Greg Grant Gardens

05/31/2026

Fruit Woes (Greg Grant, 5-31-26)
It’s been a tough year for fruit trees. Here’s an excerpt from my friend Dr. Tim Hartmann’s Texas Fruit Newsletter. Tim is our Extension Fruit Specialist in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University:
“As we approach the end of the spring season, it’s becoming more and more evident how yields are shaping up for different fruit crops. Unfortunately, it’s not looking good for many. While it’s safe to say that there’s no such thing as a “normal year”, weather-wise in Texas, 2026 has so far proven highly unusual. With the exception of an unseasonably cold stretch in the latter half of January, this past winter was notably warm. Of course, this raised concerns about winter chilling. On the flip side, the hard freezes on January 25-27 and frost (for many) on March 17th were also sure to bring challenges. Peach growers across the state noticed the tell-tell signs of insufficient chilling: delayed bud break; reduced bloom; sparse foliage development; poor fruit set; lots of small “nubbins” or “second crop” that fail to size; excessively pointy fruit. What’s interesting about this situation is that, based on the numbers (at least the “Old 45°F Model”), we should have fared better. However, closer examination revealed several complications.”
“Much of the chill hours that were logged during the late January cold snap occurred when temps were below freezing. Studies have also shown that a given amount of chilling over the winter is not as effective if it’s all received toward the end. Also, the unusually, often record, warm temps over much of the winter likely resulted in negation of much of the previously accumulated chill. Another factor that should not be overlooked is the fact that the warm fall and December resulted in the retention of foliage on many crops as late as January, which has been documented as inhibiting chilling accumulation. Lastly, while last summer was generally mild and wet, the onset of heat and drought in early fall and resulting stress didn’t put plants in a good position going into the winter. All this has resulted in many crops responding as if they were 200 or even 300 chill hours below average. These effects extended into crops that usually aren’t of as much concern like blackberries, particularly some of the newer varieties. As if this wasn’t bad enough, the frost on March 17th took out many of the early-blooming peach varieties whose low chilling requirements were actually satisfied. Simply put, we were hit from “both ends” this year. That same frost also proved devastating for most blueberry growers in East Texas who did not have frost protection in place.”
“As we move further into a season with a reduced berry crop and light/spotty stone fruit crop for many growers, we’re looking for a silver lining. For many, the freeze in January wasn’t hard enough to inflict severe damage on marginally hardy fruit like figs and pomegranates. The outlook for pear and apple varieties that received adequate chilling also appears positive. The strawberry crop has been moderate to good. Lower-chill crops like Asian persimmon and pecan that tend to be later-blooming also look good. The woes of this season also serve as a reminder to carefully consider chilling requirements for variety selection and to try to stay as close as possible to what’s expected for your area.”
To subscribe to his expanded quarterly Texas Fruit Newsletter email Dr. Hartmann at [email protected].
Greg Grant, Ph.D., is the Smith County horticulturist and Master Gardener coordinator for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Tyler. He is the author of Texas Fruit and Vegetable Gardening, Texas Home Landscaping, Heirloom Gardening in the South, and The Rose Rustlers. You can read his “Greg’s Ramblings” blog at arborgate.com, find his “In Greg’s Garden” column in each issue of Texas Gardener magazine (texasgardener.com), or follow him on Facebook at “Greg Grant Gardens” or “Pines, Pawpaws, and Pocket Prairies.” More science-based lawn and gardening information from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service can be found at aggieturf.tamu.edu and aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu, or by contacting the Smith County Master Gardener Help Desk at 903-590-2994 or [email protected].
Image caption: Tim Hartmann is our Extension Fruit Specialist at Texas A&M University.

05/30/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkrejGxDBLs

Some plant varieties may be difficult to find in local nurseries, but Greg Grant provides tips on how to harvest your own seeds, allowing you to cultivate mo...

05/28/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqeOdcruZWA Me yapping about roses at our Heritage Rose Garden.

Unlock the secrets to successful rose gardening by learning how to identify and effectively tackle common problems that may arise.

05/24/2026

Would You Like to be a Master Gardener? (Greg Grant, 5-24-26)
The award-winning Smith County Master Gardener volunteer educator program (txmgsc.org) is seeking applicants to join a highly trained corps of enthusiastic volunteers to assist the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in providing horticultural education to East Texans.
Do you enjoy gardening? Do you like sharing your interest in gardening with others? Do you like answering questions, public speaking, teaching, writing, conducting workshops, or talking on the phone? Would you like to learn more about the culture and maintenance of many kinds of both ornamental and edible plants? Would you like to participate in intensive horticultural training? Do you have time to attend a three-month training course from 9-4 each Thursday, starting January 7, 2027? Are you willing to complete 72 hours of prescribed volunteer work for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Smith County within one year of training and continue volunteering each year?
If you answered yes to all these questions, the Texas Master Gardener program (txmg.org) is for you. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is accepting applications from Smith County residents who would like to receive horticultural training and use their knowledge and experience to teach others about the many aspects of Earth-Kind gardening.
The Smith County Master Gardener program is a volunteer endeavor through which trained volunteers provide science-based and research-based gardening information to the residents of Smith County. This is done through various programs and activities such as workshops, conferences, speaking engagements, school gardens, demonstration gardens, plant trials, written articles for publications and social media, along with answering individual requests for gardening information at the Smith County Master Gardener Help Desk.
Participants become certified Master Gardeners after completing both the 3-month training and a 12-month internship. The certification lasts for one year and is renewed through ongoing volunteer participation and required continuing education. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Youth Protection Standards, all Master Gardeners are required to pass a mandatory initial background check, with updates every 3 years.
If interested, your first steps are to contact Amanda Southard at [email protected] to have your name placed on our interest list and then to apply online at evs.tamu.edu.
All applications must be submitted online by September 1, 2026. Not all applicants will be accepted into the program. Class size is limited, and preference will be given to qualified Smith County residents with gardening experience, dedication to educating others, enthusiasm, and time to volunteer.
The 2027 Smith County Master Gardener class will begin Thursday, January 7. Classes will be held every Thursday at the Cotton Belt Building (1517 W. Front St.) from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. through March 25, 2027. The $203 fee includes the 450-plus page Texas Master Gardener Handbook, handouts, refreshments, instructors’ honoraria, and travel expenses for visiting specialists.
A mandatory orientation meeting for all potential Master Gardener trainees will be held at the Smith County AgriLife Extension office classroom (1517 W. Front St.) on June 16 from 10:00-12:00, July 15 from 2:00-4:00, or August 7 from 1:00-3:00 (choose one). If you have questions, call the Smith County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office at (903) 590-2980.
Greg Grant, Ph.D., is the Smith County horticulturist and Master Gardener coordinator for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Tyler. He is the author of Texas Fruit and Vegetable Gardening, Texas Home Landscaping, Heirloom Gardening in the South, and The Rose Rustlers. You can read his “Greg’s Ramblings” blog at arborgate.com, find his “In Greg’s Garden” column in each issue of Texas Gardener magazine (texasgardener.com), or follow him on Facebook at “Greg Grant Gardens” or “Pines, Pawpaws, and Pocket Prairies.” More science-based lawn and gardening information from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service can be found at aggieturf.tamu.edu and aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu, or by contacting the Smith County Master Gardener Help Desk at 903-590-2994 or [email protected].
Image caption: Smith County Master Gardeners are volunteer educators trained and coordinated by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

05/22/2026

https://youtube.com/shorts/a_gRuGDJxds?si=4NVVE2o2MWTUmEor

The Smith County Master Gardeners engaged in an enlightening conversation with Greg Grant, Smith County's AgriLife Horticulturist, about his innovative creat...

05/17/2026

Periwinkle Blight (Greg Grant, 5-17-26)
Periwinkles have long been one of our most dependable summer bedding plants, brightening East Texas landscapes with months of cheerful color. For generations, gardeners counted on them the way we counted on bachelor buttons and zinnias. Because they evolved in a hot, dry climate, they thrived in heat, tolerated drought, and bloomed without complaint from spring until frost. That reputation took a hard hit when a disease known as aerial phytophthora, or periwinkle blight, arrived on the scene. Since then, many gardeners have learned the hard way that many of today’s periwinkles are not the carefree plants they once were.
Aerial phytophthora is a water-mold disease that attacks the stems and foliage of Madagascar periwinkle, also called vinca. Unlike root rots that stay below ground, this one splashes upward. It often begins with a single wilted branch that looks thirsty even when the soil is moist. Soon the entire plant collapses, turning brown almost overnight. Gardeners often assume they underwatered or overwatered, but the real culprit is a microscopic organism that thrives in warm, wet conditions.
Plant pathologists often explain disease using the disease triangle. For any plant disease to occur, three things must be present: a susceptible host, a pathogen, and the right environmental conditions. Remove any one side of the triangle and the disease cannot take hold. Unfortunately, with periwinkle blight, all three sides tend to line up perfectly in our East Texas summers.
The host is certainly present. Many periwinkle varieties are beautiful but highly susceptible to aerial phytophthora. The pathogen is also present. Once introduced into a landscape, it can linger in soil, mulch, and plant debris. The final side of the triangle is the environment, and this is where gardeners have the most influence. Aerial phytophthora needs moisture on the leaves and stems to infect the plant. Every time water splashes from soil to foliage, the disease gains an opportunity to spread.
That is why irrigation practices play such a large role in whether periwinkles survive. Overhead sprinklers, especially those that run in the evening, create ideal conditions for infection. Water sits on the leaves overnight, giving the pathogen plenty of time to invade. Frequent light watering keeps the soil surface damp, which encourages spores to move upward. Even heavy rains can trigger outbreaks when plants are crowded or mulched too deeply.
Gardeners who still want to grow periwinkles can tilt the disease triangle in their favor by managing moisture. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses keep water off the foliage. Morning watering allows leaves to dry quickly. Proper spacing improves air flow and reduces humidity around the plants. Planting in raised beds helps water drain away rather than linger. To be honest, I water periwinkles when I plant them and almost never again. Removing and disposing of infected plants promptly (sanitation) keeps the pathogen from spreading to healthy ones.
There is some good news, however. The Cora Series was bred for improved resistance to aerial phytophthora. Even better, the newer Cora XDR line offers an additional level of resistance, making it the best option currently available for gardeners determined to keep periwinkles in their summer beds. The challenge is availability. If you spot them for sale, grab them.
Periwinkles remain beautiful plants, but they now require thoughtful care and careful watering. By understanding the disease triangle and how moisture encourages aerial phytophthora, gardeners can make informed choices and give their periwinkles the best chance to shine through our typically hot, dry summer.
Greg Grant, Ph.D., is the Smith County horticulturist and Master Gardener coordinator for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Tyler. He is the author of Texas Fruit and Vegetable Gardening, Texas Home Landscaping, Heirloom Gardening in the South, and The Rose Rustlers. You can read his “Greg’s Ramblings” blog at arborgate.com, find his “In Greg’s Garden” column in each issue of Texas Gardener magazine (texasgardener.com), or follow him on Facebook at “Greg Grant Gardens” or “Pines, Pawpaws, and Pocket Prairies.” More science-based lawn and gardening information from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service can be found at aggieturf.tamu.edu and aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu, or by contacting the Smith County Master Gardener Help Desk at 903-590-2994 or [email protected].
Image caption: Periwinkle blight is a deadly fungal disease encouraged by frequent watering.

05/12/2026

My latest blog is about daylilies.

Daylilies have a way of settling into Southern gardens as if they’ve been there forever. They’re dependable, forgiving, and generous with their blooms, which is probably why they’ve become one of the most widely grown perennials in the country. But behind their easygoing nature lies a rich his...

05/10/2026

Beat the Heat Library Lecture (Greg Grant, 5-10-26)
Every spring, East Texas gardeners set out with big plans and bigger hopes. Seedlings go into the ground, raised beds are mulched, and optimism is high. By fall, that enthusiasm fades. Many gardeners are frustrated, discouraged, and convinced they simply “don’t have a green thumb.”
When those conversations start, the complaints are familiar: extreme heat, endless humidity, bugs, diseases, and fire ants that appear to have organized themselves into an army. Gardeners are excellent at complaining, but they are also remarkably understanding of each other’s struggles, because every gardener has struggled. There is a simple truth that often brings relief: it isn’t personal. Gardening in East Texas is genuinely challenging.
One obstacle we can count on year after year is summer heat. As July slides into August, and often well into September, our gardens face a punishing combination of high temperatures, humidity, and often drought. Yet many gardeners are still trying to coax peppers, peas, and other vegetables through conditions that are far from ideal. In cooler climates, gardeners would have already given up. Here, we keep pushing on.
The good news is that we are not without help. Decades of research, plant breeding, and field testing by Texas A&M AgriLife have given us practical tools to manage heat stress and improve success. Understanding how plants respond to heat is the first step. Some wilting during the hottest part of the day is normal and temporary. Other signs, such as persistent wilting, leaf scorch, and blossom drop, signal that plants are under serious stress and need adjustments.
Fortunately, many of the most effective solutions are simple. Proper mulching keeps soil cooler and conserves moisture. Deep, slow watering encourages stronger root systems. And certainly when is absolutely critical. Planting species that prefer cooler temperatures during the summer is a recipe for disaster. Plant selection plays an oversized role. Some vegetables and varieties are far better adapted to heat and humidity than others. Choosing plants suited for East Texas can mean the difference between frustration and productivity.
These topics, along with many practical strategies, will be covered on May 15 at noon at the Tyler Public Library, where Elizabeth Waldrop, Smith County Master Gardener and longtime East Texas gardener, will present “Gardening to Handle the Heat” as part of the Master Gardeners at the Library lecture series. Waldrop brings years of hands-on experience and AgriLife-based knowledge focused on helping gardens not just survive summer but remain productive.
With the right expectations and tools, gardeners can have success, even during an East Texas summer. And if next year you find yourself complaining about sweet potato vines all over the place or neighbors avoiding you because you’re giving away okra, rest assured that is a much better problem to have.
Greg Grant, Ph.D., is the Smith County horticulturist and Master Gardener coordinator for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Tyler. He is the author of Texas Fruit and Vegetable Gardening, Texas Home Landscaping, Heirloom Gardening in the South, and The Rose Rustlers. You can read his “Greg’s Ramblings” blog at arborgate.com, find his “In Greg’s Garden” column in each issue of Texas Gardener magazine (texasgardener.com), or follow him on Facebook at “Greg Grant Gardens” or “Pines, Pawpaws, and Pocket Prairies.” More science-based lawn and gardening information from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service can be found at aggieturf.tamu.edu and aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu.
Image caption: Okra and southern peas are both heat tolerant and productive.

05/07/2026

I'm not great at it but I'll be sharing my experience with iNaturalist and how to get started identifying both plants and pollinators if you'd like to join us in Tyler at the Cotton Belt Friday, July 17.