Agriculture

Place the crown of the pineapple about an inch down in well-drained potting soil and place it in a sunny area. (Photos by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Place the crown of the pineapple about an inch down in well-drained potting soil and place it in a sunny area. (Photos by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

From the grocery store to the garden: A guide to homegrown pineapples

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, May 26, 2023
Sweet, tart and juicy, a pineapple is a delicious treat, especially in the hot summer. It is one of my favorite tropical fruits to eat and make juice from. Originating in tropical South America, it is grown extensively in Hawaii.
Rudbeckias are ideal for mass plantings, borders and containers, and they can even be used as cut flowers.

Rudbeckias are ideal for mass plantings, borders and containers, and they can even be used as cut flowers.

Rudbeckia is bright, cheerful addition to gardens, landscapes

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, May 19, 2023
Rudbeckia, a member of the daisy family, has long been a popular choice for gardeners and landscapers alike. With its bright yellow and orange blooms, rudbeckia adds a splash of color to any garden or landscape. But where did this popular plant come from, and how has it been used over time?
Honor your mother by planting something in the garden that reminds you of her. These are desert roses. (Photos by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Honor your mother by planting something in the garden that reminds you of her. These are desert roses. (Photos by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Growing memories: The plants that remind us of our mothers and grandmothers

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, May 12, 2023
As Mother’s Day approaches, many of us begin to reflect on the important role our mothers and grandmothers have played in our lives. For some, this may involve memories of spending time in nature with our mothers, perhaps picking flowers or tending to a garden together.

Do it yourself potting soil recipes

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, April 28, 2023
Creating your own potting soil is fun, easy, saves you money and allows you to know exactly what is in your soil. All of these recipes use compost instead of fertilizer. Using compost in your soil will make your plants healthy and better able to resist disease and insects.
Take-all patch can cause large, irregularly shaped areas of turf to die and patches of bare ground to appear. Photo by Raj Singh/LSU AgCenter

Take-all patch can cause large, irregularly shaped areas of turf to die and patches of bare ground to appear. Photo by Raj Singh/LSU AgCenter

Root rot disease creeping up in Louisiana lawns

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, April 21, 2023
LSU AgCenter plant doctor Raj Singh says homeowners around the state are beginning to see an increase in take-all patch, also known as take-all root rot. The disease is caused by the soilborne fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis (Ggg).
Thrips are tiny insects that can be difficult to spot with the naked eye. This rose has been damaged by thrips. (Photos by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Thrips are tiny insects that can be difficult to spot with the naked eye. This rose has been damaged by thrips. (Photos by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Gardeners know dealing with pests is part of the job

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, April 21, 2023
If you’re a gardener, you know that dealing with pests is an inevitable part of the job. Two common pests seen on garden plants are thrips and spider mites.
Victoria Callahan, left, sales representative for Parish Rice, was guest speaker for the recent meeting, explaining the health benefits of the Eunice-based product. Welcoming her to the meeting is Nancy Loewer, program chair. (Photo by Steve Bandy/Crowley Post-Signal)

Victoria Callahan, left, sales representative for Parish Rice, was guest speaker for the recent meeting, explaining the health benefits of the Eunice-based product. Welcoming her to the meeting is Nancy Loewer, program chair. (Photo by Steve Bandy/Crowley Post-Signal)

Crowley Lions learn health benefits of Eunice rice brand

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, April 21, 2023
“This is a game-changer for diabetics. It’ll put rice back in their diets,” Victoria Callahan, sales representative for Eunice-based Parish Rice, told members of the Crowley Lions Club earlier this week. Callahan said the low glycemic index for Parish Rice makes it ideal for diabetics.

Easy do it yourself newspaper seedling pots

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, April 14, 2023
Making your own seedling pots is easy and allows you to recycle your old newspapers and make the pots at no cost to you. Seeds don’t need soil to sprout because they receive all needed nutrients from the seed.