Please contact Seth Whitehouse at whitehouse@utk.edu to answer your specific agriculture questions! Or you may search through our various Extension Publications.
There could be a number of reasons from disease to environmental stresses. One of the most common problems is Blossom-end rot that affects the fruit, but you can also view the various foliar diseases that affect tomatoes here: Foliar Diseases of Tomatoes. Reach out to our extension office to provide a correct diagnosis and gather control recommendations.
Pruning is not a one-sized fits all approach and each plant species should be pruned accordingly. Be sure to consult our Best Management Practices for more in depth information and recommended pruning techniques.
The three main types of blueberries grown in Tennessee are northern highbush, rabbiteye, and southern highbush. Rabbiteye blueberries are most recommended for our East TN climate and in residential production. Within the rabbiteye blueberries, there are certain cultivars that have demonstrated excellent performance in Tennessee, which include Premier, Brightwell, Tifblue, and Powderblue. You can learn more about Selecting Blueberries for Residential Production here.
If you are hoping to seed cool-season perennial grasses like Tall Fescue, Ryegrass, Orchardgrass, or Timothy: August 15th to October 15th
If you are hoping to seed warm-season perennial grasses like Bermudagrass or Zoysia: May 1st to July 1st
Improving forage quality for livestock involves a combination of proper soil nutrition, weed control, and understanding forage quality. In Anderson County, soil pH tends to be more acidic and this allows for weeds to potentially outcompete our desired grasses. A soil test is the best way to determine your exact needs. Improving soil fertility will prevent many weeds from encroaching, but timely use of herbicides is warranted based on the weed species present.
Simple Strategies for Profitable Forage Production.
Follow our instructions found here: https://anderson.tennessee.edu/soiltesting/
The Farming Fundamentals course is an online resource that will help your operation to get started on the right foot. There are various modules that focus on livestock basics, financial statements, and farming foundations. If you want to further your knowledge, you can also look into our other various educational programs available HERE.