Extension Educationin Williamson County

 Have you picked up your fresh pecans yet?  Our Williamson County pecan growers harvested pecans from October through December, and the harvest was fantastic!  Be sure to stop by a local farmers market to get some pecans soon.

In case you don’t know, the pecan is a nutrition powerhouse loaded with vitamins and minerals that are good for heart health and disease prevention. With fiber, protein, and mostly unsaturated fats, pecans are a hearty, satisfying snack low in sugar and carbohydrates. (more…)

I took the opportunity during the sunny weather last weekend to do some pruning on my trees.  Actually, I recruited my dad to help me do some pruning.  I pointed and he cut, and I certainly got the better end of the deal.

January is a great time to prune because many of our trees have lost their leaves, making it easy to see the limb structure.  Late winter is a good time to prune for the health of the tree because it is right before they put on new growth.  You do not want to prune late in the spring after the new growth comes out because a tree uses a lot of its stored energy to put on new growth.  Pruning off the new growth can stunt the tree. (more…)

This week, I received a question from a concerned home gardener about a disease on red tip photinia.  Before I saw the pictures included in the email, I had a good hunch about the culprit.

Red tip photinias became popular in the 1960’s as a privacy screen.  This large shrub has beautiful spring color and can be found lining many fencerows in older homes.  Unfortunately, red tip photinia faces a devastating disease issue called entomosporium leafspot. (more…)

During the winter months, there are a few plants that really get a chance to shine when our deciduous trees and shrubs shed their leaves.  I enjoy seeing the bright green leaves or pops of red from various hollies.

One of my very favorite small trees in the winter is the Possumhaw holly.  I love a plant with a good name, and this certainly has one.  The “haw” part of the name comes from the reddish fruit that looks similar to hawthorn fruits.  The “possum” part of the name comes from a certain furry critter that likes to snack on the fruit. (more…)

One of my favorite parts about wintertime is the fresh citrus available.  Have you ever received a box of Texas grapefruit for a Christmas present? Those are a great treat!

The Lower Rio Grande Valley is known for citrus production.  Orchards were established along the coast as early as the 1880’s.  The Ruby Red grapefruit was developed in the late 1920’s and patented in 1934, leading to a rise in the Texas citrus industry.  At its height in the 1940’s, the Texas citrus industry had more than 100,000 acres planted throughout the Valley. (more…)

Each year, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas Pecan Growers Association hosts the Texas Pecan Show.  The pecan show originated in the 1950’s as a way to teach growers how to grade their pecans for better prices, identify the most outstanding varieties for each region of the state, recognize and award the most successful pecan management programs, and advertise and promote Texas premium quality pecans. (more…)

This year I have talked to a lot of folks who started vegetable gardens for the very first time.  The extra time at home has given families more time to enjoy outdoors, and gardening is a great activity to get some sunshine, exercise, and grow some fresh food.

If you started a garden this year, do not think that the coming of cold weather means the end of your garden.  Fall and winter is a great time for gardening in Texas!  The shorter days and cooler temperatures make this a great time to plant cool season crops. (more…)