Last Wednesday was the first “official” day of Summer. Actually, meterologists consider June 1 as the first day of summer. Astronomers consider June 20 (or 21/22 depending on the year) as the first day of summer based on the position of the earth to the sun. It’s the longest day of the year. Every day, … Read more
Just about everybody’s garden contains cucumber plants, so here’s some interesting information: Cucumbers are members of the Cucurbitaceae or cucurbit family. Other family members include watermelons, pumpkins, melons, and squash. Cucumbers are native to India. Christopher Columbus is credited with bringing them to Haiti in 1494. From there, it spread to the Americas. Cucumbers are … Read more
And while you’re at it, check for aphids, Japanese beetles, and black spot fungus! It doesn’t matter whether you’re growing tomatoes and cucumbers or zinnias and black-eyed Susans; there are some things you can do now to ensure your gardens are still going strong in September. Your Garden by the Numbers 1. Make sure you … Read more
Honeybees and butterflies seem to get all the press, but other essential pollinators are out there. Pollinators You May Not Know Are Pollinators Bumblebees Bumblebees are good pollinators. They live in small colonies composed of a queen and her daughters. At summer’s end, they die, leaving only the mated queen. While they can sting, they … Read more
Welcome to Virginia—home of red clay, granite chunks, and critter problems—moles, voles, and deer. And yet, it’s home. I’ve lived here my whole life. I’ve learned that there are several things to think about when I plant. Our Gardening Reality My yard is the best of Virginia—red clay in the front yard and red clay … Read more
From the New World to the Old World to Your Garden – Growing Tomatoes Tomatoes, or Solanum lycopersicum, are native to the New World—found in Central and South American wilds. In 1519, the explorer Hernán Cortés took seeds back to Europe, where they were planted as ornamentals. People were convinced they were toxic because it … Read more
It’s about that time, so I’m reposting a previous blog on common veggie garden insect pests…. WHAT’S BUGGING YOU? Or—who’s been eating my veggies besides me? When I’m out admiring my garden and keeping my eye out for problems, I also look for things like holes in the leaves or chewing damage on the outer … Read more
TI have friends who are into wine-making. They occasionally come to my yard, dig up dandelions, and take them home to make dandelion wine. I’ll never forget visiting them and walking around their huge yard, noting a nice-sized bed of dandelions. There was one lone blue bachelor button growing in the corner. Without even thinking, … Read more
Unfortunately, our commonly grown garden vegetables are prone to specific problems. Tomatoes can get Early Blight, Late Blight, Southern Blight, Gray Leaf Spot, Septoria Leaf Spot, Verticillium Wilt, Anthracnose, Fusarium Wilt, etc., as well as aphids, stink bugs, and tomato hornworms. Cucumber family members (cukes, squash, melons, pumpkins) can get Wilt, Powdery Mildew, Downy Mildew, … Read more
I try to plant at least one new thing every year in my flower and veggie/herb gardens. Over the past few years, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite vegetables. As I continue to try new things, this list is subject to change. Most of my favorite veggies are not necessarily the “standard” varieties. Some … Read more
