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Black cohosh is a member of the Ranunculaceae family. It is a native medicinal plant found in rich woodlands from as far north as Maine and Ontario, south to Georgia, and west to Missouri and Indiana. It is a popular woodland botanical that is wild-harvested throughout its native range. In North Carolina it can be found at elevations up to 4,000 feet and is most common in the western part of the state. The demand for black cohosh as a medicinal herb is increasing and the industry is looking for more forest farmed black cohosh to meet the rising demand.
This publication discusses growing and harvesting bloodroot, a spring wildflower used to produce natural red, orange, and pink dyes, in North Carolina. It can grow in full sun, but is more often found in semi-shaded, light-wooded areas with moist, acidic soil. The root, consisting of a thickened rhizome covered with fibrous roots, is known for its reddish-orange color.
This publication focuses on the production and harvest of head lettuce, one of the most important salad vegetables grown in the United States, with per-capita consumption exceeding 25 pounds annually. In North Carolina, head lettuce can be produced as both a spring and fall crop in eastern regions of the state and, under favorable conditions, during midsummer in western North Carolina.
Herbs should be harvested when the oils responsible for flavor and aroma are at their peak. Proper timing depends on the plant part you are harvesting and the intended use. For example, herbs grown for their foliage should be harvested before they flower. Harvest herbs grown for seeds as the seed pods change in color from green to brown to gray but before they shatter (open). Collect herb flowers, such as borage and chamomile, just before full flower. And harvest herb roots, such as bloodroot, chicory, ginseng, and goldenseal, in the fall after the foliage fades.
If treated properly, many herb plants will survive in the garden for a number of years. Others are sensitive to frost or severe cold weather and must be brought indoors, protected, or replanted each year. In North Carolina, annual herbs will be killed with the first hard frost in the fall. With a little extra care and attention, many perennial herbs will survive the winter and survive in the garden for many years.
Onion is a cool-season crop that tolerates moderate freezing temperatures and is well adapted to North Carolina growing conditions. It can be established either by direct seeding in the field or by transplanting seedlings, with each system offering advantages depending on management goals and field conditions. North Carolina growers are well positioned to supply the fresh market in June and July, a period when onion availability from other production regions is limited. Under good management, yields typically range from 400 to 800 (50-lb) sacks per acre, depending on weather conditions, cultivar selection, and cultural practices. During this harvest window, large, well-graded bulbs often command a market premium, making careful management of planting date, fertility, and irrigation particularly important for profitability.
Much success in growing tomatoes can be attributed to use of a few proven techniques. Choosing a variety that has proven to be a true performer should be at the top of every gardener's list. Better Boy, Whopper, Celebrity, and Mountain Pride are among some of the best selections. Better Boy, Celebrity, and Whopper are VFN, which means they carry resistance to verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt, and root-knot nematodes. It is best to experiment with several varieties in order to find the ideal tomato for your taste buds.
Luffa are tropical, vining plants that produce large fruits similar to cucumbers. When young and small the fruit can be cooked and prepared like summer squash. When the fruit mature, they have a rough, fibrous interior which is referred to as the sponge and is used to make a wide variety of products. Currently, luffa sponge products are most popular as personal care products and are readily available in the cosmetic and bath sections of department stores, discount stores, pharmacies, and specialty shops. This factsheet covers how to plant, harvest, and process luffa gourds in a temperate environment.
Ramps, also known as wild leeks, are native to the eastern North American mountains. They can be found growing in patches in rich, moist, deciduous forests and bottoms from as far north as Canada, west to Missouri and Minnesota, and south to North Carolina and Tennessee. In early spring, ramps send up smooth, broad, lily-of-the-valley-like leaves that disappear by summer before the white flowers appear. The bulbs have the pleasant taste of sweet spring onions with a strong garlic-like aroma.
In North Carolina, pole beans are grown commercially in the mountain counties and, on a limited scale, in a few of the eastern counties. They are produced in home gardens throughout the state. With the rising interest in heirloom vegetables, pole beans are increasing in popularity. Pole beans are grown for their distinctive flavor, long pods, high yield, long harvesting season, and high price.
This publication discusses weeds common to watermelon and how to control them. Weed management strategies include mechanical control, cultural control, and herbicide recommendations for grasses and broadleaf weeds such as Palmer amaranth and sedge weed species.
This factsheet covers commercial goldenseal production in North Carolina, a highly valued medicinal herb which has been collected from the forests in North America for hundreds of years. The historical range for goldenseal in the United States was very broad, ranging from as far north as Vermont and Wisconsin, south to Alabama and Georgia, and west to Kansas. It can still be found growing in patches in moist, rich, hardwood forests in much of this area.
Many organic vegetable farmers are interested in producing sweet corn. Organic sweet corn can be grown in North Carolina and throughout the Southeast, but special considerations for variety selection, insect and disease control, economics, and markets must be made for it to be a profitable crop.
Producing asparagus crowns for sale or on-farm use is a straightforward and potentially profitable enterprise. Close attention to the production practices outlined here is essential to ensure compliance with certified plant production standards. Certified crowns are more marketable and typically command a premium price. One-year-old crowns are well suited for establishing vigorous and productive asparagus plantings.
Tomato is a warm-season crop that, when managed using appropriate production practices, can reach first harvest in as little as 65 days. By selecting adapted cultivars and implementing season-specific management strategies, tomato plants can be in the field from Mid-April through October. Although tomato production requires significant investments in time and labor, increased management intensity is typically rewarded with higher yields, improved fruit quality, and greater economic returns.
At the national level, processing-tomato production remains concentrated in a few key regions. California continues to dominate, with approximately 11.3 million tons growing on 226,000 acres in 2024. The Midwest, particularly Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan, hosts a smaller but established processing-tomato sector that supplies regional processors through contract production. North Carolina possesses comparable climatic and edaphic conditions to some of these regions and could feasibly support processing-tomato production.
