Jeff Poppen shares the history of the peanut and its rise to fame on the American farm. He discusses how to grow peanuts successfully, from the soil pH to the hilling. Jeff is thrilled about the resurgence of a treasured heirloom variety, Tennessee Red Mammoth, currently in production at Green Door Gourmet in Nashville TN.
Tammy Algood takes us through her vegetable beds to show us the frugal and very practical supports she has fashioned for tomatoes, cucumbers and peas. By using these structures, plants are allowed to grow to their potential and the gardener has an easier path to picking.
David Cook, UT agriculture extension agent for Davidson County TN, explains the non-native scale that poses a serious threat to Southern Crape Myrtles. The nymphs produce a large amount of honeydew that drips down the trunk, branches, leaves, and ground below. That substance then accumulates sooty mold. While not fatal, it makes the infested trees an eyesore in the landscape.
"I've yet to see a fruit tree that was over-pruned", says Dave Lockwood, Fruit & Nuts Crop Specialist with UT Extension. Dave demonstrates how he'd approach the pruning of an 'Intrepid' peach tree to open it up to sunlight, increase air circulation, and allow the tree to produce bigger, better fruit.
Our plant container guru, Annette Shrader, seized the opportunity to create a unique planter when she spotted a large hollow log floating in the lake during a fishing trip. Follow along as she plants it up with colorful Sempervivum that will be ideal for the final spot this planter will land on the edge of the carport. It turned into an eye-catching succulent display.
