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Tom MacCubbin

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    Give crotons, in front, and dwarf schefflera, in back, a few weeks to determine the extent of freeze damage. (Courtesy of Tom MacCubbin)

    Did your garden suffer in the recent freeze? The Plant Doctor has some advice

    MacCubbin gives gardening advice for Central Florida on assessing damage from recent freeze, mulch from ornamental grasses, palms and azaleas
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    February in the Garden for Central Florida

    Plant Doctor Tom MacCubbin shares his monthly gardening to-do list for the region
    The winter blossoms from pink tabebuia trees bring color to yards during the cooler months of Florida. (Courtesy of Tom MacCubbin)

    Plant Doctor: Area neighborhoods in the pink courtesy of blooming tabebuia trees

    MacCubbin gives gardening advice for Central Florida about tabebuia trees. lavender, parsley, tomatoes, azaleas and lawn care
    Winter is not the best time for impatiens but most survive and can look attractive if frost or freezes don’t damage the plants. (Courtesy of Tom MacCubbin)

    Plant Doctor: Have some patience with impatiens during the cooler months

    MacCubbin gives gardening advice for Central Florida about impatiens, bromeliads, peace lilies, schefflera, caladium, petunias, winter vegetables and lawn weed control.
    Using the taste test is the best way to tell if an orange is ripe and ready to pick. Start taste testing a fruit in October to determine if it is ready to harvest. (Courtesy of Tome MacCubbin)

    Plant Doctor: Taste test is best way to tell if oranges are ripe, ready to pick

    MacCubbin gives gardening advice for Central Florida about citrus, mulch and compost, lawn care, gardenias, creeping fig and controlling heartleaf drymary
    Start tomato seeds now to grow seedlings for transplanting in March to obtain an early start on this spring crop. (Courtesy of Tom MacCubbin)

    Plant Doctor: Plant tomato seeds now to get early start on spring crop

    MacCubbin gives gardening advice for Central Florida about tomatoes, amaryllis, poinsettias, palms, vegetables and bougainvillea
    The colorful blooms from California poppies can be part of your garden here in Central Florida. Seeds are best started during the fall but sowing can continued early into the new year. (Courtesy of Tom MacCubbin)

    Plant Doctor: Grow the colorful state flower of California in your garden

    MacCubbin gives gardening advice for Central Florida about the California poppy, magnolia, crape myrtle, kalanchoe, seed potatoes and storing vegetable seeds
    The Japonica camellia blooms starting in October and continues through early March. (Courtesy Tom MacCubbin)

    Plant Doctor: Enjoy colorful camellias during the cooler months

    MacCubbin gives gardening advice for Central Florida about camellias, banana plants, broccoli and cauliflower, lawn care and pampas grass
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    January in the Garden for Central Florida

    Plant Doctor Tom MacCubbin shares his monthly gardening to-do list for the region
    The tea plant is a relative of the common camellia that also grows locally and in cooler climates. (Courtesy of Tom MacCubbin)

    Plant Doctor: Grow tea in your garden that you can brew and drink, too

    MacCubbin gives gardening advice for Central Florida about tea plants, annuals like coleus, ligustrum, figs, broccoli, palms and weed control