Remedy for Sick Raspberries
Over the summer months, my raspberries had a virus that was affecting them and killing them off. After searching through my library of garden books at home and finding nothing that would help me save my raspberry canes so I could enjoy the sweet taste of the berries for dessert, I picked up the phone and called up Lucy Ray for help. I was in a bit of a panic.
After all, I spent con-siderable time over the winter months getting the raised beds just right in order to make the raspberry canes happy in their new home. What on earth was the problem?
Lucy is the Jasper County Extension Agent in our county. Each county throughout the state has one, supplied through the University of Georgia’s college of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Dept. Lucy Ray is our resource agent for all things agriculture. If she could not help me, my hopes for enjoying raspberries this year were dashed.
Lucy is new to the county, moving here in June, after teaching a year at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, or ABAC as it is also known. ABAC is located in Tifton. Upon moving here, Lucy has spent the past couple of months learning about the county and our needs. Lucy serves as a resource agent for all of us living in Jasper County, and was most happy to drive out to my house to check out the problem.
After taking some pictures of the plant, Lucy sent the photos off the the University of Georgia for further diagnosis. This was followed by a couple day’s wait, whereupon Lucy called me up and told me what the problem was, and how to correct it. I did just that, and had some healthy looking canes in a matter of days.
That is, until our baby goat finally discovered them, and had some tasty raspberries for an afternoon snack. But that is another story, altogether.
The Extension agent in each county is a wonderful place to have your lawn and garden questions answered. Lucy Ray’s office is located underneath the post office in Monticello on E. Washington St. Lucy recommends bringing in a sample of troubled plants to the office. If not, pictures are also helpful. Another thing Lucy recommends is to have one’s soil sample taken. This sample allows gardeners the opportunity to see what the soil is lacking, as well as what it is rich in. With this information, changes can be made, and plants can live happier.
Also, Lucy is available to come out to homes, as she did mine, in an attempt to examine problems, take examples, and make a diagnosis of what the problem might be. One can contact her at 706 468 6479.
So, when faced with a dying butterfly bush, holes in the leaves of your roses, strange looking insects on your squash, or brown patches in your yard, give Lucy a call. Now, if I can only get the goat to stop eating my raspberries!