Almanac Gardener is UNC-TV’s own half-hour, home horticultural series.  Airing annually from April to August, the 20-week series is one of the statewide public television network's longest-running original programs, celebrating its 26th season in 2009.

Over the course of each half-hour episode, Almanac Gardener plants fertile ideas for keeping even the smallest gardens green with segments featuring the latest local gardening tips, techniques and insights.

Specifically this season, amid the stressful economy, the long-running series focuses on saving your money with informative segments highlighting home vegetable planting and preparing fresh vegetables right from the garden.

Series host Mike Gray and experts from the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service answer viewer questions and feature helpful, how-to segments produced in locales throughout the Tar Heel State.

Regular Almanac Gardener Extension panelists include:

• Karen Neill, Horticultural Agent, Guilford County;
• Linda Blue, Horticultural Agent, Buncombe County;
• Bill Lord, Environmental Agent, Franklin County;
• Lucy Bradley, Urban Horticultural Specialist, NCSU;
• Stephen Greer, Horticultural Agent, Forsyth County;
• Charlotte Glenn, Horticultural Agent, Pender County; and
• Amy Lynn Albertson, Horticultural Agent, Davidson County.               

Throughout the season, Almanac Gardener focuses on other timely topics facing both urban and rural gardeners.  Features include Starting a Spring Garden, Growing Spring Lettuce, Growing Broccoli, Growing Cabbage, Asheville Farmers Tailgate Market, Preparing Greens, Preparing Cabbage, Preparing Turnips, Preparing Collards, Preparing Sweet Potatoes, Water Independence/Going Off the Grid, Building Planting Beds to Conserve Water, Drought Tolerant Plants, Xeriscaping, Gardening for Exercise,  Reducing Stress by Using the Right Gardening Tools, Taming a Swarm of Bees, and much more!

And for bushels of online gardening information, links to great gardening sites, and a guide to the Cooperative Extension Service Centers in your area, don't forget to visit North Carolina State University's informative Consumer Horticulture website.