Weekend Gardening: Choosing Heirloom Or Hybrid Tomatoes
March 16, 2013
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.
HS Baseball, Softball Roundup
March 16, 2013
Here’s a look at a baseball and softball scores from around the area Friday:
BASEBALL
Northview 3, Holmes County 2
Tate 8, Navarre 3
Chipley 7, Jay 6
West Florida 11, Bay 2
Escambia 3, Milton 2
Catholic 12, Davidson 1
Pensacola 8, Washington 0
Pace 5, Pine Forest 1
SOFTBALL
Milton 14, Pine Forest 2
Jay 16, Baker 1 (JV)
Central 4, Paxton 3
West Florida 12, Arnold 5
37 Burglary Cases Solved: Walnut Hill Man, Two Others, Arrested
March 16, 2013
Three men — including one from Walnut Hill — have been arrested in connection with 37 burglary cases that stretched from Beulah to Cantonment to Pace.
Charles Dylan Williams, age 19 of Walnut Hill, Richard Kevin Craig, age 21 of Pensacola, and Kevin Randall Bell, age 26 of Pensacola, were each charged with multiple counts of burglary, larceny, vehicle theft and fraudulent use of credit cards.
The arrests were “due to good investigative work and also with the help of a very conscientious local citizen”, according to Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan.
On January 25, a rash of burglaries were reported in the Indian Lakes subdivision in the Beulah area, including the theft of credit cards and a set of car keys. The suspects later returned to attempt to steal the vehicle. Deputies said they abandoned the vehicle when spotted, but a witness was able to give a good description of the trio.
Evidence against the men include surveillance video of the suspects and the vehicle as they used stolen credit cards at a Red Box video machine. Based on this information, investigators were able to locate the vehicle at a home in the 9000 block of Bridlewood Road.
During a search of the vehicle and home, the suspects confessed to multiple burglaries. According to the suspects they had been using the stolen credit cards for gas, fast food and “Magic” gaming cards at Walmart.
As of Friday afternoon all three men remained in the Escambia County Jail. Bond was set at $292,500 for Craig, $129,500 for Bell and $209,000 for Williams.
Molino Branch Library To Open April 1
March 15, 2013
An April 1 opening date has been set for the new Molino Branch Library.
The new library in the Molino Community Complex will be open 52 hours per week – from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
“This long awaited branch will be a wonderful resource for the citizens of Molino and the surrounding community. We are expecting it will be a highly used facility,” said Darlene Howell, library administrator.
An opening reception will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 1 to give the public an opportunity to meet the library staff, peruse the opening day collection, register for a library card and tour the facility.
The Molino Branch Library is located at 6450 Highway 95A (just south of Molino Road) in the Molino Community Complex, which opened back in October 2012.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Farmers Needed To Nominate Local Schools For $25K Grant
March 15, 2013
Three North Escambia schools need the help of area farmers to earn a grant to purchase student iPads.
Molino Park Elementary, Jim Allen Elementary and Ransom Middle School were chose to represent Escambia County in applying for a $25,000 from the America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education grant program. If awarded, the grant will purchase the iPads to advance technology in implementing core standards in reading, science and math.
Grants will be awarded based on merit, need and community support. The number of farmers to nominate Escambia County will demonstrate the community support for the grant criteria.
Farmers can nominate the Escambia County School District by going to growruraleducation.com and completing the nomination form. The deadline for nominations is April 15.
“We will be competing against 22 other counties. The more farmer community support we have, the better chance we will have to receive this grant,” said Alice Woodward, Molino Park principal.
Walnut Hill Man Accused Of Violating Federal Supervised Release
March 15, 2013
A Walnut Hill man appeared in federal court Thursday on an accusation that he violated the terms of his supervised released in a 2003 drug and weapons case.
Gary Glenn Roley surrendered to U.S. Marshals Wednesday. During Thursday morning’s court appearance, U.S. District Judge Charles J. Kahn, Jr. found probable cause and ordered that the conditions of Roley’s release be modified and he be released.
Roley was placed on a curfew, restricted to his residence from 7 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. daily. His travel was restricted to Escambia County, Florida, and he is required to check in with a pretrial services officer no later than noon each Monday.
In 2003, Roley was convicted of the intent to sell, distribute or dispense a controlled substance and unlawful transport of firearms. He was sentenced to 118 months in federal prison, followed by three years supervised release.
In July 2012, Roley was convicted in Escambia County Circuit Court on a first degree misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, according to court records.
Century Man Found Dead Days After Arrest On Cocaine Charge
March 15, 2013
A Century man arrested on a cocaine charge was found dead a few days after being released from the Escambia County Jail.
Dallas Monroe Edwards, 41, was charged March 8 with felony cocaine possession and resisting an officer without violence at the Executive Inn on Pensacola Boulevard. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail and was released on a $6,000 bond.
Edwards was found deceased Wednesday at the Palm Court Inn on Pensacola Boulevard. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said foul play is not suspected in his death, but a full report and autopsy have not been completed by the Medical Examiner’s Office.
On March 8, a manager at the Executive Inn called deputies to have a room vacated because the occupants did not pay a required pet fee. Deputies reported finding a small black tube with two baggies of a substance that field tested positive for cocaine in Dallas Edwards’ pocket. Once deputies found the tube, Edwards broke free and attempted to run.
Deputies gave chase and Edwards was taken into custody without further incident.
Edwards gave deputies a home address in the 5700 block North Century Boulevard.
Emeril Lagasse Show Sunday To Feature Pensacola On The Cooking Channel
March 15, 2013
On Sunday, celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse will feature restaurants in Pensacola on his Cooking Channel show Emeril’s Florida.
“This unique series, hosted by Chef Emeril, gives viewers the chance to experience some of the best food Florida has to offer,” said Carol Dover, president and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “We believe this show will motivate people across the country to visit Florida and taste the state’s vibrant flavors at our wonderful restaurants.”
Emeril begins this week’s show at McGuire’s Irish Pub in Pensacola. He then heads to The Fish House restaurant and samples their various dishes. At Joe Patti’s Seafood, Frank Patti gives him a tour and shares tips on buying fish. Finally, Emeril and his son EJ head to Pensacola Beach, taking a ride on the observation wheel as well as sampling local seafood.
“He was very nice; he was in front of me getting some Beignets,” said Felicia Amerson of Walnut Hill. Amerson and her husband Alex bumped into Lagasse at Joe Patti’s as he filmed his show back in October. “He turned around, and I said ‘OMG’ I’m your biggest fan, can I have a picture with you. He said sure we gotta hurry cause I’ve got a lot of work to do.”
The show airs Sunday, March 17th, at 9:30 a.m. on the Cooking Channel, and again on Monday, March 18th, at 8:30 a.m.
Pictured: Felicia Amerson of Walnut Hill posses with chef Emeril Lagasse back in October at Joe Patti’s Seafood in Pensacola as he filmed a segment for his show that will air Sunday on the Cooking Channel. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Dog Parks Open On Beach
March 15, 2013
Two new dog parks will open today on Pensacola Beach for a six month trial period.
The West End park will be located at the first parking lot past the last condos on the Gulf. The East End park will be at the first parking lot past Portofino. The parks will open at 6 a.m. daily until May, at which time the opening time changes to 7 a.m. due to sea turtle season.
Owners are required to keep their dogs on a leash, and signs will be posted to designate dog-friendly areas. Doggie bags, disposal bins and handy wipes will be available at both locations.
The trial period is from March 15 to September 15.
For more information on Pensacola Beach dog parks, please contact Robbie Lofty at the SRIA, (850) 932-2257.
Additional dog parks on Perdido Key are expected to be announced soon.
Molino Resident Claims $244,230 Lottery Prize
March 15, 2013
A Molino man is nearly a quarter million dollars richer after claiming a winning Fantasy 5 ticket.
Nathaniel Poties of Molino purchased the March 8 Quick Pick ticket worth $244,230.09 at the Molino First Stop at 6530 Highway 95A North, according to the Florida Lottery.
Poties’ Fantasy 5 ticket was the only winning ticket with numbers 13-28-30-32-35. There were also 299 tickets with four correct numbers worth $131.50 each, and 8,801 with three of five numbers worth $12.50 each.