I'm looking to source soy hull pellets for soil amendment purposes. I haven't had any luck looking at the usual suspects, like home improvement stores or Tractor Supply. I'd prefer to get them in-person somewhere around Richmond, locally-produced if at all possible. Anybody know?

Hi all,

New'ish gardener here.

I have potatoes that are starting to sprout. I was planning to use them next spring, but we are months away from that and its just now starting to get cold. Will they last the winter and be viable or should I just consume them now?

I just moved into my first house in northern Virginia with a yard after years of apartment living - and I want to grow something!

I got a large raised planter that has a couple small herbs in it now, but I'd like to try my hand at planting one thing for fall that would produce before winter. Maybe a salad green of some kind?

What seeds could I plant in early September that may be easy enough for a beginner to try and make something edible before the winter? I've been reading a lot on Reddit and the master gardener websites but I'm totally overwhelmed by all of the options.

I have a lot of compost and a lot of VA red clay soil (I believe its called Ultisol). Can I use a combination of the two as a growing medium, especially in a raised bed?

If so, any recommendations on what to grow?

Beginner gardener here wondering if there are any books this sub would suggest for starting out in the area? Was hoping for something that has what to plant for each season. Eg plant x for the spring y for summer and z for the fall.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Howdy all! There is a neat citizen science project hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison that tracks migratory patterns of various species, including the monach butterfly! I'm starting to see some come through Southside Richmond and thought I would share this resource in case any of you would be interested in contributing your observations. They also follow other species, including bald eagles, Robin's, and hummingbirds. Pretty neat, and I hope you consider contributing any sightings you have.

(I'm not affiliated with the project- just a Richmonder who planted a bunch of milkweed.)

Thanks!!

https://journeynorth.org/

I’ve over-fertilized the area of my garden that has spotted bee balm, calla lilies, and hydrangeas with coffee grounds. The inevitable happened where there has been plenty of foliage but almost no blooms. How screwed am I, and is there anything I can do to remedy this? Will my plants with no blooms fail to come back next year?

I was hearing on the news this morning (WRIC) that vegetable prices are expected to rise due to the heat wave we had. I'm just a backyard gardener so I was able to maintain (lost my eggplants this year - they cooked on the vine).

Was anyone else affected?

I’m in Hampton roads area. I’m planning to plant some garlic in October or a couple weeks before frost, but I’m curious what types of garlic have done well for you here? Same with onions?

I don’t know why but garlic and onions seem really intimidating to grow!

I’m planning to order some from Southern Exposure and it looks like they have both hard and soft neck garlic.

This is my first year growing sweet corn here in central VA. I’m curious if anyone has any pointers to share that will better help me understand when it’s time to pick my corn. The silks / husks have formed about 2 weeks ago and continue to grow since.

I have bell pepper and a few Serrano peppers plants falling over, what is the safest way to stake them without damaging roots?

Doing a 50’x6’ strip of native meadow in my southwest facing garden. I am The Poor and have either propped, seeded from heads collected, hugely discounted or have been gifts from friends and this year so far it’s my most successful planted space. Every thing I’ve spent real money on has absolutely failed so seeing the freebie section start to pop off is triggering tf out of some joy.

This Joe Pye, for instance, was so sad when I tried to buy it from the co-op’s damaged and dormant section in January, the cashier just gave it to me.

Anyway…that’s my brag. Enjoy!

My garden's...okay. It's still there and I'm a lot better off than some other people for it because it's been avoided by most pests. But I've been just staring at the drought map every Thursday since the end of May. I think since Memorial day, my area of the state's only gotten something like 2.875" of rain, and we've had some blisteringly hot days lately.

I have some old tubers that are struggling at the moment that ought to be pulled (but I have no plans to replace them with anything at the moment), but the biggest problem I'm running in to is making sure that my container plants are adequately watered. Peppers are doing really well, but I keep having tomatoes being eaten by something (probably) for their water, despite having water sources down around the yard and even my big 20 gallon pots they're in dry out so quick.

At first, I thought I had a problem with squirrels eating them because I had lapsed in providing suet throughout the hot months. Now I'm thinking its actually ants and they only seem to go after near-ripe fruits. Ugh.

Just needed to know if anyone else is in the same boat.

https://preview.redd.it/frzobb3tx9dd1.png?width=1333&format=png&auto=webp&s=7b1b56dc625d8054905333b93f5887f326ca8c12

https://preview.redd.it/zsp6pbgtx9dd1.png?width=1469&format=png&auto=webp&s=7ae19cd7260f0cbb92eda081a4ecfabdd3227329

My wife and I just moved here from Wilmington, NC. We've got our summer garden growing, but what do yall recommend growing for winter veggies up here. Hoping to grow some brussels, taters (all types) and maybe some broccoli. What have you had success? Also being newbies here, we will take any other recommendations for folicing outside.

-picture of the pup for tax

Most of Virginia has been in a drought. I have two birdbaths that I have to refill several times daily-some from evaporation, most from birds splashing it out. PLEASE provide water for birds (and squirrels, chipmunks etc), they are all over mine. NO NEED to feed at this time of year!

Freshly filled and ready for bathers.