You probably learned in middle school science class about how the top of one kind of apple tree is grafted onto the roots of another apple tree to make a better tree. This process is often used to “dwarf” a tree – a good productive tree top is grafted onto roots that will keep the [Continue]
Several years ago a fellow Master Gardener asked the group for information on black flowers because she wanted to make a black garden. I was a bit worried about her state of mind, but also intrigued because I had never seen a black flower. This year’s seed catalogs offer a plethora of black flowers, so [Continue]
Georgia grows about 42% of the U.S. peanut crop and nine other states in the south and southeast combine to grow the rest. There’s a reason for that – peanuts require a long growing season of at least 120 days. The growing season is the number of continuous days during which the temperature remains above [Continue]
This time of year, I cut the dried seedheads of the zinnias in my garden and save them to plant next spring. I’ve been saving and replanting these seeds for 29 summers now, and I got the first seeds from my mother, who had been saving them every year since she planted her first garden [Continue]
Beans are one of the easiest vegetables to grow. The large seeds are simple to plant, making them a good choice for a first planting experience for a new gardener or child. Before buying a packet of bean seeds, decide what kind of beans you want to grow. Will you use them for fresh eating? [Continue]
Since the early 1990s scientists have been studying a science called “phytoremediation.” The word comes from the ancient Greek “phyto” meaning “plant” and the Latin “remedium” meaning “restoring balance.” Scientists have found that plants have the ability to clean up polluted water and soil by taking up the pollutants into their roots, stems and leaves. [Continue]
Just as Black Friday began ahead of time on Thanksgiving Day this year, the seed catalogs began arriving in my mailbox in November instead of late December when they normally do. I’m not sure this will spur people to order earlier or more than usual, but in my case, it did allow time for a [Continue]
Carrots are one of the last vegetables to come out of the garden in fall, although they can be harvested much earlier if desired. There are five types of carrots categorized according to shape. The types are danvers, nantes, chantenay, imperator and ball. Each type has many varieties. There are early and late varieties, disease [Continue]
The International Herb Association has named horseradish its 2011 Herb of the Year. Wait – don’t stop reading because you don’t like horseradish – you’ll be surprised at the ways it can be used. More about that later. Horseradish is easy to grow. Typically, you’ll buy roots and plant them in early spring. It grows [Continue]
Tomatoes seem susceptible to as many bacterial, viral and fungal diseases as humans do. Certainly the most serious is late blight, a fungal disease which has been spreading quickly across the eastern United States for the past two years. This is the same blight that caused the Irish Potato Famine in the mid-19th century. [Continue]