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Published on 06/06/07

Urban farming highlights 'Gardening in Georgia'

By Faith Peppers
University of Georgia

Agriculture isn't just farming. In urban Georgia, it's caring for a lawn, choosing the best plants for a landscape or using homeowner pesticides properly. On "Gardening in Georgia" June 14 and 16, find out about agriculture in the city, hydrangeas and two Georgia vegetable garden favorites.

"Gardening in Georgia" airs on Georgia Public Broadcasting stations across Georgia each Thursday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Travel with show host Walter Reeves to Griffin, Ga., to visit the University of Georgia's Center for Urban Agriculture. Watch as he and Ellen Bauske, the center's program coordinator, plant a bed of summer annuals together.

Then Reeves will turn vegetable gardening on its head by growing tomatoes upside down. Despite his initial skepticism, he finds it works pretty well. Reeves will show how to coax hard-to-germinate vegetable seeds like okra into sprouting, too.

Hydrangeas are prized summer bloomers, and there are more than ever to choose from. Reeves reveals a few of his favorites and explains the difference between lacecap and mophead flower forms.

"Gardening in Georgia" is co-produced by GPB and the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Each show is geared to Georgia soils, climate and growing conditions.

Reeves is a retired UGA Cooperative Extension agent. He also hosts WSB AM's "Lawn and Garden Show" and appears on several TV gardening shows. He's written four gardening books.

The 2007 season is made possible through an underwriting gift from McCorkle Nurseries and support from the Metro Atlanta Landscape and Turf Association. For more on "Gardening in Georgia," visit www.gardeningingeorgia.com.

Faith Peppers is the director of public affairs with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.