Consumer Q’s

Submitted by the Georgia Department of Agriculture

Prepared by the Office of Public Affairs

Georgia Department of Agriculture

Tommy Irvin, Commissioner

www.agr.georgia.gov

Question: What kinds of Christmas trees are grown in Georgia?

Answer: Georgia Christmas tree growers provide a wide variety of evergreen trees. Some of the kinds grown in our state are Eastern red cedar, Virginia pine, white pine, Leyland cypress, Murray cypress (a variety of Leyland cypress), ‘Carolina Sapphire’ cypress and ‘Blue Ice’ cypress (beautiful blue varieties of Arizona cypress), Norway spruce, deodar cedar, Fraser fir, cryptomeria and ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae. For a list of growers and what they provide, visit the website of the Georgia Forestry Commission (www.gfc.state.ga.us) or the website of the Georgia Christmas Tree Growers Association (www.gacta.com) or see the November 18th issue of the Farmers and Consumers Market Bulletin. Fresh Christmas trees have to be seen, touched and smelled to be fully appreciated. Consider making a Georgia Grown Christmas tree one of your family’s holiday traditions.

Q: What are microgreens?

A: Microgreens are the young leaves and stems of lettuces and other vegetables, salad greens and salad herbs that are only an inch or two high and, depending on the species of plant and the growing conditions, a few weeks old. They are larger than what is usually sold as “sprouts” and smaller than what is usually sold as “baby greens.” There is not an official definition or standard, however. What some people call “microgreens” others may call “sprouts” or “baby greens.” Among the plants that can be grown as microgreens are lettuce, beet, cabbage, collards, mustard greens, turnip greens, radish, arugula, endive, basil, celery, chard, sorrel and amaranth. Seed companies and garden supply companies sometimes offer kits for gardeners to grow their own microgreens.

Q: What are some perennials I can plant along with azaleas?

A: Here are a few perennials that like the same growing conditions as azaleas: Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis), Italian arum (Arum italicum ‘Pictum’), bletilla orchid (Bletilla striata), little pigs/ wild ginger (Asarum species), green-and-gold (Chrysogonum virginicum), holly fern (Cyrtomium falcatum), Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum'), autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora), Japanese roof iris (Iris tectorum), Nippon lily (Rohdea japonica), starflower (Ipheion uniflorum), wood hyacinth (Hyacinthoides hispanica), daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus), jonquils (Narcissus jonquilla), snowflakes (Leucojum species), variegated Japanese Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum odoratum thunbergii 'Variegatum') and hairy toad lily (Tricrtis hirta).

Q: What is “companion planting?”

A: Companion planting is the method of growing different plants next to each other so that one or both gain a benefit from the other. Theoretically, the planting of certain plants side by side will help one or both plants in some way such as warding off pests or taking up nutrients. The idea was popularized for home gardeners in two books, Carrots Love Tomatoes and Roses Love Garlic, by Louise Riotte. There are few scientific studies on the effectiveness of many companion planting claims, especially in the home garden setting. The concept is interesting, and there is nothing wrong with gardeners doing some experiments of their own home vegetable and flower gardens to see if companion planting works for them.

If you have questions about services or products regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, visit our website at www.agr.georgia.gov or write to us at 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Room 227, Atlanta, GA 30334; e-mail info@agr.state.ga.us or telephone 1-800-282-5852.

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