Q: I'm looking at putting in a fall crop of potatoes and I can't find white and red seed potatoes this time of year. Do you know anyone? — Perry L. Parke, Marietta
A: I don't think you'll be successful planting potatoes in fall. The ground is so warm that the sprouts come up immediately and every potato-loving bug in the neighborhood comes for dinner. You can wait until late November to plant but you'll only push the harvest a week or so earlier next year. Also, there will be lots of chances for soil rot to infect the spuds in winter. Better to plant potatoes in February. See xrl.us/potatoes for details on how to grow potatoes in Georgia.
Q: While visiting our daughter I noticed a neighbor had planted glass wine bottles, butt end upward, around the edge of her vegetable garden plot. What might be the purpose? — Alex King, email
A: I think it was just for decoration. I use ceramic dinner plates to decorate around beds in my own garden. The following link gives 10 ways to use wine bottles in a garden, from a chandelier to a water feature: xrl.us/winebottle.
Q: You mentioned on radio that your mother made pear preserves. Could I get the recipe? My mother died when I was very young, and she made the best pear preserves. — Rosemary Parks, email
A: I well remember my mother's steamy kitchen filled with glass jars and soon-to-be-canned produce on every surface in August! She says her recipe came from the local University of Georgia Extension office but she modified it by adding a slice or two of lemon per jar. Since canning rules have changed since my mother's time, let me refer you to the comprehensive "So Easy to Preserve" book and DVD series available from UGA at www.setp.uga.edu.. The 375-page book contains 185 tested recipes, along with step-by-step instructions and in-depth information for both the new and experienced food preserver. Follow the directions and you can rest easy at night, listening for the bright "ping" that indicates a jar of delicious pears has sealed properly.
Q: We have struggled all summer with nut grass in our garden. We have been advised the only way to get rid of it is to move away. Do you have any less drastic suggestions? — Ruth Haygood, Upson County
A: Nutsedge is a terribly invasive weed. It spreads by underground runners that make "nuts" every couple of inches. Since a new plant can sprout from each nut, nutsedge can quickly cover an area. Pulling it does little good because the nuts you leave behind continue to sprout. Fortunately, I found a tool that uses water pressure to liquefy the soil around each plant, allowing many nuts to be extricated at once. I used a Water Weeder from Lee Valley Tools (www.leevalley.com) and pulled enough nutsedge to get rid of it in my garden.
Listen to Walter Reeves Saturday mornings on AM 750 and 95.5 FM News-Talk WSB. Visit his website, www.walterreeves.com, or join his Facebook Fan Page at xrl.us/wrfacebook for more garden tips.
