Gardening
A bountiful garden is desirable resource. With WVU Extension Service expert advice, learn how to maintain a variety of gardens.
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Gardening Guide
Container Gardening
Growing plants in containers is a great option for anyone limited by space, mobility or soil conditions.
Gardening with Limited Space
Many people do not have a large area to grow a traditional vegetable garden. However, even those who live in a small apartment or have a shared outdoor space can grow vegetables, flowers and herbs in window boxes, small planters or hanging baskets.
Getting Ready for Fall
Putting the garden to bed in fall is the first step to a successful garden the following spring. Around the lawn, fall also makes a good time for some general cleanup and preparation for next year.
Five Recommendations to Prepare for Next YearThree Fall Cleanup Tasks for Next Spring
Growing Basil
Basil is seeded or transplanted outside after the last frost in spring in West Virginia (late May) or earlier if started in a high or low tunnel.
Planting BasilBasil Care & Maintenance
Harvesting Basil
Growing Beets
Beets should be seeded early or late enough in the year to grow under cool weather conditions in West Virginia which favors both yield and quality.
Choosing a BeetPlanting Beets
Growing Beets in High or Low Tunnels
Beet Variety Selection
Harvesting Your Beets
Growing Blueberries for Beginners
Blueberry plants are perennials, so once an initial investment is made, they will keep producing for years if properly cared for and maintained.
Growing Cauliflower
Cauliflower can be grown as a spring or fall crop and it grows best in cool growing environments. Learn suggested varieties for West Virginia.
Growing Melons
Many melon varieties are well-suited to West Virginia’s climate and growing season. When choosing a variety to grow, consider the length of your growing season as well as your flavor preference.
Melon ProductionNutrition of Melons
Choosing Melons
Melon Varieties
Other Considerations for Melons
Growing Popcorn
Two types of popcorn are grown: pearl and rice. Pearl popcorn has round smooth kernels, while rice popcorn kernels are elongated.
Growing PopcornPollination Considerations for Popcorn
Popcorn Cultivars
Disease Concern for Popcorn
Harvest of Popcorn
Popcorn Storage
Popcorn Nutrition & Cooking Considerations
Growing Pumpkins
Pumpkins are members of the cucurbit family, which also includes cucumbers, squash, gourds and melons. More than a billion pounds of pumpkins are produced annually in the United States, primarily for the fall season.
Growing Strawberries for Beginners
As perennial plants, strawberries can be grown in the home garden, raised beds, high tunnels, containers or hanging baskets.
Growing Sweet Corn
Sweet corn is distinguished from other corns by its high sugar content when in the milk, by its early dough stages and by its wrinkled, translucent kernels when dry.
Sweet Corn Planting TimeGrow This
The garden challenge is a way for individuals, families, and groups to grow food, share tips and ideas, and support gardening in our state. Experienced gardeners, people new to gardening, and everyone in between is welcome to be part of the Grow This! Challenge.
Grow Your Own Pizza Garden
Did you know that many pizza ingredients come from the garden? Tomatoes, basil, oregano, sweet bell peppers, garlic and onions are just a few of the vegetables that you might find on a slice of pizza.
Grow Your Own Salad Garden
Fresh, green salads are great when they come fresh from the garden. All great vegetables found in salads are very easy to grow.
Planning Your Garden
Growing a garden can be a relaxing hobby and is an excellent way to provide food for your family.
Raised Bed Gardening
With the sloped terrain in West Virginia, raised beds are an excellent way to use terraced hillsides for gardening.
Setting Up A Garden
In these times of staying at home, growing your own food is seeing a surge in popularity. For the inexperienced gardener, selecting a proper site is the most important first step.
Succulents 101
No longer taking a backseat to more traditional plants, succulents are front and center with homeowners. These water-storing beauties are quickly becoming a favorite, lending to their minimal care and variety of shapes, colors and sizes.
Vegetable Gardening For Beginners
A successful vegetable garden requires time and attention. But, with the right direction and some patience, even a beginner gardener can have a bountiful harvest all season long.
Fall Planting or Spring Planting
People often wonder when the best time to plant is – fall or spring. Both seasons are excellent for planting trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials.
Fall PlantingFall Planting Tips
Spring Planting
Spring Planting Tips
Rooted In Our Heritage
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.
The 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
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.
Browse Garden Calendar ArticlesExtension Master Gardener Program
We’re growing
The WVU Extension Master Gardener Program provides people interested in gardening with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and sharpen their skills by taking part in Basic/Level 1 and Advanced/Level 2 training programs that provide in-depth training in various aspects of horticulture.
The program helps residents better understand horticultural and environmental issues through community engagement in gardening and beautification projects at schools, parks, public institutions, community organizations, and locations throughout the state.
Benefits of becoming a WVU Extension Master Gardener
Among the many benefits for getting involved with the WVU Extension Master Gardener program, here are the highest-ranking ones:
- Getting to know more about gardening and horticulture to expand personal horizons and be able to help others
- Significant improvements in quality of life, including physical activity, social activity, self-esteem and nutrition
- Offers opportunities for professional development through continuing training opportunities
- Meeting like-minded people and engaging in the garden activities you are passionate about
- Opportunities to assume responsibility
- Encourages individual independence
- Gaining respect in the community for your newly developed horticultural skills
- Flexibility to conduct volunteer work