Sweet potatoes are not a crop we think a lot about across the Southeast. But one farmer in Baldwin County, Alabama thinks about them regularly. His story will receive both statewide and national exposure. On the next episode of “Simply Southern TV”, Joel Sirmon will explain what it takes to grow sweet potatoes. Alabama Farmers Federation’s Kevin Worthington, co-host of …
Georgia Bermuda Grown for Super Bowl LV
(GDA) — The grass that will be used as the playing field for Super Bowl LV in Florida was actually grown in Georgia. Turfgrass varieties such as the game’s Bermuda are developed by the University of Georgia and have been used for many events including the World Cup and Super Bowl. “Tifway 419, bred and grown in Georgia, is a benchmark …
How to Enjoy a Herb and Vegetable Garden Indoors
How to enjoy a garden indoors. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. If you don’t have access to outdoor space for a garden, try starting your own garden indoors. With a little effort and the right lighting, you can grow an indoor garden filled with all kinds of interesting plants. A mini herb garden for example requires a windowsill …
Researchers Help Expand Indoor Gardening Trend Triggered by Pandemic
(UF/IFAS) — COVID-19 led many people to start gardening, and it’s no passing fancy. Recent research shows that about 80% of those who took up gardening since the beginning of COVID-19 will continue the pastime in 2021. Growing in the outdoor garden is one thing. Tending to plants indoors at home presents other challenges and opportunities. As they recognized the …
What Causes Your Houseplants to Turn Yellow
Why my houseplants are turning yellow. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Yellow leaves are a symptom of a fixable problem. Like most plant maladies, yellow leaves have several causes. The trick is determining which one you’re dealing with and how to help your houseplants thrive again. The most common causes for houseplant leaves turning yellow: Overwatering and …
When is the Best Time and How to Harvest Rosehips
When and how to harvest rosehips. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Rosehips generally appear between late summer and late autumn, depending on where you’re located. Try to gather them after the first frost. Freezing temperatures break down the fruits’ cellular walls, which makes rosehips sweeter and juicier. If you live in a place that only gets mild …
Ways for Making this Year’s Garden the Best Ever to Enjoy
Some ways to make this year’s garden the best, yet. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Setting some goals now will help you jump-start the spring growing season. Here are some ways to get prepared for the gardening months ahead. Starting with getting all of your gardening tools organized. When your tools are always at the ready, you’ll …
Grant Looks at Mitigating Climate Change Impacts on Florida Grasslands
(UF/IFAS) — A professor with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has been awarded a $500,000 grant to study how climate change is threatening subtropical grasslands and the ways they sustain agriculture, wildlife biodiversity, and ecosystems and their benefits to humans. Subtropical grasslands – such as those in Central-South Florida — are wide expanses of …
Adaptation matters – Indiangrass selections for the Deep South
(USDA/NRCS) — Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) is a native, warm-season perennial grass that occurs across most of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. It is commonly found in several ecosystems, including tallgrass prairie, savannahs, and as an understory component in southeastern pine forests across the South. In pine forests, it provides nesting habitat for game birds and songbirds, cover and …
Treating the Plant Pathogen Verticillium Wilt Naturally
Common plant pathogens and how to treat them naturally. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. If you’re familiar with verticillium wilt and various leaf blights, then you’ve already met a couple of the worst bacterial plant pathogens. Although these are soil-borne, they’re generally distributed by insects. Bugs bite through stems or roots, and the bacteria in their filthy …