Do You Have Paulding County's Best Home Vegetable Garden?

Think you have the best home vegetable garden in Paulding County? You just might!  But that will depend on the rest of those entering into a contest to determine who cultivates the “Best Home Vegetable Garden in Paulding County in 2014”. 

Did you know you can plant or harvest something from your garden almost all year? The two major planting seasons in Georgia are spring and fall. Some helpful tips for this year’s garden: 

·        Select a site that has full sun exposure and is located near a water supply.

·        Have a soil test done to determine your lime and fertilizer needs. 

·        Water your garden in the morning so foliage will dry off quickly, reducing disease potential.

·        Apply a 2-4 inch layer of mulch to conserve moisture, control weeds and reduce cultivation.

The Paulding County Master Gardener Extension Volunteers are holding the 2014 Contest to find out who will take first place in each of four categories from the entrants received by June 30th.

Judging will be done early in July. The categories are:  Adult Large Garden (over 3,200 sq. ft.), Adult Medium Garden ( over 1,001 sq. ft. to 3200 sq. ft.), Small Adult Garden (less than 1,000 sq. ft. ), and Youth Garden (ages 6 to 18).  First place entrant in each category will receive $100.00 and a plaque engraved with their name.

Sponsors of the Contest are the Farm Bureau, Elrod’s Garden Center, and the Paulding County Master Gardener Extension Volunteers. 

Applications may be obtained online at www.ugaextension.com/paulding or from the Paulding County Farm Bureau located at 549 Hardee Street, Dallas, GA 30132, Elrod’s Garden Center located at 260 Merchants Drive, Dallas, GA 30132, or the County Extension Office at 530 West Memorial Drive, Dallas, GA 30132,  770-443-7616.