It seems as though the sweltering heat of summer has come early to suppress us all in a lazy, hazy fog. I know I certainly avoid being outside as much as I can when the thermometer tops 90 degrees. Merely sitting — even in the shade — can leave you a sticky, sweaty mess. There’s one way to beat the sultry summer blues, though. Think … Continue reading Escape summer by thinking fall
People of a certain age may have fond memories of puckering up after eating a tart gooseberry, freshly harvested from the bush. These days, gooseberries are a rarity, thanks to some restrictions — and myths about restrictions — about growing them all over the state of West Virginia. In fact, I mentioned writing about gooseberries this week to some 20-somethings in my office, only to … Continue reading Forbidden fruits? Gooseberries, currants get a bad rap
Eating fresh produce from the garden is truly one of the pleasures of the season. Fresh salads, tomatoes, peppers and onions highlight the summer table. I can still remember the first big Sunday dinner of the summer at my grandparents’ house — a table full of nothing but corn on the cob, green beans cooked with new potatoes (with, of course, some form of pork), … Continue reading Plan ahead to preserve the harvest
Let’s take a moment to talk about the birds and the bees. You heard right — the birds and the bees. Now before you get your head too far into the gutter, let me clarify. We are literally talking about birds and bees and other pollinators. And it’s a great time to talk about pollinators, since this coming week is celebrated as National Pollinator Week. … Continue reading Pollinators play important ecosystem role
Weeds seem to occupy the minds of gardeners for a great deal of the growing season. There are weeds in the landscape, weeds in the vegetable garden, weeds in the lawns … weeds, weeds and more weeds. Some people let the weeds preoccupy them for most of the gardening season, while others really couldn’t care less. Sometimes I just shake my head as I see … Continue reading Controlling weedy foes in the garden
As I drive through Charleston and other places, I can’t help but notice a plague affecting many of the trees in lawns and landscapes. This plague isn’t spoken about much, but it leaves deformed, weakened and vulnerable trees in its wake. The sad thing is, this plague is completely avoidable. I’m not talking about a fungal disease or an insect, though we have plenty of … Continue reading Ugly truth: Over-pruning does lots of damage to trees
Now that warm weather is (supposedly) here to stay, it’s time to turn our attention to the more fair-weather members of the vegetable garden team. I would say that it is finally safe to plant peppers, beans, corn, cucumbers, squash and the like. But the one thing most people are really excited about planting is tomatoes. I’m not sure why planting tomatoes creates so much … Continue reading Growing your best tomato
If you take a look around any garden center the week leading up to Mother’s Day, you’ll see lots of flowers and plants flying off the shelves in preparation to be given as gifts to dear old Mom. Roses are a common gift, but so are container plants and hanging baskets. Container gardening is more popular than ever, thanks in part to recent garden trends … Continue reading Container gardening brightens small spaces
Most people know that my day job is serving at the agriculture extension agent for WVU Extension Service in Kanawha County. Some people might even know what that means, while I bet a great many people have no idea what extension is or how it works. This week, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Smith-Lever Act by President Woodrow Wilson, which … Continue reading Extension Service marks 100 years
Many people ask me what my best suggestion is for starting a vegetable garden. Hands down, the first suggestion that comes out of my mouth is to garden in raised beds. There are just too many benefits to raised beds not to make them a serious part of your garden. For a modest up-front investment of money, time and labor, you can enjoy years of … Continue reading Raise your garden to the next level
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