Weekend Gardening: Choosing Heirloom Or Hybrid Tomatoes
March 17, 2012
Tomatoes are a favorite of backyard gardeners. Fresh-grown tomatoes are packed with flavor and nutrition. Due to their popularity, many different types of tomatoes have been developed and selected over time. Choosing the best type for your individual growing situation will increase your chance of enjoying a mouth-watering tomato sandwich on a hot summer day.
Heirloom vegetables are back in vogue. A tomato must meet three criteria to be considered an heirloom variety. The variety must grow “true to type” from seed saved from each fruit, the seed must have been available for more than 50 years and the variety must have a history or folklore of its own. Heirloom vegetables are also called open-pollinated or non-hybrid.
Heirloom tomatoes are known for their full flavor and excellent taste. Gardeners who start their plants from seeds have always had many choices available to them. This year, I was surprised to see some heirloom seedlings in stores including ‘Cherokee Purple.’ This is an heirloom from Tennessee rumored to have come from Cherokee gardeners. Its rich flavor is said to be similar to the much-celebrated Brandywine.
While heirlooms offer better flavor, they do have a downside. Their biggest weakness is that they are not generally disease resistant and therefore more susceptible to devastating and sometimes fatal diseases. Heirloom varieties also experience more fruit defects such as cracking and catfacing.
To overcome the potential disease pitfall of heirloom varieties, many gardeners are now grafting their tomato seedlings. In the case of heirloom tomatoes, grafting involves connecting the shoot of the heirloom variety to the roots of a disease-resistant rootstock. The cut pieces are held together by a grafting clip until the tissues grow together (pictured left).
To learn more about heirloom tomatoes and grafting, read the UF/IFAS publication entitled, “Growing Heirloom Tomato Varieties in Southwest Florida.” It’s available online at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs174 or by calling your local Extension Office.
Hybrid tomatoes are those that have been breed and selected for their disease resistance and productivity. They are the first-generation cross between two “pure” parental lines.
The simplest way to define an F-1 hybrid is to take an example. Let’s say a plant breeder observes a particularly good growth-habit in a plant, but with poor flower color, and in another plant of the same type they see good color but poor habit. The best plant of each type is taken and self-pollinated (in isolation) each year and, each year, the seed is re-sown. Eventually, every time the seed is sown the same identical plants will appear. This is known as a ‘pure line.’
If the breeder then takes the pure line of each of the two plants they originally selected and cross pollinates the two by hand the result is known as an F-1 hybrid. Plants are grown from seed produced and the result of this cross pollination should have a good habit and good color.
The vigor of hybridization can increase yields, improve pest resistance and impart other desirable characteristics. Some have credited crop hybridization as a prime reason for our country’s ability to feed larger populations with fewer farmers.
A down side of hybridization is that if you collect and save the seed from a hybrid variety, its offspring will show a loss of that hybrid vigor – it will start to revert back to its inbred parents. If you want the vigorous capacity that comes with hybrid varieties; don’t save the seed for replanting. You will have to buy new seed each year.
To learn about tomato varieties recommended for Florida gardens, read the UF/IFAS publication entitled “Tomatoes in the Florida Garden.” It’s available online at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vh028 or by calling your local Extension Office.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Ransom FFA Takes Part In ‘Ag On The Hill’
March 15, 2012
Five Ransom Middle School FFA chapter members recently participated in “Ag on the Hill” day in Tallahassee.
Anabella Garcia, Connor Groff, Patra Miller, Rachel Grammer, and Ashley Stokes were among the FFA members that had the chance to see government in action and promote agricultural education at the state capitol.
Participants were introduced by Rep. Clay Ingram to the Florida House of Representatives in the House Chamber Gallery during a legislative session and were addressed in special chambers by Agriculture Commissioner Adam H. Putman.
The Florida Association of Agricultural Educators (FAAE) in conjunction with the Florida FFA Association and the University of Florida’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), hosted the event.
Pictured top: Ransom Middle School FFA members Rachel Grammer, sentinel; Patra Miller, creed speaker; Anabella Garcia, president; Connor Groff, treasurer; and Ashley Stokes, secretary.
Flomaton, Century Making Plans For 4th Of July Fireworks
March 14, 2012
Fourth of July fireworks could light up the summer sky again this year in a joint Flomaton-Century show.
Last year, the Town of Flomaton, the Town of Century, the Flomaton Chamber of Commerce and the Century Chamber of Commerce contributed $625 each for a fireworks show that was held at Hurricane Park in Flomaton.
The town of Century helped fund the show last year with the stipulation that the 2012 show be held in Century. This year’s fireworks show will cost $5,000, according to Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant.
The Flomaton Town Council has already voted to contribute $1,500 to the show at Century’s Showalter Park, while the Town of Century will consider a $1,500 contribution at a future council meeting. The remaining $2,000 will come from chambers of commerce and other sponsors.
“It will be a good show,” Bondurant said.
Pictured: The 2011 Fourth of July Fireworks Show at Hurricane Park in Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Molino Park’s E-I-E-I-Oops!
March 14, 2012
Kindergarten students at Molino Park Elementary School “raised the barn and brought down the house” with their production of E-I-E-I-Oops! Tuesday night at the school.
Pictured: Molino Park kindergarten students present E-I-E-I-Oops! Tuesday night. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Northview’s Got Talent
March 14, 2012
Northview High School recently held a student talent show.
Winners were:
- 1st place — Danielle Scott
- 2nd place — Abby Odom
- 3rd place — Nightmares Never Sleep (Band — Charlie Hadley, Blake Luker, Michael Sepulveda, Alex Edmonson, Zack Johnson and Austin Ard)
- Crowd Pleaser Award — Caleb Leonard, Brian Ross and Alexander Payne
For more photos from the event, click here.
Pictured: Northview High School’s recent student talent show. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century CI Employees Read To Jay Elementary Students
March 13, 2012
Representatives from Century Correctional Institution read to a class at Jay Elementary School recently as part of Read Across America Day.
Read Across America Day, the signature program of the National Education Association, focuses on motivating children and teens to read through events, partnerships and reading resources. It’s held annual on or near Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
Century Correctional’s Assistant Warden Robert Flores and Officer Tony deGraaf read to Mrs. deGraaf’s kindergarten class at Jay Elementary School as part of the program. They read the popular Seuss book Green Eggs and Ham and gave each student a special treat. They also expressed the importance of learning to read and of a good education.
Pictured: Century Correctional Institution Officer Tony deGraaf (in hat) and Assistant Warden Robert Flores read to a kindergarten class at Jay Elementary School. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Main Library To Close Temporarily
March 13, 2012
The West Florida Public Library’s Main Branch at 200 West Gregory Street will close Sunday, March 18 for about two weeks as part of the ongoing construction of a new library building on the site.
West Florida Public Library’s five other branches will remain open during the closure, including the Century Branch Library.
During the closure, library staff will move books, computers, and other items from the existing building to the new addition, which is expected to be completed this week. After the main branch reopens in the new addition, a complete renovation of the existing library building will begin.
“With completion of the new addition, we’ve reached a major milestone in this project,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. “By reusing the existing building, we’re getting the most out of every dollar, and with the new building’s energy efficiency upgrades, we’ll save on energy costs while greening our City.”
When construction is completed this fall, a 40,000 square foot Main Library will anchor the West Florida Public Library system. The new building will become the first City facility to gain LEED certification.
“The new facility will provide a quantum leap in library service to Pensacola area residents,” said Library Director Gene Fischer. “The new building is a positive indication of how Pensacola is progressing.”
The finished building will feature an expanded children’s area, new books section, 50 computers for public use, a bookstore, two community meeting rooms, a coffee shop, and an atrium.
The project is funded through $6 million in local sales tax, a $606,500 U.S. Department of Energy grant, and $1 million left over from WFPL’s Tryon Branch on Langley Avenue, construction of which came in under budget. Friends of the Pensacola Library have also contributed $100,000.
Pictured top: A rendering of the new Main Branch of the West Florida Library. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
18 Certified As Level Two Search And Rescue Techs
March 12, 2012
Eighteen area residents have received their certification as Level Two Search and Rescue Technicians (SARTECH II).
The certification included a written exam along with extensive field examinations in land navigation, man tracking, search techniques and rescue ropes/knots.
The 18 are members of various search and rescue groups in the Northwest Florida area, including Escambia Search and Rescue, Gulf Coast Search and Rescue and Klass Kids. This marks the highest number of SARTECH II certifications in the history of search and rescue in the area.
The new SARTECH II certificated individuals are:
- Barbara Blades
- Tina Blake
- Reginald Bruster
- Michelle Caputo
- Jakob Connor
- Glenn Cox
- Adrienne Dahlberg
- Don Esty
- Stacy Hayden
- David Hill
- Michael Lady
- Zachary Litgen
- Donna Mason-Smith
- Alexandra McLaughlin
- Thomas Provo
- Elesebeth Rodgers
- Jarred Snyder
- Kevin Winingar
NorthEscambia file photo, click to enlarge.
On The Hill: Molino Teen Serves As House Page
March 11, 2012
A young man from Molino recently spent a week serving as a page in the Florida House of Representatives.
Mitchell Singleton, a seventh grader at Ernest Ward Middle School, served as a page for Rep. Doug Broxson.
Pages and messengers are students who work one week at the Capitol during the 60-day Regular Session. Each of Florida’s 120 representatives may sponsor one page (ages 12-14) and one messenger (ages 15-18).
Being selected to serve is considered an honor and privilege. Pages and messengers assist the representatives and their staff during the Capitol’s busiest time of year while observing state government in action.
The page and messenger program is a long-standing tradition in the Florida House, with journals making mention of them as far back as 1865.
Singleton and each page and messenger will have their name appear in the official Journal of the House as an official record of their time spent serving in state government.
Pictured top: Mitchell Singleton (foreground) of Molino recently served as a page in the Florida House. Pictured inset: Mitchell in the House Chambers. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Names Park After Late Council Member Nadine McCaw
March 10, 2012
The Town of Century dedicated the former “Roadside Park” as the Nadine McCaw Park on Friday in honor of the late town council member and lifelong resident.
“Momma put so much of her time, money and heart into Century and trying to make it a place that people would be proud to call home,” McCaw’s daughter Felicia Jones of Arab, Ala., said. “Momma lived her life to make a difference in the lives of other people.”
The sign marking the park is adorned with purple ribbons — McCaw dedicated a large amount of time to Relay for Life and its mission of finding a cure for cancer. That cure did not come soon enough for McCaw; she passed away from cancer on July 7, 2011.
“The family greatly appreciates the dedication of the park in Nadine McCaw’s honor,” her sister Willene Bryan of Byrneville said.
The Nadine McCaw Park is located at the corner of North Century Boulevard and Hecker Road in Century.
Pictured: Members of Nadine McCaw’s family were on hand Friday morning for the dedication of the former Roadside Park in her memory. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
