Industry Tour - March 7-10th Statewide
For more information contact: Steve Sargent, (352) 392-1928 ext. 215, e-mail or Abbie Fox (352) 392-1928 ext.235, fax (352) 392-5653, e-mail

Suspension of the Watermelon Crop Insurance
Program for the Crop Year 2000

What started out as a worthy program by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) has turned into an unmanageable nightmare in some areas of the state. Lofty goals were set to provide a safety net for watermelon growers to pay back out-of-pocket costs for crops which might be ravaged by the forces of nature. Alachua, Jackson, and Manatee counties in Florida were selected to be "pilot counties" in 1999 to give this program a trial.

As it turned out, the policies were loosely written regarding what production practices were considered important for the grower to use, and no consideration was made as to the irrigation, fertilization, and previous cropping history of the land and present watermelon crop, making it evident that the FCIC had not consulted any university personnel. Growers in Jackson and a few other counties found that it was almost an open invitation to overproduce, and several disregarded proper cultural and management practices. The acreage planted here in spring 1999 exceeded 9,000 acres, compared to the previous 20-year high of 1,600 acres planted for a spring crop. The fall 1999 crop is now estimated at 6,000 acres, compared to about 800 acres maximum planted in the past 10 years.

To make a long story short, after two hearings were held, and several complaints were made, the FCIC suspended the crop insurance program for watermelons for the year 2000. Industry members had said that the insurance program led to oversupply of watermelons and low prices. The announcement to this effect was made on 13 September, 1999. The sixty-day comment period began on that date, and written comments regarding the Watermelon Crop Insurance Program may be submitted no later than 12 November, 1999, to these contacts:

Stamp Mail Address:
Director
Research and Evaluation Division
Federal Crop Insurance Corporation
United States Department of Agriculture
9435 Holmes Road
Kansas City, MO 64131

Internet Address: DIRECTORPDD@RM.FCIC.USDA.GOV

For further Information:
Contact is Kathy Tiefel, Insurance Management Specialist, Research and Development Division, FCIC, at the address listed above. Ms. Tiefel’s telephone number is 816-926-6343.

(Charles L. Brasher, Extension Agent III, Jackson County, Vegetarian 99-10)

New Horticulturist at the GCREC-Dover

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself, John R. Duval. I was born and raised just east of Stone Mountain, Georgia. I grew up growing Christmas trees on my family's choose-and-cut operation. I began running the farm when I was sixteen and continued running it until I finished my Bachelor's degree in Landscape and Grounds Maintenance at the University of Georgia (1993). I then went to Texas A&M University to pursue a Master's degree in Horticulture specializing in vegetable crop production under the direction of Dr. Frank J. Dainello. My work in Texas allowed me to gain experience with a multitude of vegetable crops (squash, muskmelon, watermelon, spinach, tomatoes, turnips, and mustard greens). After completing my Masters degree in 1996, I returned to UGA and completed my Ph.D. (1999) under the direction of Dr. D. Scott NeSmith. My research there concerned improving stand establishment of triploid watermelon.

As the newest member of the GCREC-Dover faculty, I am looking forward to working with the Florida strawberry industry. Currently, I am conducting experiments with strawberry that include factors such as, transplanting date, mineral nutrition, root mass and geometry at planting and several new chemicals to enhance strawberry production. I look forward to meeting more growers and having a productive and educational first season.

(Duval, Vegetarian 99-10)

Lettuce Cultivars for Warm Seasons

A non-replicated lettuce variety trial was conducted during the early summer of 1999 at the Suwannee Valley REC near Live Oak, FL. The trial was conducted to evaluate several cultivars for bitterness in the hot season. Specialty lettuces are very popular at restaurants and local retail markets, especially community farmer’s markets. Many cultivars produce high yield and excellent quality during the cool season in North Florida. However, as temperatures increase several cultivars become very bitter resulting in unmarketable product.

This trial was conducted in a Lakeland fine sand using a full-bed white-on-black polyethylene mulch and drip irrigation system of production. The final beds were 36 in. wide and 6 in. high. Four-week-old transplants were used to establish the plots on May 5, 1999. Each bed contained two rows 12 in. apart and plants were spaced 12 in. within each row.

Samples were harvested from each plot on June 7, 1999. The same two people rated each sample on a 1-5 scale with 1= no bitterness and 5= very bitter (Table 1). A rating of 4 or 5 would determine the cultivar to be unmarketable due to bitterness alone. Ratings of 1 or 2 would determine those cultivars to be of excellent quality and marketability in relation to bitterness.

In general, all butterhead cultivars (‘Ermosa’, ‘Carmona’, and ‘Red Rouge’) were all very mild in flavor with very little or no bitterness. The only lollo type cultivar, ‘Lollo Rosa’, was very bitter. Other types of lettuce (looseleaf, oakleaf, and romaine) were more variable depending on cultivar (See Table 1).

This trial demonstrated several cultivars of specialty lettuces can be grown well into the summer in North Florida to extend the marketing season. Cultural practices including the use of white-on-black polyethylene mulch may be important in extending the lettuce season.

Table 1. Bitterness ratings for several cultivars and types of lettuce grown in the early summer of 1999 near Live Oak, FL.
Cultivar	Type	Color	Bitterness Rating^z
Black Seeded Simpson	Loose	Green	3
Redina	Loose	Red	5
Two Star	Loose	Green	2
Waldmans Dark Green	Loose	Green	4
Lollo Rosa	Lollo	Red edges	5
Red Rouge	Butterhead	Red	2
Ermosa	Butterhead	Green	1
Carmona	Butterhead	Red	1
Cerize	Oakleaf	Red	2
Saladbowl	Oakleaf	Green	2
Red Saladbowl	Oakleaf	Red	3
Royal Oak	Oakleaf	Green	3
Cocarde	Oakleaf	Red tint	2
Kalura	Romaine	Green	2
Rosalita	Romaine	Red tint	2
Paris Island	Romaine	Green	3
Rouge D’hiver	Romaine	Red tint	3
Medallion	Romaine	Green	2
^{Z = Bitterness ratings were given on a scale of 1-5; 1=no bitterness, 5=very bitter.}

(Robert Hochmuth, Multi County Extension Agent, Suwannee Valley REC, Vegetarian 99-10)

Field Production of Specialty Tomato
Varieties in Southeast Florida

Fruit and plant characteristics of 10 specialty tomato varieties were evaluated at three farms in Southeast Florida during the winter/spring season, 1998-99. The tomatoes were grown on sandland using fumigated (methyl bromide/chloropicrin) full-bed plastic mulch culture and sub surface seepage irrigation. At the first farm, transplants were set December 3, 1998 and varieties were evaluated on March 10 (98 days after transplanting). Beds were on 6' centers and plants were set at three different within-row spacings: 24, 36, and 48 inches (3,630; 2,420; and 1,815 plants/A, respectively). At the second location, transplants were set on January 15 and evaluated on April 26 (101 days after transplanting). Beds were on 6' centers and plants were set at a 33 inch within-row spacing (2,640 plants/A). At the third farm, tomatoes were transplanted on February 3, 1999, and evaluated on May 4 (90 days after transplanting). Plants were set on 5' centers and at a 24 inch within-row spacing (4,356 plants/A). Plant and fruit descriptions for the first demonstration are in Table 1. Tomato plant and fruit characteristics for the second and third demonstrations were averaged and presented in Table 2. Varieties are listed in order from the smallest sized fruit to the largest sized fruit. Results of a taste test conducted for four of the grape/cherry varieties from the third demonstration are in Table 3.

Table 1. Plant and fruit descriptions for specialty tomatoes in a variety demonstration, Alderman Farms, Boynton Beach, FL, 1998-99.^z
Variety	Seed source	Type	Fruit shape	Plant type^y	Observations
Mini Charm	Seedway	Grape	Round	Indet	Fruit on a cluster. Good fruit set. Reddish orange to red. OK for 36" within-row spacing. Some single growth splits extending halfway across fruit.
Santa	Seedway		Grape/plum	Indet	Fruit on a cluster. OK fruit set, could be heavier. Orangish red to red. OK for 36" within-row spacing.
Juliet	Seedway	Mini roma	Plum	Indet	May be too large as a grape. OK to good fruit set. Orange/red to red & red/orange. Vigorous plant. 36" within-row spacing recommended.
Sweet 100	Seedway	Cherry	Round	Indet	Fruit on a cluster. Good fruit set. Reddish orange to red. OK for 36" within-row spacing. Mature fruit did not stay attached well and fell off clusters easily.
844417	Western Seed	Cherrycluster	Round	Indet	Fruit on a cluster (slightly large for a cherry). OK fruit set. Orangish red to reddish orange. Vigorous plant. 36" within-row spacing recommended. Moderate radial cracking around fruit. When ripe, fruit detaches easily; might break off too easily from cluster when picked.
Durinta	Western Seed	Cluster	Round	Indet	Round, slightly squatted fruit. 5-6 fruit/cluster. 24 - 30" within-row spacing should be enough, 36" may not be needed.
862978	Western Seed	Plum, orange	Plum	Deter	Light orange; some darker fruit is reddish orange. Good fruit set; medium yield. Solid, not pithy or hollow. Determinant plant; 24" within-row spacing recommended.
^z Transplanted December 2, 1998, 98days to evaluation of mature fruit. Nectar, Campari, and Triton were not planted at Alderman Farms; they all had round fruit. ^y Deter = determanate. Indet = indeterminate

Table 2. Whitworth Farms, Boynton Beach, and Thomas Produce, Fort Pierce, FL, Winter/Spring 1999.^z
Variety	Seed source	Type	Fruit/ cluster^y	Fruit wt. (gms)^x	Mature (red) fruit wt. (gms)^w	Fruitlgth x width (inches)^v	Ratiol x w^v	% red fruit	% green fruit	% cracked	Plant height inches^u
Mini Charm	Seedway	grape	16.3	5.7	6.5	0.90 x 0.87	1.03	75%	16%	0.5%	63
Santa	Seedway	grape	15.9	7.9	8.4	1.38 x 1.04	1.33	66%	25%	0.6%	53
Sweet 100	Seedway	cherry	13.6	8.0	9.2	0.92 x 0.95	0.97	69%	21%	3.3%	56
Nectar	Enza	cherry	11.4	12.9	13.9			82%	12%	0.8%	45
844417	Western Seed	cherry cluster	15.9	13.0	16	1.18 x 1.28	0.92	51%	28%	6.8%	57
Juliet	Seedway	mini-roma	9.4	21.6	24.2	1.68 x 1.23	1.37	71%	22%	0	54
Campari	Enza	cluster	9.5	46.2	51.7			75%	18%	0.6%	48
Triton	Enza	cluster	7.5	83.4	91.7			57%	36%	0.7	58
Durinta	Western Seed	cluster	7.1	100.7	107.3	2.10 x 2.45	0.86	65%	26%	0.7	44
862978	Western Seed	orange plum	--	86.5		2.55 x 2.12	1.20			9.5	26
^z Whitworth Farms transplanted January 15, 1999, and evaluated April 26, 1999 (101 days after transplanting). Thomas Produce transplanted February 3 and evaluated May 4, 1999, (90 days after transplanting). ^y Whitworth Farms, fruit from 4 to 9 clusters per variety. Thomas Produce, fruit from 10 to 14 clusters per variety. ^xWeight of all fruit along with the stems holding the clusters. ^w Only fruit weight; stems not included. ^v Measurements taken from Alderman Farms demonstration, March 10, 1999. Ten fruit per variety. Nectar, Campari, and Triton were not planted at Alderman Farms. ^u Top of bed to top fruit.

Table 3. Results of a taste test conducted for four grape/cherry varieties, May 5, 1999.^z
Variety	Seed source	Type	Preference ^y	Sweetness ^x	Blandness ^x	Acidic ^x
Mini Charm	Seedway	grape	3.00	3.00 (10)	2.50 (2)	2.33 (3)
Santa	Seedway	grape	2.87	2.44 (9)	2.33 (3)	2.67 (3)
Sweet 100	Seedway	cherry	2.53	2.43 (7)	2.40 (5)	2.25 (4)
Nectar	Enza	cherry	2.53	2.83 (6)	2.00 (6)	2.33 (3)
^z Participants were given two tomatoes of each variety to taste. Red ripe fruit which had been picked on May 4 was washed and stored at room temperature. ^y Participants were asked to rank varieties in order of preference. Rating scale: 4=most preferred to 1=least preferred. ( )= total number of responses. ^x Participants were asked to rank varieties. Rating scale: 4=sweetest, blandest, or most acidic, respectively. ( )= total number of responses for each variety.

(Shuler, Extension Agent IV, Palm Beach County, Vegetarian 99-10)

Vegetable Gardening

Horticulture Events at 1999 4-H Congress

A. Horticulture events at 1999 4-H Congress (See corrected list of Judging winners).

Our 4-H horticulture committee composed of Bob Black, Jeff Williamson, and myself conducted three plant science events for the 4-H’ers at Gainesville during State Congress, the week of July 26-30, 1999. The following are the results.

1. Horticulture Leadership Track. We provided two days of classes on various topics related to horticulture. Some of the class topics covered such things as: writing a garden record book; lawn mower safety; plant bonsai; insect eating plants; container culture; lake watch; and butterfly gardening. Over 40 4-H members attended. State 4-H specialist Joy Jordan assisted us with this event. Instructors were agents Zerba, Landrum, Fedunak, and Renner, with specialists.

2. Plant Demonstrations. Both team and individual demonstrations were heard and judged by Heather Miller, Mark Gal, and Jackie Host.

Plant Demonstration Results:
Placing	Name	County	Subject
1	Pebbles Fullford	Marion	Hydroponics
2	Jackie Lundy	Glades	Sugar bill
3	Kyle Smith	Osceola	Propagation
4	Travis Nettles	Suwannee	Cold frames
5	Crystal Baker and Tariea Cox	Marion	Reproduction

Awards trip: Pebbles Fullford was selected to represent Florida 4-H at the national competition at the NJHA convention, Tampa, Nov. 5-6, 1999.

3. Horticultural Identification and Judging.

Placing	Score	Name	County
1	840	Alicia Kamholtz	Marion
2	796	Dustin Taylor	Marion
3	790	Gary Hodges	Duval
4	784	Leah Warner	Marion
5	749	Elizabeth Stutsman	Duval
6	690	Melissa Gonzalez	Hendry
7	631	Angela Staines	Marion
8	610	Adam Bechtel	Hendry
9	531	Roy Dutcher	Hendry
10	520	Alayne Clark	Duval
11	512	Malachi Toth	Charlotte
12	508	Wendy Kirkland	Hendry
13	481	Christina Toth	Charlotte
14	343	Jacque Maxwell	Volusia
15	337	Elliot Balo	Volusia
16	326	Joshua Bell	Charlotte
17	284	Jared Weaver	Duval
18	270	Anna Mattson	Volusia
19	225	Christina Scalzo	Volusia

Marion County team was selected to compete at NJHA convention in Tampa in November. Duval County placed second, followed by Hendry, Charlotte, and Volusia.

(Stephens, Vegetarian 99-10)

Cool-Season Vegetables for Florida Gardens

The cool-season vegetables are those of which the primary parts eaten are the vegetative parts– roots, leaves, buds, or immature flower parts. That is a general rule, for there are exceptions : sweet potato roots and New Zealand spinach tops are warm-season, while pods of English peas and broad beans are cool-season vegetables.

According to Knott’s Handbook for Vegetable Growers, there are some major ways cool-season vegetables differ from the warm season vegetables ( some exceptions do occur):

1. They are cold hardy or frost-tolerant.

2. Seeds germinate at cooler soil temperatures.

3. Root systems are more shallow.

4. Plant size is smaller.

5.They respond more to nitrogen fertilizer.

6. They must be watered more frequently.

7. Some are susceptible to pre-mature seed stalk development.

8. Most are stored at or near 32 degrees F (except potato); sweet corn is a warm-season exception that is also stored at 32F. Many warm-season vegetables suffer chilling injury between 32 and 50 F.

9. Some seeds like lettuce and celery are favored by light at germination.

10. For some cool-season crops like asparagus, very cold temperatures induce dormancy and re-growth.

List of Cool-season Vegetables (Source: Knott)

Artichoke, globe	Chard, Swiss	Kohlrabi	Shallot
Artichoke, Jerusalem	Chicory	Leek	Spinach
Asparagus	Chinese cabbage	Lettuce	Turnips
Bean, broad	Chive	Mustard	Watercress
Beet	Collard	Onion
Broccoli	Corn salad	Parsley
Brussels sprouts	Cress	Parsnip
Cabbage	Dandelion	Pea, English
Cardoon	Endive	Potato
Carrot	Florence fennel	Radish
Cauliflower	Garlic	Rhubarb
Celery	Horse-radish	Rutabaga
Celeriac	Kale	Salsify

Planting dates for cool-season vegetables in Florida Some of these crops can be planted as temperatures approach the proper range. Cool-season crops grown in the spring must have time to mature before temps are too warm. In the fall they can be started in warm weather if they mature when it is cooler. However, if seeds are germinated in the garden, they must have cool enough soil temperatures for sprouting properly.

There is a fairly wide range of soil temperatures for seed germination, from about 40-80 degrees F. for lettuce to 60-105 degrees for turnip and 50-70 degrees for parsnip and 50-85 for parsley. Notice the overlapping with some of the warm-season crops like watermelon at 70-95 degrees. Gardeners should be advised to follow the suggested planting dates in the Florida Planting Guides for their section of the state. It is possible and practical to have a winter-time garden anywhere in Florida.

(Stephens, Vegetarian 99-10)

Extension Vegetable Crops Specialists

Daniel J. Cantliffe
Professor and Chairman, Horticultural Sciences Department Mark A. Ritenour
Assistant Professor

Timothy E. Crocker
Professor
Ronald W. Rice
Assistant Professor

John Duvall
Assistant Professor Steven A. Sargent
Professor

Betsy M. Lamb
Assistant Professor William M. Stall
Professor

Yuncong Li
Assistant Professor James M. Stephens
Professor and Editor

Donald N. Maynard
Professor Charles S. Vavrina
Associate Professor

Stephen M. Olson
Professor James M. White
Associate Professor

This page is maintained by Susie Futch.... if you have any questions or comments, contact me at zsf@ufl.edu

Daniel J. Cantliffe Professor and Chairman, Horticultural Sciences Department	Mark A. Ritenour Assistant Professor
Timothy E. Crocker Professor	Ronald W. Rice Assistant Professor
John Duvall Assistant Professor	Steven A. Sargent Professor
Betsy M. Lamb Assistant Professor	William M. Stall Professor
Yuncong Li Assistant Professor	James M. Stephens Professor and Editor
Donald N. Maynard Professor	Charles S. Vavrina Associate Professor
Stephen M. Olson Professor	James M. White Associate Professor