By: Gary Garner Sr. Like it or not Fall is right around the corner. Summer is slowly ending. Our summer plants are beginning to shut down. Production of summer vegetables is less each day. Tomatoes are smaller with more blemishes. We can try to stretch summer crops but only for so long. Despite…
Vegetable gardens are… HOT and DRY… It’s been a tough start for the vegetable garden season this year. If your garden seems to be struggling, don’t take it personal, you probably have done nothing wrong. It’s just one of “those” years. A few notes about what we are seeing and hearing: Increased Blossom End Rot (BER) Most commonly seen on…
Watering 101 “How often do I water my plant?” is undoubtedly the most frequently asked question about plants and also one of the hardest questions to answer! Here’s the simple answer: Water when the plant gets dry. 9 out of 10 times when we see a watering problem it is due to overwatering – for whatever reason people seem to…
Spotted Lanternflies (SLF’s), originally from China, first appeared in Pennsylvania and are now being found all over Central Virginia. There are still many unknowns so the extent of the damage they may cause. The primary concern at this time is grapes and fruit trees. SLF’s are being found on many ornamental trees also. It remains to seen what all SLF’s…
We often get asked what our favorite variety of tomato is! Here’s each of the Gary’s answers to that question! Gary Sr. Favorite: “Celebrity! A nice sized 8 oz. tomato that keeps well and has a good taste. Great for both canning and fresh eating!” Gary Jr. (Nelson) Favorite: “Cherokee Purple! A great heirloom tomato with the best flavor! The…
We hear so much about problems people have with deer. The last few years, deer have started eating plants they’ve never touched before… It’s not uncommon to hear of 10-15 deer roaming through neighborhoods in the central Virginia area. Deer often take the blame for damage done by other animals such as rabbits, squirrels, and ground hogs. Damage down close to the…
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…
This information will be applicable to most if not all fruiting trees. If you want information on a particular type of fruit let us know and we will be happy to provide more info. While the information should be appropriate for most fruit trees, this article will use apple trees for examples. Root importance, fruiting time, and pollination requirements are…
Small Space Endless opportunity! Most people know that a container garden can yield a plentiful harvest of vegetables but often overlook or forget about fruits…! Fruits can successfully be grown in containers! First and foremost, it’s important to note that fruits prefer full sun. Here’s a quick list of the best fruits to grow in containers: Strawberries Blueberries Blackberries /…
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…
One of the big fall considerations is what should be done to or with our lawns. The last few weeks we have had plentiful rainfall and pleasant temperatures. Most lawns look good, especially for the time of year. With all the rain grass has been growing most of the summer. Lawns have had to be mowed weekly. This brings…