Monday, September 21, 2015

Sweet Potato Harvest Time

Mr. Hugh Byrd of Kennesaw with sweet potatoes from his garden.
PHOTO/Ellen Shelnutt, Master Gardener Volunteer
Many sweet potato varieties reach maturity in about 110-120 days, which means that, for most of our gardens, it is just about harvest time.

Here at the Cobb Extension office, we had a wonderful reminder from a local gardener, Mr. Hugh Byrd, that harvest time is here.  The reminder was in the form of four giant sweet potatoes that he harvested from just one plant in his garden!

The variety that he grew this year is Beauregard, which is a great variety for home gardeners in our area. The tubers are sweet, getting even sweeter after curing for a couple of weeks in a warm location, and they cook up soft.

Mr. Byrd has been gardening in his Kennesaw yard for about 20 years, having taken over the task when his wife, the original  family gardener, developed health problems. She now focuses her food-growing efforts on growing tomatoes in large containers near the house. The couple has been married for 60 years.

We have been assured that, if the next plant Mr. Byrd digs up has even larger sweet potatoes, he will let us know.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Workshop: Garden Color for All Seasons

UGA Horticulture is offering the workshop "Garden Color for All Seasons in the Landscape" at its Griffin campus research garden. The workshop will teach how to select colorful annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees for year-round interest in your landscape, including landscape design tips, plant selection, and container gardening.

Each participant will have a hands-on experience creating his or her own colorful container garden to take home.

UGA horticulturists Bob Westerfield and Sherri Dorn will be the program speakers.

Date: Friday, October 2