In the Garden seeding inspiration By tina will the pandemic began. Many people were happy to find old seed catalogs and v i n t a g e gardening b o o k s because they have more 'how to grow' information and classic botanical drawings than newer Cold Weather Flats Ready, photo by Susan Van de Putte catalogs. More March! A wonderful month when than 150 attended and found it well we enjoy longer days and warming trends, organized by Master Gardeners Joan Pope, but gardeners have to resist the urge to Arlene Wilkinson, Linda Kline, about fifty work a soil that may be too wet and cold. MG volunteers, and VCE/MG Coordinator, Soil temps need to be in the 50's at night Lisa Ellis. (40's for some crops). Consider using clear or black plastic to warm the garden soil So, what does one do with those more quickly. Cool weather crops will have seeds received at the Seed Swap? MG Tracy been started by many, but still need Blevins gave a talk on "Understanding the protection if temps get too low. Some Seed Packet'. Read the packet carefully, or people are having success starting seeds in check on the internet using a prefix of 'ext' plastic milk jugs. These act as small cold or 'edu' to get to the research-based frames, for cool weather vegetables like information. Some seeds need peas, spinach, chard, carrots, and 'scarification' (scratch the surface), others brassicas. VCE publications from ext.vt.edu will need very cold temps before they give helpful information: VA Home Garden sprout. If you are not sure, or can't find Vegetable Planting Guide, and Mulches for the right information, ask a Master the Home Vegetable Garden (Publications Gardener. Our VCE/MGACRA has a 426-331 and 426-326 respectively). monitored helpdesk: Because the goal of Master Gardeners (MG) is to reach the public, it was very gratifying to hear about and see the Seed Swap response on Facebook, and from people who attended our Feb event. Both vegetable and native plant seeds were enthusiastically collected by gardeners, attesting to the increased interest since
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March 2022
winter. I was not prepared when the local grocery store, without power for two days, could not sell their produce due to the too long interruption of the required safe temperature. I had not anticipated such a restriction on vegetables and fruit, and though I do understand, I find it a shame that so much perfectly good food could not be purchased. The lesson for me: grow more of my own food. Does your landscape struggle with too much shade? Our April 2nd Symposium at Gari Melchers Home and Studio is themed: Made for the Shade. Three speakers will address this topic:
Bryce Lane, Jenny Rose Carry, and Geoff Rinehart. Register online or by mail by March 25, 2022; schedule, speaker information, and registration form at: https://www.mgacra.org/2022symposium.html. Encourage your friends to join you; it's always a good investment, and you may help inspire another to begin the gardening adventure.
Tina Will is a Master Gardener and lives in Stafford County. She can be reached at brianandtina.will@gmail.com
VCEStafford.helpdesk@gmail.com. Many people have become new gardeners, or better gardeners, and are seeking sources of good seed to grow what they want. January's heavy snow storm reminded me of the value of having garden produce stored for use during
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