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The 2004 hurricane season proved to be one of Florida's worst. The four hurricanes (Charley, Francis, Ivan, and Jeanne) caused over $2 billion in total agricultural loss. In response, the federal government appropriated $13 billion for emergency assistance, of which Florida received a half billion dollars for agricultural disaster assistance. Many of Florida's producers were eligible for up to $80,000 in aid. Among those who tried but failed to qualify for this aid were greenhouse vegetable producers. Although the greenhouse vegetable industry in Florida is small, it is expanding and the present growers suffered millions of dollars in damages from the hurricanes in 2004. A survey was conducted in March, 2005 to assess both hurricane damages in 2004 and the present status of the greenhouse vegetable industry in Florida. This document is HS1021, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date August 8, 2005.

The strawberry, Fragaria x ananassa, is an important small fruit crop in Florida. The sunshine state leads the southeastern U.S. in strawberry production and ranks second to California nationwide. The mild weather of Florida's fall and winter seasons sustain the nation's second largest strawberry production. These conditions, unfortunately, are also suitable for several arthropod pests to multiply and feed on the crop. Strawberry plants are quickly established two weeks after the transplanting irrigation is turned off. This is the time growers must begin to scout their fields at least once a week to assess the status of pests, such as spider mites, cyclamen mites, lepidopterous larvae, aphids, thrips, and sap beetles. The ability to recognize these pests, their damage, and their natural enemies is important in determining the best control methods for each situation. Keep in mind that miticide or insecticide choices are limited if you participate in a biological control program. This document is HS1018, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: July 2005.

In terms of water use efficiency, the traditional seepage irrigation systems commonly used in areas with high water tables are one of the most inefficient methods of irrigation, though some irrigation management practices can contribute to better soil moisture uniformity. Subsurface drip irrigation systems apply water below the soil surface by microirrigation, improving the water distribution and time required to raise the water table for seepage irrigation. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Lincoln Zotarelli, Libby Rens, Charles Barrett, Daniel J. Cantliffe, Michael D. Dukes, Mark Clark, and Steven Lands, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, March 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1217

HS405, an 8-page illustrated fact sheet by Richard Tyson, Robert Hochmuth, and Daniel J. Cantliffe, provides an overview of hydroponic vegetable production in Florida — history, marketing considerations, growing systems, seasonal limitations, and economic considerations. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, November 2009. HS405/HS405: Hydroponic Vegetable Production in Florida (ufl.edu)

Revised! HS981, a 12-page report by Jennifer Bonina and Daniel J. Cantliffe, is a guide to organic seed production in Florida. Includes references and a list of organic, open-pollinated, and heirloom seed suppliers. Published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, November 2009.

Revised! HS-919, a 5-page illustrated fact sheet by Nicole L. Shaw, Daniel J. Cantliffe, and Jeanmarie M. Harty, evaluates the potential of this specialty melon prized for its bold aroma and high sugar content for greenhouse production in Florida, discussing production methods and cultivar evaluation. Published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, June 2009.

Revised! HS-810, a 7-page illustrated fact sheet by Nicole L. Shaw and Daniel J. Cantliffe, describes this cucumber that is similar to Dutch-type cucumbers, with shorter fruit, less susceptibility to damage, and potentially higher yields — production methods, cultivar evaluation, powdery mildew resistance, and snack-size type cultivars. Published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, May 2009.

HS-1067, a 9-page illustrated fact sheet by Hector G. Nunez-Palenius, Donald Hopkins and Daniel J. Cantliffe, describes this serious disease of cucurbit crops in Florida, the symptoms and disease development, environmental factors, management, the use of plants with genetic resistance, management using fungicides for susceptible cultivars, the use of biorational and non-harmful chemicals, and biological fungicides. Includes references and tables of powdery mildew resistant or tolerant cultivars of cucumber, melon, and squash. Original publication date June, 2006.

The squash bug, Anasa tristis (DeGeer) (Heteroptera: Coreidae), is considered an important pest of cucurbits in open fields in the U.S. (Bonjour and Fargo, 1989; Cook and Neal, 1999). In the greenhouse, the squash bug can infest Beit alpha cucumber causing considerable damage (Rondon et al., 2003) (Fig. 2). This document is HS992, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: October 2004. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs233

In Florida, high market prices, consumer demand, and a suitable environment for growing colored peppers under protected agriculture have encouraged greenhouse growers to consider the economic viability of this crop. This document is HS979, one of a series of the Department of Horticultural Sciences, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date: July 2004. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs228

The strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne) hosts a wide variety of aphid species. Most of these species have an ample variety of alternate hosts that include strawberries. The true strawberry aphid, Chaetosiphon fragaefolli (Cockerell) (Fig. 1), is considered an important pest of wild and cultivated strawberries worldwide. This aphid species is a vector of strawberry viruses such as cytorhabdovirus, one of the most dangerous viruses affecting strawberry (Krczal, 1979) (Fig. 2). Our ability to recognize this pest and the damage it causes is important in determining successful control methods. This document is HS1009, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: March 2005. HS1009/HS253: Biology and Control of the Strawberry Aphid, Chaetosiphon fragaefolli (Cockerell) (Homoptera: Aphididae) in Florida (ufl.edu)

Angular Leaf Spot (ALS) is a bacterial disease caused by Xanthomonas fragariae Kennedy & King, a pathogen highly specific to wild and cultivated strawberry, Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne (Legard et al. 2003). ALS is an important disease on winter strawberry production worldwide. In the U.S., it ranks 6th in economic importance after gray mold (Botrytis cinerea L.), verticillium wilt (Verticillium alboatrum Reinke & Berth), powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca macularis L.), anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp.), and pythium root rot (Pythium spp.) (Sorensen et al. 1997). The rapid spread of ALS is influenced by the increasing rate of interchange of plant material. This is document PP-199, a publication of the Plant Pathology Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: June 2004. PP-199/PP120: Angular Leaf Spot of Strawberries (ufl.edu)

Neoseiulus californicus McGregor (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is an oblong, tiny, mobile, predatory mite that feeds on a variety of prey (Fig. 1). It belongs to the suborder Acariforme in the Acari order. The division includes more than 30,000 described species included in the ancient group of Arachnida (Krantz, 1978). This document is HS1001, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: November 2004.

Galia muskmelon (Cucumis melo Reticulatus group L.) is a specialty melon with green flesh and a golden-yellow netted rind, prized for its bold aroma and high sugar content. This document is HS919, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food andAgricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: May 2003.

The strawberry, Fragaria ananassa Duch., is an intensively cultivated high value crop that requires inputs of chemicals, including insecticides and miticides. Through early identification of arthropod problems, and targeted releases of reared beneficial insects and mites, it may be feasible to minimize the requirements for pesticides on strawberry. This document is HS923, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: June 2003.

Under certain conditions, vegetable greenhouse crops can develop physiological disorders that predispose plants to diseases that decrease plant growth, fruit yield, and fruit quality. One plant disorder in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is the “Elephant's Foot,” which is characterized by the presence of epidermal injuries on a swollen stem region developed at the base of the plant stem. The epidermal injuries increase the plant susceptibility to fungal infections that can lead to plant death. This publication describes the symptoms and possible causes of this basal stem physiological disorder in greenhouse-grown bell pepper, and presents pepper production methods to avoid the disorder. This document is HS959, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: January 2004. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs206

The organic vegetable industry is flourishing due to consumers preference for organically grown produce over traditionally produced vegetables. As a result, an increase in the variety and selection of many vegetables in retail supermarkets and restaurants throughout the United States has occurred recently. With the new regulation (October 2000) requiring organic seed sources for organically labeled vegetables, many organic growers are searching for certified organic seed. Smaller seed companies have produced the majority of organically produced seed to date. The commercial seed sector is starting to provide a more diverse selection of cultivars, yet there are still many hybrids that are not yet available. For growers in Florida, there is opportunity to produce organic, though it is not widely practiced. This report serves as a guide to organic seed production in Florida. This document is HS981, one of a series of the Department of Horticultural Sciences, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date: July 2004. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs227

Sap beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) are conspicuous arthropods that feed on flowers, fruits, sap, fungi, stored products, decaying and fermenting plant tissues from diverse trees and crops, including strawberries. Sap beetles work in association with yeasts and other fungi causing the fermentation of infested plant parts (Fig. 1). They also are known to transport a variety of microorganisms that cause plant diseases; a few species can behave as predators of various ornamental pests (Dowd, 1991; Dowd and Weber, 1991). Sap beetles are often considered minor pests; however, their main impact is due to the contamination of products caused by adults and larvae. This document is HS993, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: October 2004. HS993/HS234: Sap Beetle (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) Management in Strawberries (ufl.edu)

Predatory mites such as Neoseiulus californicus McGregor (Fig. 1) and Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Fig. 2) feed on important fruits and ornamental pests such as the twospotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch), broad mite (Polyphagotarsonemus (Stenotarsonemus) latus Banks), cyclamen mite (Tarsonemus pallidus L.), and other mite species. These predatory mites are associated with several agricultural cropping systems including strawberries, raspberries, roses, grapes, citrus, ornamentals, and vegetables. Predatory mites have been used as an alternative to miticides on a variety of crops. Their commercial availability is crucial. This document is HS1000, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: November 2004.