Wednesday in the Garden

Pole beans and Jelly melons

Despite a threatening sky and predictions of rain, quite a few gardeners spent the morning harvesting and weeding.  Nancy, Dave, Cathi and probably others were digging nutsedge (cyperus spp.) around the G beds (4 x 4 raised rotation beds).  A much larger patch beyond where they were working will probably get some herbicide. We only use herbicide when nothing else works, and nutsedge is definitely a case in point. Even then it only knocks this pest back for a season or a year, only to regain its former territory– so annoying.

The garden still looks good even though it’s June and it’s been hot, but not as intensive as it will be later in the summer. The tomatoes in bed A have been trashed.  Many of us were absent from the garden for several weeks leaving us vulnerable to summer invaders.  

The tomatoes were infested by what appears to be army worms, judging from the damage.  The entire plants were removed so they won’t infect the rest of the garden. Dave’s GMO tomatoes farther down in the garden have not suffered the same fate.  That’s gardening – random disasters, hoped for successes.

The major amount of work done in the Forest Garden by many prior to the open house is holding well, and the pathways are free of weeds and looking good. Next to be planted there are winged beans for the arbor and cowpeas and sweet potatoes in any open space.  The beans will add nitrogen to the soil and the sweet potatoes will deter weeds.  These reliable summer cover crops will also provide a late summer harvest.

It’s always a pleasure to spend time in the garden with friends, beautiful plants, interesting finds, and colorful vegetables and flowers. 

Yarrow

Pollinator plants to attract pollinators
and predators and feed the honey
bees nearby

Kiwano Jelly Melon growing on
the cattle panel arch pictured above.
A climbing cucumber relative. 
Can be eaten at any stage.  Seedy jelly-like 
Interior tastes like a combination of
banana, cucumber, and lime.  
Deters nematodes.

Early row covers and foil covered 
vines have increased our 
success with summer squash 

Sunflowers

An example of biodiversity— eggplants, peppers, basils, cosmos,
marigolds, maybe more.  Although this bed is immediately adjacent
to the worm-eaten tomatoes, there is very little damage
of any kind to these plants. Strongly scented plants and multiple
species and varieties helps to discourage marauding insects.

The terminal tomatoes

Tomato Insect Pest Management:  https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/pests-and-diseases/pests/management/tomato-insect-pest-management/

Southern Army Worms:  https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN263

Tomato Hornworms:  https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1206

The tomatoes full of blooms in early May. 
So sad to lose them.  

GMO Seeds

Photo: Raven Villar/Boise State Public Radio

A new genetically modified tomato variety known as the Purple Tomato has just been placed on the market for purchase by the general public, i.e. gardeners. Up to this time no GMO seeds have been available to gardeners.

The new tomato seeds are pricey.  The genes of this tomato have been modified with snapdragon genes controlling color.  The tomatoes are purple all the way through, not just on the surface.  They are reported to be more healthy because they contain more anthocyanins like blueberries and other dark-colored super foods.  

Learn more about how this tomato variety was created in an article from NPR.  

Master Gardener Dave Skinner is growing several of the new tomato plants at the VegHeadz garden.  Perhaps they’ll have some fruit by May 10 and you can see them during the Demonstration Garden Open House and Plant Sale.  

One of the advantages of growing your own food is the assurance that it’s free from genetic modification, if you do not wish to eat GMO food.  We expect you will begin to see more GMO seeds on the market now that this barrier has been crossed.

A recent question from a gardener asking if there was any way to get non-GMO corn seeds prompted us to reassure you that the garden seeds you purchase are not genetically modified.

Genetically modified organism (GMO) seeds are not available for over-the-counter purchase by the general public in the United States. These seeds are primarily sold to commercial farmers under strict regulations and contractual agreements.

Companies that develop GMO seeds invest significant resources into their development and protect their intellectual property through patents. As a result, they require farmers to sign technology stewardship agreements before purchasing these seeds. These contracts typically stipulate that the seeds can only be used for a single planting, prohibit saving or sharing seeds, and may allow the company to inspect the fields where the seeds are planted.  Many of these seeds are modified to resist herbicides, so fields can be sprayed to kill weeds without killing the cash crop.

Since seed companies do not market GMO seeds to the home gardening market, obtaining them would require going through a farm supply company, obtaining the necessary licensing, and signing a contract.  While it’s not inherently illegal for an individual to possess GMO seeds, unauthorized acquisition or use—such as obtaining them without the required agreements—could violate patent laws and regulatory requirements.  

You can access a list of bio-engineered foods, although we notice that the Purple Tomato is not mentioned:  https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/be/bioengineered-foods-list

Varieties which are developed through natural selection are also genetically modified, but there are significant differences between those that are commercially manipulated and those that are naturally developed over time.  The chart below points out the differences. 

Category	Commercially Genetically Modified (GM) Seeds	Modified Through Natural Selection
Method of Modification	Created using biotechnology in a lab; may include foreign genes	Selection and crossbreeding over generations; uses only natural variation
Genetic Precision	High precision; specific genes introduced or altered	Less precise; multiple genes affected during selection
Speed of Development	Fast—traits can be introduced in one generation	Slow—traits stabilize over many generations
Use of Foreign DNA	Often includes genes from unrelated species	Does not involve foreign DNA
Regulation	Heavily regulated (e.g., FDA, USDA, EPA in U.S.)	Minimal regulation
Intellectual Property	Often patented; use restricted by license agreements	Rarely patented; seeds can usually be saved and reused
Accessibility to Public	Not available for general public; sold under contracts to commercial farmers	Widely available to farmers and gardeners
Public Perception	Sometimes controversial; concerns about safety, environment, and corporate control	Viewed as natural or organic; generally accepted
Common Use	Large-scale, industrial agriculture	Small farms, home gardens, organic agriculture

Are the foods you buy genetically modified?  As always, read the label. In the United States, GMO foods are required to be labeled. 

The National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, which went into effect on January 1, 2022, mandates that foods containing bioengineered ingredients must be labeled as such. This can be done through a text statement ("bioengineered food ingredient" or "contains bioengineered ingredients"), a symbol (a square with a lowercase "be" inside), or an electronic or digital link.

The requirement applies to manufacturers, importers, and retailers of food products. Exceptions include foods that are not commercially available in the U.S., foods that are highly refined (such as oils and sugars), and foods served in restaurants. This is a federal requirement, and some states may have additional regulations regarding GMO labeling.

Wednesday in the Garden

The VegHeadz are busy getting ready for the Spring Open House and Plant Sale scheduled for Saturday, May 10, 2025, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the UF/Leon County Extension, 615 Paul Russell Rd., Tallahassee. The gardens are looking great and the VegHeadz are looking forward to meeting many visitors and talking about gardening, answering questions, and enjoying the day.  The photographs below give a hint of what you will see and learn when you visit the garden.  Get the answers to these questions and many more.

What kind of beans are
climbing so vigorously?

Why are these plants covered
and what with?

Why are these plants
being grown and what
will happen to them? 

 

What vegetable plant provides
this interesting flower and
what else does it provide?  

The plants in these two beds
come from the Leon County library.
See what you can grow with the seeds
available there
.

What is the particular purpose
for the plants grown
in this bed?

These are GMO tomatoes.  
Find out what species genes
have been modified with
And what advantage they provide.