(Distributed 01/18/08) With the New Year come announcements of ornamental plant winners. One popular competition is the All-America Rose Selections. AARS winners for 2008 are Mardi Gras and Dream Come True.

(Audio 01/14/08) You can plant Irish potatoes in your vegetable garden from about mid-January through February. They will be ready to harvest in April or May and will be delicious. (Runtime 60 seconds)

(Video 01/14/08) Plants will begin to show signs of nutrient deficiency in multiple ways. In this week’s Get it Growing segment, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains when and how to fertilize your plants. (Runtime 1 minute, 34 seconds)

Pointy and pretty, no flower quite has the petal power of poinsettias at the holidays. And the selection would be far fewer in Louisiana were it not for the LSU AgCenter. Although AgCenter horticulturists do not develop new varieties of poinsettias, they do evaluate the varieties that come on the market and test them for their suitability to grow here.

Pick up Louisiana citrus at roadside stands and in local markets and groceries from now through February. The peak season comes during the holidays from Thanksgiving to New Year’s.

Many people use poinsettias to decorate their homes during the holiday season. The plants you purchase now can be a beautiful part of your decorations, but they’re probably only good for this season, the experts say.

(TV News 11/26/07) Christmas trees adorn homes and businesses throughout the holiday season. Decorating the tree is a favorite holiday pastime. Buying the tree can be too when you cut your own at one of the state’s choose-and-cut tree farms. (Runtime: 1 minute, 41 seconds)

(Audio 11/19/07) Amaryllis bulbs produce large, beautiful flowers around April. The bulbs are available now but should not be planted into the garden yet. You can pot them and grow them indoors on a window sill throughout winter. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Video 10/29/07) On this segment of Get it Growing, LSU AgCenter Horticulturist Dan Gill gladly explains why mums are fabulous fall flowers. (Runtime 1 minute, 28 seconds)

The cold weather we typically receive now through January can cause problems for home and commercial citrus in our area. It is important to know the critical temperatures and the factors affecting them.