Agriculture

Right now is a great time to get those vegetable gardens growing. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Right now is a great time to get those vegetable gardens growing. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

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Spring showers to summer flowers checklist

Heather Kirk-Ballard / LSU AgCenter horticulturist
Friday, April 19, 2024
As we transition from the lower temperatures of winter to the vibrant energy of spring, gardeners throughout the state are rolling up their sleeves, ready to nurture their green spaces into lush, blooming spaces.
Fire ants can bite and sting. Venom causes the stinging pain. (Photo by Claudia Hussender/LSU AgCenter)

Fire ants can bite and sting. Venom causes the stinging pain. (Photo by Claudia Hussender/LSU AgCenter)

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Fighting fire ants

Heather Kirk-Ballard / LSU AgCenter horticulturist
Friday, April 12, 2024
Fire ants are formidable pests in gardens and landscapes. They’re known for their painful bites and stings due to venom.
Southern highbush blueberries, needing fewer chill hours, are ideal for mild winters and bear fruit earlier in the season. Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter

Southern highbush blueberries, needing fewer chill hours, are ideal for mild winters and bear fruit earlier in the season. Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter

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Louisiana blueberry harvest season arrives

Heather Kirk-Ballard / LSU AgCenter horticulturist
Friday, April 5, 2024
It’s blueberry harvest season. Blueberries are packed with important nutrients, including vitamins and ascorbic acid. They’re also a superior source of antioxidants such as anthocyanins, procyanidins, chlorogenic acid and various flavonoid compounds.
Emma Stelly

Emma Stelly

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Rice station internship awarded to Vermilion Parish native

Olivia McClure / omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu
Friday, April 5, 2024
Emma Stelly, a McNeese State University freshman who grew up on a family farm in Vermilion Parish, has been selected to complete an internship at the LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station this summer.
Both Chinese and American fringe trees are stunning in the landscape and are great small-to-medium-sized trees that fit well in urban settings. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Both Chinese and American fringe trees are stunning in the landscape and are great small-to-medium-sized trees that fit well in urban settings. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

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Fringe trees present a spring spectacle

Heather Kirk-Ballard / LSU AgCenter horticulturist
Thursday, March 28, 2024
If you’ve caught sight of those stunning, petite, white-flowered trees this spring, you’re witnessing one of the most dazzling spectacles of the season: the fringe trees.
Citrus plants offer a crisp, refreshing top note, injecting a burst of energy into scents. (Photos by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Citrus plants offer a crisp, refreshing top note, injecting a burst of energy into scents. (Photos by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

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The fragrance of nature

Heather Kirk-Ballard / LSU AgCenter horticulturist
Friday, March 22, 2024
National Fragrance Day, celebrated March 21, might not be a widely recognized day on our calendars, but it’s hard to deny the integral role that fragrances play in our everyday lives.
Adam Gordon, of Oakdale, uses a drip torch during a prescribed burn training at the Louisiana Ecological Forestry Center near Florien on March 12. (Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter)

Adam Gordon, of Oakdale, uses a drip torch during a prescribed burn training at the Louisiana Ecological Forestry Center near Florien on March 12. (Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter)

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Workshop teaches proper prescribed burning methods

Olivia McClure / omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Rodney McKay knows a lot about starting fires. Between 15 and 25 times a year, McKay heads into the woods with a drip torch, rakes and an array of other tools used to light fires, monitor their spread and manage the smoke they produce.
Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) is a tropical perennial native to Asia that has a fast growth rate, grows well in containers and produces a wide range of colors and patterns. It blooms from early summer through late fall. (Photo by Claudia Husseneder)

Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) is a tropical perennial native to Asia that has a fast growth rate, grows well in containers and produces a wide range of colors and patterns. It blooms from early summer through late fall. (Photo by Claudia Husseneder)

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Get It Growing calendar entry deadline nearing

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, March 8, 2024
The deadline for “budding” and experienced photographers to submit their best photos for the LSU AgCenter’s 2025 Get It Growing calendar is rapidly approaching. The deadline for entries is March 31.

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Getting pickled out of your garden and refrigerator

From the Eunice Bulb & Blossom Garden Club
Friday, March 8, 2024
With refrigerator pickling you can get creative in the kitchen and experiment with pickling a variety of out-of-the-ordinary fruits and vegetables. This small batch method of pickling is easy to do and is ready to eat in a day or two.
Rabbiteye blueberry is ideal for Louisiana landscapes, valued for both its fruit and ornamental qualities. (LSU AgCenter file photo)

Rabbiteye blueberry is ideal for Louisiana landscapes, valued for both its fruit and ornamental qualities. (LSU AgCenter file photo)

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Fruitful beauty: Floweraing trees and shrubs for landscapes

Heather Kirk-Ballard / LSU AgCenter horticulturist
Friday, March 8, 2024
It’s that time of year. The deciduous trees are putting on their leaves. The oaks and pines are producing copious amounts of pollen. Live oaks are shedding leaves to put on new growth.