Frost and freeze damage affect countless fruit and vegetable growers leading to yield losses and occasionally the loss of the entire crop. Learning how to manage and mitigate losses due to frost is crucial in continuing to grow vegetables... Read … [Read more...]
Heirloom Apple Production
The apple, Malus domestica, has been cultivated in the southern U.S. since the 1600s. These old southern apples performed well in our hot, humid climate and were an important part of the diet of our ancestors. Over 1,800 varieties of apples were … [Read more...]
Saving Seed: Will the seed produce plants similar to the plant it was collected from?
It can be very rewarding to harvest and save seed of ornamental and vegetable plants. But why is it that sometimes when we plant the seed we saved, the results do not seem to be very like the plant we collected the seed from? Read More: Source: … [Read more...]
Virginia’s Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide: Recommended Planting Dates and Amounts to Plant
Selecting appropriate planting dates is a critical component of successful vegetable gardening. Vegetables vary widely in their preferred growing conditions and tolerance to temperature extremes, both cold and hot. Continued: Source: … [Read more...]
The Future of Farming: Artificial Intelligence and Agriculture
Farmers use AI for methods such as precision agriculture; they can monitor crop moisture, soil composition, and temperature in growing areas, enabling farmers to increase their yields by learning how to take care of their crops … [Read more...]
Garden Journaling with Phenology Facts
Where do you find good gardening models, resources, and information on how to care for a garden over time? Old-time gardeners relied on the bloom sequence of common and native plants growing in their local regions to let them know it was safe to sow … [Read more...]
Dealing With Heat Stress: How To Protect Vegetables In Hot Weather
In many parts of the country, gardeners have considerable anxiety when summer temperatures rise, especially when they rise in combination with low rainfall amounts. While some vegetables suffer more than others, all feel some degree of stress with … [Read more...]
‘The pig bomb’: Feral hogs make a great meme, but they are a serious pest in Virginia
In many parts of the country, including Virginia, feral hogs have posed a huge threat to natural habitats and endangered plants and animals, according to DGIF. They multiply fast, have few or no natural predators aside from humans and, once … [Read more...]
Floating Row Cover
An organic gardening tool that improves plant growth and excludes pests... Read more: … [Read more...]
Cover Crops – Protect and Improve Your Soil
Farmers around the world grow cover crops to increase crop yields. Cover crops, also known as green manures, are an excellent tool for vegetable gardeners, especially where manures and compost are unavailable. They lessen soil erosion during the … [Read more...]