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Currituck County Cooperative Extension Office hosts informational videos on gardening on its YouTube Channel, https://www.youtube. com/currituckces . This photo is from a video on fertilizing your soil.

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VictoryGARDEN

By Nicole Bowman-Layton Albemarle Magazine

While people have been hunkered down at home during the coronavirus pandemic, some tried new hobbies, such as bread making, making homemade cleaning supplies, and even getting to that home improvement project that never seems to get done.

Interest in gardening surged in March, in part due to seasonal changes, but also because of an increasing food supply anxiety amid the coronavirus outbreak.

According to Google Trends, searches for “growing vegetables from scaps” was up 4,650% from years past. Nurseries, home improvement stores and gardening centers in all parts of the country reported that seeds, plants and gardening tools were flying off the shelves. George Ball, the chairman of Burpess Seeds, told Reuters that the company sold more seeds in March than any time in the company’s 144-year history, forcing them to put a hold on new orders for one week to play catchup.The trend also has reached northeastern North Carolina, with local NC State Cooperative Extension Offices noting an increase in inquiries about gardening techniques.

Katy Shook, Horticulture Extension agent based in Chowan County, noted that her office has heard reports of very busy garden centers throughout the region.

Shook runs a regional Master Gardener program that serves Chowan, Gates and Perquimans counties.

“Most of the calls we’ve received are about gardening from a hobby standpoint,” she said of the group’s helpline. “During the stay-at-home orders, people want a way to be outside with their families. We’ve had a few ask for resources to help secure more food at home.”

Cameron Lowe, director of the Currituck County Extension Center, also noted an increase in information requests. “We have seen somewhat of an increase in folks growing their own food in home gardens this year -- which very much excites us! Fresh, whole foods are an important component to a healthy diet.”

The topics of questions vary during the season. Currently the center is fielding a lot of requests for information about tomatoes, Lowe said. The Currituck center hosts videos on different agricultural topics at https://www.youtube.com/ currituckces .

In terms of growing your own garden, July may seem too late to start a garden, but that isn’t so. Shook said northeast North Carolina has two growing seasons.

“Usually there’s a first season where you plant from April to May. In mid-August, you can do a repeat planting of summer crops. Or you can wait until mid-September to October to plant crops for a cool season,” which would be

Albemarle Magazine Summer 2020

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