Did you know that composting is beneficial not only for your yard but also for the environment? The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) says, “Recycling food and other organic waste into compost provides a range of environmental benefits, including improving soil health, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, recycling nutrients, and mitigating the impact of droughts.”1 This … Read more
I’ve had many questions this year about our last frost date. The University of Virginia Climatology Office says that here in Richmond, we have a 50% chance of having a frost on or after April 6th and a 10% chance of frost on or after April 23rd. Officially, our last EXPECTED frost date is mid-April. … Read more
Yesterday was St. Patrick’s Day. Did you get a shamrock? We can tell you how to take care of it. But first, a few interesting tidbits about St. Patrick. St. Patrick was NOT Irish. He was born in Britain and was of Roman descent. His birth name was Maewyn Succat. St. Patrick made it to … Read more
So many people want to know when to start seeds, how deep to plant them, or when to plant them. Did you know that the back of the seed packet will tell you all of that? Where to Easily Find Seed Planting Information You Want Here at the Great Big Greenhouse, we carry seeds from … Read more
Did you know the number one way to kill a houseplant? It’s watering! Sometimes underwatering but usually overwatering. So, how do we not kill our plants this way? The Answer to Perfect Watering Is At Your Fingertips One of the best ways to correct your watering is, believe it or not, your finger! When you … Read more
Peas should be planted in central Virginia around the middle of March, so I thought I’d give you some interesting tidbits about these delicious veggies. Well, botanically speaking, they’re technically a seed. The peapods are a fruit! Pea Facts Peas are one of the earliest known domesticated crops—about 11,000 years ago, though they were eaten … Read more
Did you know that by the third week in February, days are almost an hour and a half longer than on the Winter Solstice (December 21st)? Plants, which rely on the sun for photosynthesis, certainly notice. While most plants are not getting enough sun to “actively” start growing, they are getting enough light to wake … Read more
When people buy a new houseplant, one of the first things they often ask is, “When do I repot it?” The correct answer is, “Not yet.” Repotting is a shock to the plant. Taking it home to a new environment is a shock to the plant. Try to give a plant no more than one … Read more
This past Friday was Groundhog’s Day. Were you one of the 30,000 people who traveled to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, for Groundhog Day to see what Punxsutawney Phil had to offer? Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this year and predicted an early spring. So what the heck is a Groundhog, anyway? How often is he … Read more
I’ve been gardening for most of my life. Yes, I took horticulture, but the real education came not in a classroom but in my backyard’s red Virginia clay soil. The wisest gardeners, I believe, are simply those who made the most mistakes—and learned something. Golly, I must be a genius by now. My Early Gardening … Read more
