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The WVU Extension 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 throughout West Virginia’s 55 counties.
If you have gardening questions or want more information, please contact your county’s WVU Extension office. Be sure to check out information for controlling garden pests year-round as well as related coloring pages and learning activities for even more opportunities.
Enjoy this year’s Garden Calendar!
Download the 2025 Garden Calendar Get a Garden Calendar at Your Local County OfficeWVU Extension is committed to providing reasonable accommodations upon request.
Note: To print as many Garden Calendars as existing funds allow, WVU Extension 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
Controlling Drainage in Your Garden
Water is a very important component to a successful garden, but like all other aspects of growing plants, too much water can be detrimental.
Excessive water can cause seed and root rot, decline in germination and displacement of oxygen, especially when the plants are young. The major contributing factor to poorly drained soil in plant production is inadequate aeration.
Read about Controlling Drainage in Your Garden
Fertilizing the Garden for Thriving Plants
Everyone wants a beautiful lawn or a healthy garden throughout the season. To achieve that goal, one must follow several practices, such as preparing the planting site, providing adequate water, and applying fertilizers and lime following soil test recommendations.
Fertilizer provides plants with necessary nutrients. Most fertilizers contain three macronutrients: nitrogen, which helps plants to grow and is always required regardless of soil test results; phosphate, which helps plants use energy; and potassium, which helps plants resist disease, withstand wetness and grow roots.
Read about Fertilizing the Garden for Thriving Plants
Organic Matter Maintenance for Thriving Soil
Soil organic matter consists of the remains of plants and animals in varying stages of decomposition. Organic matter can fall into one of three types: plant residues and living microbial biomass; active organic matter, otherwise known as detritus; or stable soil organic matter, otherwise known as humus. The living microbial biomass and detritus contribute to the fertility of the soil and the release of nutrients from decomposition. Humus is the end result of decomposition and is considered stable organic matter. This contributes to the structure, tillage, cation exchange capacity and dark color of the soil.
Benefits of maintaining high stable organic matter include physical benefits, such as reducing runoff, easier tillage and increased water holding capacity; chemical benefits, such as increased cation exchange capacity, accelerated mineral availability and increased buffering capacity; and biological benefits, such as increased nutrients for living organisms in the soil and enhanced biodiversity.
Read about Organic Matter Maintenance for Thriving Soil
Soil Health: the Foundation of a Healthy Garden
The foundation to a healthy garden starts underground – in the soil. Soil is a living natural resource, one that requires care to keep plants healthy and thriving. Soil health is measured by a few indicators, all of which work together to create a flourishing garden.
The first measure of soil health is pH, which indicates the acidity of a soil. A soil’s pH is naturally occurring, yet it can be increased by adding lime or decreased with sulfur. Most gardens thrive at a pH between 6.0 to 6.8, because at this level other key elements are made available for plants to uptake in the right doses.
Read about Soil Health: the Foundation of a Healthy Garden
Gardening Wishes for the New Year from our Associate Dean
I have many fond memories of growing up on our family farm in Hardy County. Each spring, my dad would plow a large area behind the house for the garden and my mom would carefully select and buy the plants. Then, when the heat of the day had subsided, we would all head out to plant. My uncle would assist in our efforts by planting beautiful zinnias, that to this day, are my very favorite flower. It truly was a family affair at the farm.
My favorite time was harvesting and preserving our bounty. Time spent in the kitchen with my mom preserving the myriads of products from our labors is a memory I cherish. I try to continue the tradition each summer as physical work and the memories I recall are therapeutic and so very good for my soul.
Read about Gardening Wishes for the New Year from our Associate Dean
Candy Roaster – the Impressive Winter Squash
The Candy Roaster, also referred to as a Permelon or Pink Banana, is a winter squash that remains a staple in many Appalachian gardens. This heirloom is part of the Cucurbita maxima family and has a history as impressive as its flavor. Candy Roasters were cultivated by the Cherokee people in the 1800s, who in turn shared their seeds with those who settled in Appalachia.
The Candy Roaster comes in multiple varieties, hence the multiple names. Candy Roasters cross pollinate easily, leading to more than 40 known varieties and several hybrids that carry the Candy Roaster name. This winter squash can grow in a tubular, round, teardrop or squat shape. Depending on the variety, the harvested crop may come in pink, blue or gray.
Read about Candy Roaster – the Impressive Winter Squash
Cultivating Rich and Unique Bloody Butcher Corn
When thinking of heirloom field corn that holds a significant place in our state’s history, West Virginians cannot help but mention Bloody Butcher Corn, which dates back to the early 1800s.
While most white and yellow corn varieties are harvested at a rate of 190 to 250 bushels per acre, the open pollinated Bloody Butcher is maximized at 100 bushels per acre. The stalks can grow to heights of 12 feet or taller, so wind and hard rains can knock the stalks down easily. Another reason is the corn’s days to maturity reach upward of 100 days. The corn will always produce two ears per stalk that are usually 10 to 12 inches in length.
Read about Cultivating Rich and Unique Bloody Butcher Corn
Experience Coal Camp Heritage Beans
Pole beans are also known as cornfield beans or climbing beans and fall into a category of beans with a slightly larger pod and more prominent string. One such bean that is very desirable is the Coal Camp bean.
Coal Camp is an heirloom pole bean that originated in West Virginia and produces purplish-green colored pods. The plant produces long runs, so a tall trellis is necessary. They are traditionally picked when the seeds are plump but still forming inside the pod and require stringing. Research also has shown that these beans provide more protein and fiber.
Read about Experience Coal Camp Heritage Beans
Bite Into History With the Red York Apple
The Red York apple is a bud mutation of York Imperial, the quintessential Eastern sauce-making apple. The Red York apple was discovered around 1945 in the orchard of John L. Hevener in Roanoke, West Virginia. In fact, the Hevener’s property was where Stonewall Resort is located today.
The story goes that Hevener was walking through his orchard late in the season and saw some red apples on one of his trees. He was intrigued and walked over, picked an apple and bite into it – it was still firm, juicy and sweet despite being so late in the season.
Read about Bite Into History With the Red York Apple
The Historied Mortgage Lifter Tomato
One of West Virginia gardeners’ favorite tomato is the Mortgage Lifter, a pink to red beefsteak variety. But, did you know that the Mortgage Lifter has more than a meaty fruit and an interesting name? Originating from Logan, West Virginia, one popular Mortgage Lifter was developed by Marshall Cletis Byles, aka Radiator Charlie.
The story begins in the 1930s, when Radiator Charlie wanted to develop a better breed of tomato. Charlie planted three varieties – beefsteak, an Italian variety, and an English variety – in a circle around a fourth variety, German Johnson. He saved seeds from the best tomatoes each year and eventually was satisfied with a stable tomato variety that we now know as the Mortgage Lifter.
Read about The Historied Mortgage Lifter Tomato
Fat Man Pole Beans – An Heirloom Favorite
The snap bean is a hardy subsistence crop that has helped to sustain families in the mountains for hundreds of years. This crop, which has origins in Central and South America, is now cultivated throughout the world and is represented by over 130 varieties. These beans are divided into three categories: bush beans, pole beans and half-runners.
Snap beans are often referred to as “string beans,” a name which comes from the notorious fibrous strip that runs length wise of the bean pod. While those strings can be a problem, many West Virginians’ childhood memories are filled with stringing beans during summer evenings on grandma’s front porch.
Read about Fat Man Pole Beans – An Heirloom Favorite
The Classic West Virginia '63 Tomato
The West Virginia ‘63 tomato has been called “the people’s tomato.” Released in 1963 on West Virginia’s 100th birthday, the West Virginia ‘63 was developed by Mannon Gallegly, WVU plant pathology professor. Gallegly was hired by WVU in 1949 and was directed to research vegetable diseases. At the time, late blight was a huge concern for West Virginia farmers and gardeners.
Read about The Classic West Virginia '63 Tomato
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