This is the last week of our Small Fruit Plant Sale!! Orders end on March 3rd. Come by our office and place your order this week for pick up on March 22 & 23. More details are available on our website @ Small Fruit Plant Sale.
Getting the Most from Pastures Damon Pollard, Agriculture Agent - Livestock, Field Crops, Forestry
Livestock producers, be it cattle, horses, sheep, or goats, should think of themselves as forage producers as well. Increasing forage in the diet reduces feed costs and increases potential yield
per animal. And in reality, it is an input that the producer can manage himself to minimize concentrate purchases. By maximizing forage utilization, producers are increasing organic matter and can improve nitrogen levels found in the soil. In turn, this sustainable practice reduces surface water runoff and slows or prevents the leaching of nutrients and forage-covered fields need less fertilizer and they protect soil year-round.
March is Living Well Month Brandi Silver, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent March is Living Well Month and a great time to get on the right path. Taking charge of your health contributes to your overall well-being. Let’s
take this opportunity to look at several aspects of wellness. I’m including links to the statewide 2023 Living Well Campaign I have been a part of creating for the citizens of North Carolina and I hope you carve time out of your day to continue, Living Well.
Did you know that apples are heterozygous? This means that a single apple seed contains countless chromosomal traits that lead to apples having great genetic variability. This means that you can plant a seed from a Red Delicious or Honeycrisp apple, and get a whole new variety with different color, taste, and texture. In fact, that is how most of our common apple varieties came to be. Back in the 19th Century, a man named Johnny Appleseed took it upon himself to plant apple seeds
anywhere and everywhere with the goal of creating as many varieties as he could. He was successful, and is the reason why we have so many varieties of apples. Because of the unpredictability of apple seeds, it is important to purchase grafted trees if you’re wanting a specific type, such as Pink Lady or Yellow Delicious. When choosing if an apple tree is right for you, consider if you can provide the tree with adequate room and full sun. Soil should have a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. Dig a hole about twice the size of the root ball. Do not add soil amendments such as fertilizer or compost as this can be harmful to the young roots. Provide at least one inch of water per week during the growing season.
Muscadines Taylor Campbell, Horticulture Agent
Muscadines are native to the Southeast and have a 400 year history of cultivation. When choosing a site for muscadines, avoid shaded areas. Muscadines will tolerate a wide variety of soils, but should not be planted where standing water is an issue. Muscadines prefer a soil pH of 6.5, so apply lime if needed. For planting, wait until the threat of sub-freezing temperatures is over. Plant in late April to early May with each plant 10 to 20 feet apart, with rows 8 feet apart. Provide a trellis for each plant. After planting, prune to one stem with 2 to 3 buds. When growth takes off, select the most vigorous shoot and prune away the
others. Side shoots will begin growing from the main vine, and should be cut back to 2 to 3 buds during dormancy. To fertilize, Apply 1 lb of 10-10-10 in an 18-inch circle around each vine after planting. Repeat every 6 weeks until early July. The second year, apply in March and May at double the first year's rate. Keep the area around each vine free of weeds. Muscadines are fairly drought tolerant, so irrigation is not necessary.
NC State University and N.C. A&T State University
work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension.
