Fruits
Can Verry Cherry Plums grow in Georgia?
Q: I recently bought some Verry Cherry Plums from the grocery. They were delicious! Can I grow them here? Where can I buy the trees? A: This plum/cherry hybrid could grow in Georgia but you won’t be able to find...
Peach has lots of black spots on skin
Q: We have a lot of peaches this year but noticed they are getting black spots on the skin. Is it too late in the game to treat with a pesticide? A: A fine description of peach scab disease. The...
Is The Golden Jackpot Barberry Invasive Here?
Q: Is the Golden Jackpot barberry invasive here? A: It is hard to know. Japanese barberry is very invasive in some parts of the country, like New England, but does not seem to be as vigorous in the Southeast. Yellow-leafed...
Can I Plant My Tomatoes Early?
Q: I know it’s customary to wait until mid-April to plant my tomatoes and peppers, but I’m getting antsy. Given the mild winter we’ve had, do you think it would be okay to go ahead or should I hold my...
Do Male And Female Green Peppers Taste Different?
Q: Is it true that male and female green peppers taste different? My neighbor believes this. A: Your neighbor may believe this with all their heart but, sadly, they are wrong. There is no such thing as a “male” or...
Why Doesn’t Anyone Grow Pimento Pepper?
Q: I read that pimento peppers saved Georgia farmers from the boll weevil and that many farms were located near Griffin. Our state was once the “Pimento Pepper Capitol of the World”! Why does no one grow them anymore? A:...
Keep Worms From Eating My Peaches
Q: Do you have any suggestions to keep the worms from eating my young peaches? I have honeybees nearby. A: Plum curculio is a small “snout beetle” that attacks peaches and plums. Adults overwinter in debris near a tree and...
Small Worms Near Meyer Lemons
Q: While watering my Meyer lemon tree I found a lot of small worms crawling on top of the soil. How can I eliminate? A: I think you are seeing the larvae of dark-winged fungus gnats. They live in very...
Is Golden Jackpot Barberry Invasive Here?
Q: Is the Golden Jackpot barberry invasive here? A: It is hard to know. Japanese barberry is very invasive in some parts of the country, like New England, but does not seem to be as vigorous in the Southeast. Yellow-leafed...
When To Plant Tomatoes And Peppers
Q: I know it’s customary to wait until mid-April to plant my tomatoes and peppers, but I’m getting antsy. Given the mild winter we’ve had, do you think it would be okay to go ahead or should I hold my...
Peach leaf curl with red, puckered leaves
Q: Why are the leaves of my peach tree so red and puckered? The fruit seems to be affected too. A: This is peach leaf curl. It is a fungus that loves rainy spring weather. Best way to control it...
Great videos on how our food grows
Wondering how to conduct another day of at-home schooling? If you are looking for a fun activity for kids (and adults!) these short videos explain how common foods are grown. Watch them with the kids…or assign one for a child...
Info On Fruiting Quince
Q: I have become interested in growing fruiting quince and have several plants (‘Le Page’, ‘Aromatnaya’, ‘Cookes Jumbo’, ‘Van Deamon’). Do they fruit on current year’s growth or last years? I need to prune them a bit. They are delicious...
Good Fruit Trees For Georgia?
Q: I am new to Georgia and am interested in planting a few fruit trees in my back yard. I’d like rare but hardy ones. Any suggestions? A: “Rare” and “hardy” may not be possible. If a fruit tree is...
When Do Meyer Lemons Bloom?
Q: My Meyer lemon has about ten blooms starting to form. Is January the normal time? A: It is behaving normally. Mine has bloomed indoors in January as well as outdoors in May depending on the weather conditions. When a...
When To Prune My Peach Tree?
Q: How soon after planting can a peach tree be given its first pruning to develop the wine glass shape desired? A: The first pruning is usually done a few minutes after the tree is planted. Many growers cut the...
When Should I Prune Our Peach Tree?
Q: We have been waiting for the right time to prune our peach tree and I know you recommend March for that. However we just noticed that they seem like they will bloom very soon. Should we still wait until...
How To Prune A Pomegranate
Q: I planted a pomegranate ten years ago. I have read that it should be pruned a specific way if it gets too big. A: I don’t think there is a “specific” way to prune; it just depends on what...
