News Stories - Page 2

Now that we’ve announced the winners of the tomato sandwich slicer showdown and your plants are taking off, it’s time to address our first tomato gardening issue: supporting unwieldy tomato plants through staking and pruning. For the best chance at productive plants with healthy fruit, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension consumer horticulturalist Bob Westerfield urges home gardeners to invest in providing plants a strong support structure all season long. “No other vegetable comes close to bearing as much produce in such a limited space,” Westerfield said.

Georgia, traditionally known as the Peach State, is famous for its peaches, pecans and peanuts. But thanks to its mild climate, the state also supports a variety of uncommon and exotic fruits — like kiwi. In a monthly series inspired by University of Georgia Cooperative Extension publication “Minor Fruits and Nuts in Georgia,” we’re highlighting lesser-known fruits that can thrive in Georgia home gardens.

As we move into the 2025 hurricane season, it is more evident than ever that agriculture is dependent on nature. Even seemingly minor temperature variations have a significant impact on the precise mechanics of plants, animals and insects. As average temperatures have warmed by 3 degrees over the past century, the question remains — how will we adapt our agricultural practices to ensure that all people continue to have access to food, fiber and fuel now and in the future?

Whether nestled between bacon and lettuce, perched atop a smear of cottage cheese, or simply sprinkled with salt and fresh-cracked pepper, there’s nothing quite like a homegrown sandwich tomato. Long before the first sandwich can be assembled, and even before gardeners begin planting, setting up trellises and fighting pests, home gardeners must select which tomato types to add to their planting list. To make the choice easier, we asked experts to rank their top sandwich tomato cultivars based on what they’d most likely recommend to home gardeners across the state. 

The UGArden student farm will celebrate 15 years of service to the Athens community this spring with two major events: a Community Day on May 3 and an upscale Garden Gala on June 7. UGArden is a 10-acre student-run farm at the University of Georgia that produces organic produce through sustainable practices. The farm provides fresh food to Athens-area families, conducts research and offers hands-on education to students. It was founded by students in 2010 with support from the Department of Horticulture in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Georgia, traditionally known as the Peach State, is famous for its peaches, pecans and peanuts. But thanks to its mild climate, the state also supports a variety of uncommon and exotic fruits. In a new series inspired by University of Georgia Cooperative Extension publication, “Minor Fruits and Nuts in Georgia,” we’ll highlight lesser-known fruits that thrive in Georgia and can be grown in home gardens. This month, we’re kicking things off with a tree that produces a fruit many may not know — the mayhaw.