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| Marigold seedlings, "Brocade Mix," a French Dwarf variety, Tagetes patula PHOTO/Amy Whitney |
Showing posts with label seed starting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label seed starting. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Marigolds for Earth Day
We've had a tray of Marigolds growing in the office for several weeks now, and some of the young plants are beginning to form little flower buds at the top. Even when these plants are full grown, they are going to be small. The catalog from which the seeds were ordered said this about them: "Abundant color on neat, compact 10" plants. Ruffled double flowers in rust, yellow, orange, red and bicolors."
In general, marigolds are attractive to butterflies (which are beautiful, though somewhat patchy in their effectiveness as pollinators), and they can attract some other beneficial insects to your garden.
Anyone who stops by the office today, and until the 30 plants are gone, will be offered one of these to take home. Happy Earth Day!
Monday, February 18, 2013
When Should I Plant Peas and Potatoes?
Especially after a relatively mild winter like the one we've been experiencing, impatient gardeners are beginning to feel as though it must be just about planting time for some of the cool weather vegetables. The impatient gardener here in Cobb County would not be wrong.
UGA's "Vegetable Planting Chart," (document is a pdf) linked through its "Vegetable Gardening in Georgia" publication, shows planting dates for middle Georgia that need to be adjusted by a couple of weeks for our area, but the opportunities for planting are about to become numerous! However, for the best chance of planting success in an unusual winter, any date-based chart should be double-checked against other factors.
For peas and potatoes, which are among the earliest-planted vegetables in the spring garden, soil temperatures provide a valuable guide. What does soil temperature have to do with planting time? If the soil is too cold and wet, seeds and seed potatoes set out to grow will, instead, rot in the ground.
Vermont's Cooperative Extension includes a helpful note for gardeners concerning soil temperature and early spring planting in its publication "Planting Peas and other April Gardening Tips" :
Our soils warm up to 45 degrees and above way before April, but the basic rule still applies. The good news for us is that Georgia's Automated Environmental Monitoring Network shows that soil temperatures at the weather station in Dallas already are about 45 degrees F, while soil temperatures at the weather station in Alpharetta are still below 43 degrees F.
Looks like pea and potato time is just about here.
UGA's "Vegetable Planting Chart," (document is a pdf) linked through its "Vegetable Gardening in Georgia" publication, shows planting dates for middle Georgia that need to be adjusted by a couple of weeks for our area, but the opportunities for planting are about to become numerous! However, for the best chance of planting success in an unusual winter, any date-based chart should be double-checked against other factors.
For peas and potatoes, which are among the earliest-planted vegetables in the spring garden, soil temperatures provide a valuable guide. What does soil temperature have to do with planting time? If the soil is too cold and wet, seeds and seed potatoes set out to grow will, instead, rot in the ground.
Vermont's Cooperative Extension includes a helpful note for gardeners concerning soil temperature and early spring planting in its publication "Planting Peas and other April Gardening Tips" :
"One of the first crops you can plant in the spring are peas. This vegetable thrives in cool, moist climates with early plantings normally producing greater yields than plantings later in the season. Wait until the soil temperature is at least 45 degrees F, then plant seeds one to two inches deep and one inch apart in single or double rows."Potatoes do best when planted with a similar temperature minimum.
Our soils warm up to 45 degrees and above way before April, but the basic rule still applies. The good news for us is that Georgia's Automated Environmental Monitoring Network shows that soil temperatures at the weather station in Dallas already are about 45 degrees F, while soil temperatures at the weather station in Alpharetta are still below 43 degrees F.
Looks like pea and potato time is just about here.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Upcoming Events
Seed Starting for the Vegetable Garden
Tuesday, Feb. 19, 6:30 – 8 p.m. $5 fee (cash or check) to cover cost of materials. Presented by Cobb County Cooperative Extension. Learn how to start your own garden transplants from seed, with Horticulture Program Assistant Amy Whitney at Cobb County’s Cooperative Extension Office, 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, 2nd floor classroom. Part of the evening includes participants’ starting some plants to take home. Preregister by calling 770-528-4070 or email uge1067@uga.edu.
Growing and Care of Blueberries, Blackberries, Raspberries, Figs, and Grapes
Monday, March 4, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.. Free seminar. Cobb County Cooperative Extension Agent Neil Tarver will explain how to plant and care for these small fruits. The seminar, held in conjunction with the Cobb County 4-H Plant Sale (link to information about the sale is at the bottom of our home page), will take place at the County Water Lab at 662 S. Cobb Drive (the smaller brick building at the back of the property). Registration is required. Call 770-528-4070, or register by filling in the appropriate box on the pre-paid Plant Sale order form.
Wake Up Your Lawn: Tips to Keep Your Lawn Healthy All Year.
Wednesday, March 6, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Free seminar. Cobb County Cooperative Extension Agent Neil Tarver will cover fertilizing, weed control, diseases, mowing, and more. The seminar will take place at Cobb County’s Cooperative Extension Office, 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, 2nd floor classroom. Preregister by calling 770-528-4070 or email uge1067@uga.edu.
Perils and Pitfalls of Gardening
Friday, March. 8, Noon to 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Bring your lunch and enjoy the presentation! Presented by Master Gardener Dr. Bruce Gillett at the County Water Lab at 662 S. Cobb Drive (the smaller brick building at the back of the property), as part of the ongoing Lunch & Learn presentation series of Cobb County Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County. Dr. Gillett will talk about how to avoid, prevent, recognize, and treat diseases and disorders to which gardeners may be exposed.
Free Training in Sustainable Turfgrass for Landscape Maintenance Workers
Tuesday, March 12, 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. Free training that ends with the awarding of Certificates of Completion In Sustainable Turfgrass Management for turfgrass crews. Registration required. Presented by Becky Griffin, of UGA's Turfgrass Program, at Cobb County's Cooperative Extension office, 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, 2nd floor classroom. To preregister your crews, email beckygri@uga.edu or call 770-528-4070. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.; four-part program with a mid-morning break ends with the Awarding of Certificates.
Vegetable Gardening Basics
Tuesday, March 19, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Free seminar for beginning gardeners covers the basics of vegetable gardening here in Georgia. Presented by Cobb County Cooperative Extension. Horticulture Program Assistant Amy Whitney will provide the information you need to get your garden off to a good start. Presentation will be at Cobb County’s Cooperative Extension Office, 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, 2nd floor classroom. Preregister by calling 770-528-4070 or email uge1067@uga.edu.
Tuesday, Feb. 19, 6:30 – 8 p.m. $5 fee (cash or check) to cover cost of materials. Presented by Cobb County Cooperative Extension. Learn how to start your own garden transplants from seed, with Horticulture Program Assistant Amy Whitney at Cobb County’s Cooperative Extension Office, 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, 2nd floor classroom. Part of the evening includes participants’ starting some plants to take home. Preregister by calling 770-528-4070 or email uge1067@uga.edu.
Growing and Care of Blueberries, Blackberries, Raspberries, Figs, and Grapes
Monday, March 4, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.. Free seminar. Cobb County Cooperative Extension Agent Neil Tarver will explain how to plant and care for these small fruits. The seminar, held in conjunction with the Cobb County 4-H Plant Sale (link to information about the sale is at the bottom of our home page), will take place at the County Water Lab at 662 S. Cobb Drive (the smaller brick building at the back of the property). Registration is required. Call 770-528-4070, or register by filling in the appropriate box on the pre-paid Plant Sale order form.
Wake Up Your Lawn: Tips to Keep Your Lawn Healthy All Year.
Wednesday, March 6, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Free seminar. Cobb County Cooperative Extension Agent Neil Tarver will cover fertilizing, weed control, diseases, mowing, and more. The seminar will take place at Cobb County’s Cooperative Extension Office, 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, 2nd floor classroom. Preregister by calling 770-528-4070 or email uge1067@uga.edu.
Perils and Pitfalls of Gardening
Friday, March. 8, Noon to 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Bring your lunch and enjoy the presentation! Presented by Master Gardener Dr. Bruce Gillett at the County Water Lab at 662 S. Cobb Drive (the smaller brick building at the back of the property), as part of the ongoing Lunch & Learn presentation series of Cobb County Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County. Dr. Gillett will talk about how to avoid, prevent, recognize, and treat diseases and disorders to which gardeners may be exposed.
Free Training in Sustainable Turfgrass for Landscape Maintenance Workers
Tuesday, March 12, 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. Free training that ends with the awarding of Certificates of Completion In Sustainable Turfgrass Management for turfgrass crews. Registration required. Presented by Becky Griffin, of UGA's Turfgrass Program, at Cobb County's Cooperative Extension office, 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, 2nd floor classroom. To preregister your crews, email beckygri@uga.edu or call 770-528-4070. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.; four-part program with a mid-morning break ends with the Awarding of Certificates.
Vegetable Gardening Basics
Tuesday, March 19, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Free seminar for beginning gardeners covers the basics of vegetable gardening here in Georgia. Presented by Cobb County Cooperative Extension. Horticulture Program Assistant Amy Whitney will provide the information you need to get your garden off to a good start. Presentation will be at Cobb County’s Cooperative Extension Office, 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, 2nd floor classroom. Preregister by calling 770-528-4070 or email uge1067@uga.edu.
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