SPRING THOUGHTS By: Gary Garner Sr. Spring is now here. If you are an avid gardener, then you are ready to get outside and start digging and planting. Doesn’t it feel good to get your hands dirty? Many of us have taken advantage of the early warm days to deal with some of our outdoor tasks. We have…
Vegetable Gardening 101 By: Gary Garner Sr. It’s that time of the year and anyone that gardens even a little has the itch to get outside and starting to play in the soil and get something in the ground. The ones of us that have gardened most, if not all our lives, know the basics…
USDA Hardness Zone Updates In November 2023, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released an updated Plant Hardiness Zone map! Central Virginia remains firmly in zone 7 Much of the area shifted to the slightly warmer zone 7b (5° to 10° F) Small pockets remain in 7a (0° to 5° F) What this means for Central Virginia’s Gardeners: All…
I’M THINKING FALL By: Gary Garner Sr. It’s nearly ninety degrees and the sun is shining. Yes, its early August and summer gardens are still at peak production. Summer flowers are gorgeous. All the weather signs say its summer and it is. However, if we are going to have nice fall flowers and vegetables it is time to start…
A common myth: Wilted plants always need more water… FALSE! Plants often wilt due to heat… in nurseryman’s terms it is called a “heat wilt”. Leaves may go limp and wilt because they are losing water faster than they can replenish it. However, that doesn’t always mean the plant needs water. If the soil is moist, a plant that is…
Spring has Sprung! By: Gary Garner Sr It’s now spring. By the calendar and by signs from Mother Nature. Mother Nature sent her spring signs early this year. Many spring blooming trees and shrubs have already bloomed or are now in bloom. Winter dormant perennials are beginning to poke out new growth. Lawns have…
Grow Vegetables. Save Money! Grocery prices are sky rocketing and supply chain issues are leaving many wondering not only “Can I afford groceries?” but also “Will the store even have what I want?” As a result, more and more people are turning to vegetable gardening to save money and ensure a plentiful supply of fresh, healthy vegetables. To give you…
SPRING CRAZY By: Gary Garner Sr. Gardner’s mostly are simple, positive, happy people. We generally try to make the world a better place. Yet, all too many times, in our eagerness to do so we fall a little on the crazy side. I will likely be taken to task for that remark. Think about it, how can you…
Surviving Summer Heat By: Gary Garner Sr. Summer is officially here. If the summer is anything like the beginning, it is going to be extremely warm if not hot. So far, the number of 90-degree days is unusually high. The question now is how, when and how much do we water what we have planted and what else can we…
DIFFERENT TASTES IN VEGETABLES By: Gary Garner Sr. Do you ever wonder why you plant a certain variety of tomato one year, then plant the same one the next year, but the tastes don’t seem to be the same as the ones you grew the previous year? We’ll use tomatoes for our example but the same is true for all of your…