So you just bought a new plant—or you’ve got one at home that isn’t doing what you think it ought to be doing. These are some things you should not do: Don’t repot a stressed plant. That’s just adding to the stress. The exception would be a broken pot or a plant that has major … Read more
SPRING WILL OFFICIALLY BE HERE IN APPROXIMATELY 46 DAYS GROUNDHOG DAY JUST HAPPENED: GROUNDHOG POPS US (Sung to: “I’m a little teapot”) HERE’S A LITTLE GROUNDHOG, FURRY AND BROWN, HE’S POPPING UP TO LOOK AROUND. IF HE SEES HIS SHADOW, DOWN HE’LL GO. THEN SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER – OH NO!! So, did he … Read more
This coming Thursday is Groundhog’s Day. So here are a few interesting facts about Groundhogs. Groundhogs are also known as Woodchucks. The name “Woodchuck” has nothing to do with wood at all. It is based on the Native American word for them which is “Wuchak.” Groundhogs (Marmot monax) are not related to hogs at all, but … Read more
WOOD ASHES: GOOD IDEA OR A BAD IDEA? Quick answer to the question above is—GOOD IDEA, but to use IN MODERATION. Like with most everything, knowledge is key in doing it right and with success. After that cold spell over the holidays, many used their fireplaces and wood stoves to keep warm. As a result, they … Read more
This is a great time to start thinking about starting seeds. Seed packets will tell you to start six to eight weeks before your average last frost date for tomatoes and peppers. Some people will tell you mid-April is our last frost date. I’ll remind you that last year we had frost after the first … Read more
HOW WOULD YOU RATE OUR WINTER SO FAR? What actually constitutes how we rate our winters in Virginia? I think it depends on who we ask. Personally, my vote is that we are having a good winter. I base my vote solely on the temperatures—especially here in January. Where I grew up along Lake Erie, … Read more
As I was going through the seed racks here to pick out a few favorites to start indoors in a couple of weeks, I decided to do a blog on my favorite varieties. Two words you need to know first—determinate and indeterminate. A determinate tomato is a BUSH—it produces a large crop in a shorter … Read more
JANUARY IS A GOOD MONTH TO SIT BACK, RELAX, AND PLAN YOUR GARDEN STRATEGY FOR THE UPCOMING SPRING SEASON Let’s talk about December before we get into talking about January. Our daily temperatures hovered around normal. We did get a great soaking rain on the 15th of December—I live in Midlothian and we got over … Read more
Outside If you have any flowers, trees, or shrubs in pots, do remember to check them for water every week or so—you may not need to water, but at least check them. We have dry spells even in winter. This especially holds true for plant in pots under overhangs or on covered porches (rain doesn’t … Read more
YEAR ROUND CONTAINER GARDENING HAS BECOME A STRONG GARDENING TREND Yes, container gardening is very popular. Yes, container gardening can be done year round here in Central Virginia. Yes, each or our four seasons gives our container gardens their own challenges. These past couple of weeks I have had numerous customers ask about what they … Read more
