George Washington Carver Persimmon

George Washington Carver pioneered a concept of crop rotation to return needed nutrient to the soil depleted by decades of cotton and tobacco. In the agrarian South following the Civil War, this method of crop rotation drastically increased farm production. Carver also developed industrial applications for the new crops being grown, including over 300 uses for the peanut and extracting pigment from soybeans to replace European textile dyes. Carver was one of the leading African American scientists of his day and served as Agriculture Director at the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute for Negroes which was founded by Booker T Washington.

The George Washington Carver Persimmon is a seedling from a tree originally grown by George Washington Carver.

Did You Know?

George Washington Carver promoted crops such as soybeans and peanuts to replenish nitrogen in farm fields but also worked to find food consumption and industrial uses for these crops. Late in his life, George Washington Carver worked with industrialist Henry Ford and the two men developed a long lasting friendship as they worked on concepts such as plastic made from soybeans and biofuels that could fuel cars. Henry Ford even had an elevator installed at Carver’s laboratory, making it easier for the aging scientist to continue his studies.

George Washington Carver and Henry Ford Shared a Bio-Fuel Vision

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2007/02/18/037624.html

Learn More about George Washington Carver and Agriculture in the South

National Park Service: George Washington Carver National Monument, Diamond, MO
http://www.nps.gov/gwca/index.htm

George Washington Carver Museum, Dothan, Al
http://www.gwcarvermuseum.org

National Park Service: Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site, Tuskegee Inst, AL
http://www.nps.gov/tuin/index.htm

Florida Agricultural Museum, Palm Coast, FL
http://myagmuseum.com/

FAMU: George Washington Carver
http://www.famu.edu/index.cfm?blackhistory&GeorgeWashingtonCarver

Proposed George Washington Carver Persimmon - Florida Agricultural Garden

When George Washington Carver introduced the American South to the idea of crop rotation in the late 1800s, he gave Florida farmers the boost they needed to bring agriculture to the state’s sometimes difficult soils. This garden features some of Florida’s most important agricultural crops, according to season.

Examples of Proposed Plants:

Strawberries - With nearby Plant City being the country’s capital of winter strawberries for more than 100 years, this important fruit undoubtedly deserves a place in our garden.

Blueberries - When strawberry season ends, blueberries aren’t far behind. Florida blueberries are shipped around the country and beyond.

Tomatoes - Florida tomatoes help fill a void up north in the winter, when other places have to grow tomatoes in greenhouses.

Sugarcane - Florida is one of only a handful of states that can grow sugarcane, making it a valuable crop.
Peanuts - With a nod to Dr. Carver, our garden will feature peanut and ornamental peanut plants.