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The Science of Gardening
The WVU Extension Service Garden Calendar is produced and distributed each year as a service to West Virginia’s many home gardeners and agricultural producers. The annual calendar is just one of many meaningful projects, programs and outreach efforts provided by WVU Extension Service throughout West Virginia’s 55 counties.
If you have gardening questions or want more information, please contact your county’s WVU Extension Service office. Be sure to check out information for controlling garden pests year-round and related learning activities for even more opportunities.
Enjoy this year’s Garden Calendar!
Download the 2021 Garden Calendar Get a Garden Calendar at Your Local County OfficeThe WVU Extension Service is committed to providing reasonable accommodations upon request.
Note: To print as many Garden Calendars as existing funds allow, the WVU Extension Service may not be able to honor web or email requests for mailed calendars. Please contact your nearest county office to get a calendar. Your understanding is sincerely appreciated.
Fresh from the Garden Calendar
A Note from the Dean
Dear Friends of WVU Extension Service,
The past year generated a renewed interest in gardening. Seasoned gardeners poured their hearts and souls into perfecting crops, while the more novice gardeners took this opportunity to try home gardening for the first time. Our Family Nutrition Program received more than 25,000 requests for seeds as part of its “ Grow This! Challenge,” and families enjoyed learning about the benefits of gardening.
Read about A Note from the Dean
Seed Libraries
Seed libraries are a great way to find seeds you need, can’t find anywhere else or would like to try. They also provide a wonderful opportunity for you to share extra seeds you have with other growers in your area.
You may be asking yourself what exactly is a seed library. It’s just that – a library for seeds – and can normally be found at your local library.
Heritage Squash
Squash is one of North America’s oldest cultivated crops. It was originally one
of three primary crops grown by Native American groups.
Today’s squash varieties can be broken up into two main categories: summer and winter. Summer squash includes varieties of yellow squash and zucchini that are picked at an immature stage when the rind is still soft and edible.
Heritage Corn
For centuries, humans have grown grains for food, animal feed and countless other uses. Today, we enjoy our corn roasted, popped, grilled, creamed and made into a longtime favorite of West Virginians, cornbread.
For those wanting that old-timey corn flavor, Golden Bantam is the way to go. This variety is known for early planting and its rich flavor. These stalks only grow to 5 feet tall with two ears that are approximately 6 inches in length. Plant 1 inch deep with 5 to 6 inches between seeds in rows that are 2 to 3 feet apart. When the plants are about 4 inches tall, they will need thinned to 1 foot apart.
Heritage Melons
Melons have long been favored for their sweetness and ease of growing with their cultivation having been documented as far back as ancient Egypt.
Melons are well-suited to West Virginia’s climate and growing season. They are members of the cucurbit family, which includes squash, gourds and cucumbers. Melons are warm season crops and prefer a sunny location with fertile, well drained soil.
Proper Soil Moisture
Typically, soil moisture is out of our control, unless growing crops in a high tunnel or greenhouse. In a perfect gardening world, it would rain as often as the crops need watered but that’s not always the case. Too much water can cause leaching of nutrients and diseases, and not enough water will result in a small harvest or plant death.
If the soil is dry throughout the entire growing season, the best way to retain soil moisture is to amend the top 6 to 12 inches with organic matter, such as grass clippings, worm castings, mushroom compost or straw.
Read about Proper Soil Moisture
Heritage Beans
Beans have been grown in home gardens for years. In fact, beans have a richer genetic diversity in Appalachia than anywhere else in the world.
Heritage beans are versatile beans that can be eaten fresh, shelled fresh or even
shelled as a dry bean. Compared to a commercial snap bean, heritage beans have
more fiber and protein per serving.
Backyard Plant Breeding
Read about Backyard Plant Breeding
Heirloom Tomatoes
The most popular garden crop has always been the tomato. And, heritage tomatoes are ingrained in West Virginia’s history.
The heritage tomato is an open-pollinated cultivar that is grown for a variety of reasons, including food, taste, color, shape, historical interest and saving seeds.
Growing Brambles
Growing heritage brambles may seem daunting, but with a little pruning knowledge, it can be easy. Raspberries, blackberries and all their relatives make for tasty, summer treats.
There are a few things you might want to think about when starting out.
Maintaining a Healthy Soil
Soil health is crucial to the health and yield of your garden. Before planting, it’s recommended to have your soil analyzed for nutrients and pH to ensure optimum plant growth.
The WVU Soil Testing Lab offers this service – all you need to do is collect a representative sample. Finding out how much nutrition needs to be added will limit purchasing excess fertilizer.
Read about Maintaining a Healthy Soil
Where to Begin with Heritage Crops
Successful gardening does not happen immediately. Rather, it’s a step-wise process that requires a mixture of experience, patience and direction. Heritage crops, which have long histories in West Virginia gardens, are an excellent way to start the garden season.
Heritage gardening begins with finding seeds or plants that have a history or are native to Appalachia. Some locally owned garden centers, nurseries and commercial seed companies have a selection of Appalachian heritage or native plants.
Read about Where to Begin with Heritage Crops
Request a Garden Calendar
Visit your local county office to get a copy of WVU Extension's free Garden Calendar.