Upcoming Events and Classes

If Plants Could Talk – a Cherokee Relationship

Friday, March 14, noon to 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Master Gardener Tony Harris as part of the ongoing Lunch & Learn series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at the Training Room of the Cobb County Water lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.). Learn how the Cherokee used plants for food, medicine, tools, weapons, shelter, and ceremonial purposes.

Tomatoes 101

Tuesday, March 18, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Renae Lemon, of UGA Extension/Cobb County, at the Powder Springs Library, 4181 Atlanta Street, Powder Springs.

Seed Saving for the Vegetable Garden

Thursday, March 20, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. The class will be presented by Amy Whitney, of UGA Extension/Cobb County, in the second floor classroom at 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. Please preregister by calling 770-528-4070. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. 

Home Yard and Garden Equipment: Use and Care

Saturday, March 22, 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Agriculture Agent Neil Tarver at UGA Extension/Cobb County, in the second floor classroom at 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. Please preregister by calling 770-528-4070.

Tomatoes 101

Tuesday, March 25, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Renae Lemon, of UGA Extension/Cobb County, at the Sweetwater Library, 5000 Austell Powder Springs Road SW, Austell.

Evergreen Groundcovers for Sun and Shade

Tuesday, March 25, 7:00-8:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Master Gardener Shirley Priest, as part of the ongoing Gardeners Night Out presentation series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at South Cobb Regional Library, 805 Clay Road, Mableton, 30126.

Vegetable Garden Basics

Thursday, March 27, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Amy Whitney, of UGA Extension/Cobb County, will explain what beginning gardeners need to know in order to create a successful food garden here in Cobb County. Class will be held in the second floor classroom at 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. Please preregister by calling 770-528-4070.

Bluebird Trail Tour

Saturday, March 29, 10:00 a.m. Free and open to the public. Cobb Master Gardener and Bluebird expert Jim Bearden will conduct a guided walk of the Bluebird Trail at Green Meadow Preserve Park, at 3780 Dallas Hwy., Powder Springs, GA, 30127. Follow the Bluebird Trail blog at bluebirdtrail.blogspot.com.

UGA Extension in Cobb County Open House

Tuesday, April 1, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Drop in to discover what Extension in Cobb County has to offer! From Horticulture and Natural Resources, to 4-H for youth, to Family and Consumer Sciences, we provide up-to-date, researched information from UGA to the citizens of this county. Open House with displays and snacks at UGA Extension/Cobb County, second floor, 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. For information, call 770-528-4070.

Garden to Table

Thursday, April 3, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Agriculture Agent Neil Tarver and Family and Consumer Sciences Agent Cindee Sweda present a class growing and then using food crops. UGA Extension/Cobb County, second floor, 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. Preregistration is required; $10 fee for class and materials. Call 770-528-4070 for information and to register.

Moving Toward Organics in the Vegetable Garden

Tuesday, April 8, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Learn what organic gardening and farming really means and steps you can take to have a more environmentally friendly garden.  Presented by Amy Whitney, of UGA Extension/Cobb County, as part of the ongoing Gardeners Night Out presentation series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at Mountain View Regional Library, 3320 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta.

The Beauty of Bulbs! From Amaryllis to Zephranthes

Friday, April 11, noon to 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Master Gardener Debra Stockton as part of the ongoing Lunch & Learn series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at the Training Room of the Cobb County Water lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.). Debra will give us the ABCs of bulbs with a focus on Georgia favorites: daffodils, gladioli, and tulips.

Weather Talk

The Georgia FACES article "Polar Vortex brings unexpected winter storms to Georgia", by Sharon Dowdy, explains not only what caused the recent winter storms in Georgia, but also what we can expect, with regard to the weather, for the next several weeks.

Dowdy interviews UGA climatologist Pam Knox, who explains that the polar vortex, which usually stays up in the polar north through the winter, is an area of cold, strong, high winds and low pressure.

Knox said, “Usually it [the polar vortex] sits on top of the globe like a hat, but this year it has slid forward over the U.S.”  This year, she added, also has been a year of "high swings in temperature conditions."

Dowdy explains, "This unpredictability could cause havoc for Georgia farmers and gardeners this spring ... For instance, if Georgia fruit trees begin to flower and a late frost hits the state, the fate of peach, blueberry and other fruit crops will be threatened." 

Knox also cautions gardeners to not plant too soon, since the chance of a late frost is increased this year.

How late is a "late" last frost?

Here in Cobb County, we have become accustomed in recent years to the last frost's occurring in March, and warm enough temperatures for planting tender crops like peppers and eggplants in early April. UGA's Automated Weather Stations show, though, that the last frost has fallen in April in some years within the past decade or so.

These are the data for the last frost date from the two nearest UGA Automated Weather Stations for Cobb County -- one in Dallas, GA, at the Paulding County High School, and one in Dunwoody, at The Cherokee Town & Country Club:

Last Frost Date

Top of Form

From Jan-1 to May-31 Dunwoody Last Frost Date Dallas Last Frost Date 2013 Mar 28 Mar 28 2012 Mar 6 Mar 6 2011 Mar 12 Mar 12 2010 Mar 8 Mar 7 2009 Apr 8 Apr 8 2008 Mar 25 Mar 25 2007 Apr 9 Apr 9 2006 Mar 27 Mar 27 2005 Mar 18 Apr 24 2004 Mar 23 Mar 23 2003 Mar 31 Mar 31 2002 Mar 28 Mar 28 2001 Apr 19 Apr 19 2000 Apr 9 1998 Mar 23 1997 Apr 18 1996 Apr 11

Notice that in 2005, the two stations show very different last frost dates. Also, the weather station in Alpharetta (data not listed hear) showed a last frost date for 2012 of April 12, somewhat later than the Dunwoody and Dallas stations. The charts show that, not only can the last frost date shift by several weeks from year to year, but it also can vary across the metro area, and "late" can be very late indeed!

For Dowdy's complete article, with additional information provided by Pam Knox, click on the link here.

Sustainable Ag Workshop Set for March 6 in Griffin, GA

UGA Extension in Spalding County is hosting a workshop on maximizing both production and market potential for sustainable small farms and market gardens.

When: Thursday, March 6, 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Kiwanis Center in Griffin, GA - Kiwanis Club of Griffin, 1025 South Hill St., Griffin, Ga 30224
Cost: $5 fee includes instruction, materials, and lunch.
Registration: Preregistration by March 3 is required. Please call 770-467-4225, or email uge2255@uga.edu to preregister.

The workshop is second in a series organized by Spalding County Agent Wade Hutchinson. For more information, read the description, which includes the list of topics to be covered, in the Georgia FACES article "Sustainable Ag Workshop Set for Griffin," or call 770-467-4225, or email uge2255@uga.edu.

Egg Candling Classes Scheduled in Paulding County

The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) has scheduled four back-to-back classes in Paulding County for certification in egg candling:

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

UGA Extension/Paulding County

530 West Memorial Drive

Dallas, GA 30132

The classes will be offered at two hour intervals, starting at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12 noon, and 2:00 p.m.

Anyone planning to sell eggs to individuals or at a farmers market must hold an egg candling certificate. According to GDA information, the license can be obtained by successfully taking and passing both written and candling exams.

Classes are open to any Georgia resident, without age restrictions. There is no charge, but preregistration is required. Time slots will be available on a first-come-first-served basis. Study materials will be mailed by the GDA after registration.

To register:
Call the GDA at 770-535-5955, and provide your name, mailing address, email address, and preferred class time.

Upcoming Events

Dahlias

Tuesday, February 11, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. Free and open to the public. Free Seminar covers the basics of growing beautiful Dahlias all summer and preserving the tubers for sharing and for spring planting. Presented by Renae Lemon of UGA Extension/Cobb County, in the second floor classroom at 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. Please preregister by calling 770-528-4070.

Weed ID for Weed Control

Friday, February 14, noon to 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by County Agent Neil Tarver as part of the ongoing Lunch & Learn series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at the Training Room of the Cobb County Water lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.). Neil will help us identify weeds in order to select the most effective method of controlling them.  

Creativity in Growing and Using herbs

Tuesday, February 18, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.  Free and open to the public. Presented by Tracy Minjauw of the Chattahoochee Herb Society, as part of the ongoing Gardeners Night Out presentation series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at West Cobb Regional Library, 1750 Dennis Kemp Lane

Seed Starting for the Vegetable Garden

Thursday, February 20, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Presented by Amy Whitney, of UGA Extension/Cobb County, in the second floor classroom at 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. $5 charge for supplies. Preregistration is required: Call 770-528-4070. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.  Space will be limited.

Spring Vegetable Gardening and Early Disease Management

Saturday, March 8, 11:00 a.m. – noon.  Free and open to the public. Presented by Amy Whitney, of UGA Extension/Cobb County, at Crossroads Community Garden, Chestnut Ridge Christian Church, 2663 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, 30062.

If Plants Could Talk – a Cherokee Relationship

Friday, March 14, noon to 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Master Gardener Tony Harris as part of the ongoing Lunch & Learn series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at the Training Room of the Cobb County Water lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.). Learn how the Cherokee used plants for food, medicine, tools, weapons, shelter, and ceremonial purposes.

Tomatoes 101

Tuesday, March 18, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Renae Lemon, of UGA Extension/Cobb County, at the Powder Springs Library, 4181 Atlanta Street, Powder Springs. 

Seed Saving for the Vegetable Garden

Thursday, March 20, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. The class will be presented by Amy Whitney, of UGA Extension/Cobb County, in the second floor classroom at 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. Please preregister by calling 770-528-4070. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. 

When Evergreen Shrubs Turn Brown from a Hard Freeze

When the leaves of azaleas, camellias, gardenias, and other evergreen shrubs turn brown after a hard freeze in winter, the instinctive first step that a  homeowner wants to take is to prune away the ugly, dead-looking parts of the plants. Instead, the first action to take is to keep away from the pruning shears!

UGA Extension's Keith Mickler, in the GA FACES article "Don't prune ice-covered ornamental plants until spring," says "The best advice for now is the 'wait and see approach.'"

He explains: "Severe pruning should be delayed until new growth appears in the spring. Waiting ensures live wood is not removed." Mickler adds, "Pruning away dead wood can expose buds, which may still be alive, to harsh elements. Another hard freeze just might wipe out any survivors."

For those who consider the browned leaved too unsightly to allow them to remain in the landscape, Mickler says that the dead leaves may be removed.

For additional information about caring for ornamental plants in winter, see the complete article, linked above, and UGA's publication "Winter protection of ornamental plants."