What Eats Potato in Georgia, and When
UGA Cooperative Extension documents ten insect pests on Georgia’s vegetable crops, but only four of them actually feed on potato: Colorado potato beetle…
Gardening in Georgia
Everything we have worked out for Georgia: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Atlanta, the last spring freeze runs March 11 to March 29 and the first fall freeze runs November 13 to December 1, USDA zones 6a-9b, 5,477 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 13 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Georgia: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
What Eats Parsnip in Georgia, and When
Georgia gardeners growing parsnip deal with a short list of pests: aphids, cutworms, and spider mites, all general feeders rather than parsnip specialists.
What Eats Carrot in Georgia, and When
Only three of the ten species Georgia’s extension service tracks for vegetable gardens actually target carrot: aphids, cutworms, and spider mites.
What Eats Beet in Georgia, and When
Beet in Georgia faces a short list of real threats: aphids, cutworms, and spider mites, the only three insects out of ten that UGA Cooperative Extension…
What Eats Asparagus in Georgia, and When
Georgia’s Cooperative Extension doesn’t publish a pest list specific to asparagus.
First and Last Frost Dates in Georgia
Frost dates in Georgia span a wide window because the state stretches from mountain valleys to the Atlantic coast.
When to Pick Tomatoes in Georgia, and Ripening the Rest
Georgia gardeners pick tomatoes based on color break, not size, and the real deadline each year is the first fall frost.
When to Harvest Garlic in Georgia, and How to Cure It
Garlic planted in Georgia in fall comes out of the ground the following summer, and the signal to pull it isn’t a date on the calendar.
When to Pick Apples in Georgia, and How Long They Keep
Most Georgia apples come off the tree between mid-July and late October, depending on variety, and the harvest window is set by the tree’s own signals…
Does Insulation Keep a Home in Georgia Cool?
Yes, insulation keeps a Georgia home cooler, and here the case is stronger than in most states.