Squash bug (Anasa tristis) can be the most destructive insect pest of winter squash and pumpkins. Feeding damage results in wilting of vines, often with plants being prematurely killed. Problems are most common in the warmer areas of the state and … [Read more...]
Who Are We? What Do Master Gardeners Do?
Master Gardeners are active in every state and are from all walks of life. In Bedford County, we volunteer on behalf of Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE). Our group is called "BAMGA", which stands for Bedford Area Master Gardeners … [Read more...]
Maximize Your Basil Harvest- 3 Mistakes to Avoid
Do you want your basil plant to be big and lush? Here's some quick tips to ensure you enjoy the largest yield from your basil plants. Check out this YouTube presentation by Stacy Murphy (Sep 14, 2016) … [Read more...]
WEEDS AS INDICATOR PLANTS – WHAT COMMON WEEDS CAN TELL YOU ABOUT YOUR SOIL
Weeds are annoying, but they can also be great indicator plants, telling you what nutrients your garden is lacking or what it has in excess. More: http://Weeds are annoying, but they can also be great indicator plants, telling you what … [Read more...]
Rosette Disease
The client brought in a sample from his rose bush, which has red color, distorted leaves and buds. DIAGNOSIS / RECOMMENDATION The problem was identified as rose rosette disease (RRD). The recommendation is to remove and destroy … [Read more...]
Mulch: Using Colored Plastic Mulches in the Vegetable Garden
As you’ve been flipping through the pages of all the gardening and seed catalogs that landed on your doorstep this winter, chances are you’ve seen a page or two dedicated to plastic mulches in every color of the rainbow. Plastic mulches, particularly … [Read more...]
Champion Trees
A champion tree is the largest known tree of a given species in a particular geographic area. Some champions are very large trees and some champions are rather small. For example, the largest known tree in Maryland, an American sycamore, is more than … [Read more...]
Caring for Your New Plants
Here are some tips from Wildflower Center horticulturists for promoting healthy growth of your new plants: https://www.wildflower.org/learn/how-to/care-for-your-new-plants A note from Bedford Extension Master Gardener KathyN: The Lady Bird … [Read more...]
The Walnut Tree: Allelopathic Effects and Tolerant Plants
Allelopathy is a complex phenomenon which Pliny the Elder, a Roman natural science author, first wrote about in 77 A.D. In his writings he noted the toxic effects of black walnut on neighboring plants in the landscape. More: … [Read more...]
Automatic Watering for Raised Beds
Shame on…me. For ten frivolous years (2008-2018) I relied on an oscillating sprinkler to irrigate the 12 raised beds in my Kitchen Garden. Of course, this same sprinkler watered the paths between the beds. It watered the air, too, whenever the wind … [Read more...]