Fruits & Vegetables

Overview

Fruits and vegetables are Georgia's number-two cash crop, but the popularity of commodities like peaches, tomatoes, blueberries, and fresh greens is not limited to commercial producers. Interest in home gardening continues to grow as people realize the nutritional and economic benefits of home-grown produce, and learn that it's relatively easy to augment your family's food selection right from your own backyard. On this page, visitors can find publications and web resources to help them have the best gardens possible — with the least amount of labor!

Publications

Extension Publications

• Cane Blight of Blackberry
• Orange Felt (Orange Cane Blotch) of Blackberry
• Home Garden Apples
• Designing Research and Demonstration Tests for Farmers' Fields
• Home Garden Transplants
• Home Garden Figs
• Characteristics of Firms Engaged in Fruit and Vegetable Trade
• Commercial Production and Management of Carrots
• Production and Management of Garlic, Elephant Garlic and Leek
• Peanut Response to Dicamba
• Georgia Home Grown Tomatoes
• An Analysis of Peanut Price Support Issues - 1996
• Blossom-End Rot and Calcium Nutrition of Pepper and Tomato
• How to Start a Community Garden: Getting People Involved
• 2012 Southeastern Peach, Nectarine and Plum Pest Management and Culture Guide
• Home Garden Blueberries
• Home Garden Pears
• Home Garden Sweet Potatoes
• Tropic Croton Identification and Control in Cotton and Peanut
• Eclipta Identification and Control in Peanut

To see an expanded list of these pubs , go to the CAES Publications site or the FACS Publications listing.

News

For the latest news about Extension, visit Georgia FACES. News you can use about Georgia family, agricultural, consumer and enviromental sciences.

• Early blight arrives early on backyard tomato plants
• Shading helps south Georgia pepper farmers beat the heat
• Tactics to improve this summer's tomato harvest
• Keep fire ants away from compost piles, vegetable gardens
• Heirloom plants give gardeners an understanding of their grandparents' gardens
• Save money by growing vegetable plants from seeds
• Plant disease makes growing pears difficult
• Fertilize crape myrtles in spring for more blooms in summer
• Vidalia onion farmers work to increase market share by shrinking their onions
• Pollination is key to the success of many vegetable plants

Websites

UGA-affiliated

• Department of Horticulture
  Describes the department's academic degree and research programs. Includes calendar of educational events as well as educational resources.
• Georgia Master Gardener
  Gives an overview of the program to train and certify individuals in horticulture and includes extensive links.
• Home & Garden Drought
  Resources to help home owners and gardeners respond to drought.

External sites

• State Botanical Garden of Georgia
  Site detailing the attractions, programs, research, and events at this "living laboratory" for learning about gardening and nature.
• Walter Reeves
  A wealth of gardening resources and tips from this well-known Extension garden specialist.
• Your Southern Garden
  The South's best source of educational and entertaining gardening information. A co-production of the University of Florida/IFAS and the University of Georgia, with sponsorship from the Scotts Company.

Training

Cooperative Extension offers training within local communities on a wide array of topics. To see if there are training events in your area, please visit our calendar.

• Master Gardener Volunteer Training
  Individuals are trained and certified in horticulture and related areas, then volunteer their expertise and services, under the direction of their Cooperative Extension Agent, to help educate others through horticultural projects that benefit the community.