Landscapes, Gardens & More in the Florida Panhandle

February 2020

Well it is February and time to think about the spring garden. We should be getting the ground ready for Irish potatoes, and sweet corn to be followed with onions, cabbage, lettuce, collards, mustard and many of the other greens. If you are using the ground in the conventional way, be sure you get a soil sample kit for the extension office and follow the directions. It is important to do this because otherwise you are making a guess that may or may not be accurate. With the investment you are putting in the garden, soil samples are in-expensive. They keep you from wasting fertilizer.

If you are doing raised beds, now is the time to clean them up and replenish the soil in them. This year we are offering composted cow manure instead of mushroom compost. We are currently unable to get the mushroom compost because the plant at Quincy has closed. We contacted the company we get potting soil from and they have assured us the composted cow manure is weed free and just as good as the mushroom compost. Don’t forget about minor minerals if you are not replacing the material in your bed. The minor minerals are needed in-order for the other fertilizer to be absorbed by the plants.

Be sure to mow the winter weeds in the yard before they flower. Also look at your orchard and select the trees that you want this year. We have a good selection of fruit trees, strawberries, thornless blackberries, muscadines, and blueberries. Extend the season of your fruit by planting both early and late varieties. Remember moist of your fruit trees require a ph of 5.5-6-5. Blueberries are the exception they require a ph of 4 for bearing blueberries.

Below are some photos of our raised beds. They have broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, rutabagas, onions, mustard and collards.

Remember if you have questions please contact us by text or phone at 8560-638-8243. You can visit our website at www.maphisnurseryandtreefarm.com We are located at 1534 Orange Hill Road, Chipley, FL.