Welcome veggie gardeners! VCE and MGNV support local gardeners with a host of resources, including free classes, plant clinics and this newsletter.
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February To-Do List
- Continue planning this season’s garden (see January 2020 post)
- Store newly purchased seeds in a cool, dry, and dark place
- Plant asparagus and horseradish crowns
- Replenish mulch on strawberry beds
- Prune dormant fruit trees, as needed (using only cleaned and sharpened garden tools)
- Fertilize established fruiting trees and shrubs; also apply horticultural oil while plants are dormant
- Start seedlings of cold-season crops (e.g., broccoli, cabbage, and early leafy greens) and hardy herbs indoors or outdoors. For seeding dates, refer to seed packets and to the annual vegetable gardening calendar. All ‘start indoors’ timeframes equally apply to the winter sowing method. (See additional details below).
- Take steps to start this year's herb garden (see the 2020 Winter and Spring Herb Supplements)
- Plan how you will protect young seedlings upon transplanting (e.g., collect plastic milk or soda containers to use later as cloches).
- Consider planting radishes in late February, depending on soil conditions and weather.
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Plant, Pest or Other Garden Questions?
Contact the Extension Master Gardener Help Desk
Even during the pandemic, knowledgeable Virginia Cooperative Extension volunteers are available to answer questions. Please provide as many details and attach photos if possible for help about plant pests and growth problems.
RSVP for February 2021 Public Education Programs
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Now is the time . . .
to start your Spring Garden and finish planning this year’s garden.
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If you haven’t started planning this year’s garden, there is still time… (See the January newsletter for much useful information, including planning the garden, planting calendars, seed selection, and information about the winter sowing method of starting seedlings outdoors).
It is too early to direct-sow most anything outdoors in our region, but it is high time to start seedlings of cold-season crops and hardy herbs for later transplanting, whether indoors (also see excellent UMD Extension indoor seed starting video) or outdoors. Growing your own seedlings is a rewarding activity, and your alternative will be to purchase transplants when the time comes (such as from farmers markets or various gardening stores), or choose not to grow crops that need a longer growing season and focus on direct-seeded crops or perennials. Additionally, certain plants are best propagated by vegetative methods rather than by sowing seeds.
Preparing beds for the growing season is essential, and building healthy soils is an ongoing effort that can be accomplished through a multi-prong approach (also see Virginia State University’s presentation on building healthy soils for urban farming).
 Understanding the texture of your soil is important to understanding its suitability for agricultural productivity. You can easily take soil samples and conduct simple tests to estimate your soil texture by measurement and by feel. USDA provides an online soil texture calculator to enter your measurements. You can also easily conduct a percolation test to determine drainage in various parts of your garden. Drainage of about 1-3 inches of applied water per hour is considered normal to good drainage. Drainage below or above this range is considered "poor" drainage. Drainage problems can be addressed by: (1) incorporating compost and/or organic matter into the soil or as a top dressing (it helps heavy clay soil drain and coarse sandy soils to hold moisture); (2) choosing plants suited to your soil drainage; (3) building raised beds for better control over the soil texture.
You should periodically test your soil for the presence of key nutrients and soil pH ( approximately every three years). For a small fee, Virginia Tech’s Soil Testing Lab will evaluate soil samples you send them and provide recommendations. Remember that most crops will need supplemental fertilization in mid-summer.
It is a good time to apply any necessary soil amendments, particularly to beds that were not seeded with cover crops at the end of last year. |
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 This year, Between the Rows will be bringing you content from the Arlington Friends of Urban Agriculture (FOUA).
This nonprofit organization works to:
- Build community interest in expanding Arlington’s urban agriculture sector and transforming our food system by engaging consumers to think about what we eat and the way food is produced.
- Cultivate policy and investment strategies that support urban agriculture businesses and school programs.
- Promote local food growing opportunities in residential, commercial, and public spaces.
- Collaborate with residents, and public, private and non-profits groups to address food access, food security issues, and climate change.
Plot Against Hunger Update:
 The Plot Against Hunger program began in 2007 as a project of Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC). In 2020, the ad hoc Plot Against Hunger Steering Committee managed the program with assistance from FOUA. FOUA and AFAC fully transitioned the program to FOUA and the Plot Steering Committee in early 2021. This transition will allow AFAC to concentrate on food distribution and FOUA to concentrate on food production.
The Plot Against Hunger Program is a collaborative effort managed by FOUA and includes Virginia Cooperative Extension, Marymount University, Extension Master Gardeners, Master Food Volunteers, local food pantries, and individual gardens and gardeners.
Save the date! March 13 - 20: Spring Garden Kickoff
Join FOUA for a combination of online events and workshops, and a few in-person outdoor events. Stay tuned for more details.
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A monthly column on pest control in the vegetable garden by Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent Kirsten Conrad
Planning to Prevent Pest Proliferation
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There are things you can do NOW as you plan the vegetable garden to help limit your pest problems later. Here are some tips and tricks you can use to outwit (most) of your insect pests.
- Know your site. Select plant varieties and cultivars that are bred for disease-resistance and tolerance of your very local conditions. Here are some variety recommendations for the mid-Atlantic region.
- Know the pests that are most problematic for your chosen crop, what stage of plant growth they are likely to attack, and when they are most active in Virginia. Check out Chapter 2 of Virginia Tech’s Pest Management Guide. Forewarned is forearmed.
- Know your plants’ needs. Provide the best possible conditions for the plants that you want to grow. Healthy plants fend off some insect problems with pheromones and enzymes that repel pests. Sick plants don’t have the energy to do that. No full sun areas? Here are some ideas about what you can grow in shade.
- Know your friends. Utilize companion planting and intercropping to attract beneficial insects and to take advantage of symbiotic biochemical and cultural benefits.
- Cover as much ground as possible with small-flowered cover crops and green manures to improve soil nutrients and structure and to attract beneficial insects. Consider covering the aisles between your planting rows with clover or rye grass. It’s a matter of soil health!
- Choose your planting location wisely. If possible rotate crops annually to avoid the buildup of pathogens and pests in the garden. Consider using containers to add flexibility to your rotation scheme and take better advantage of sunny spots.
Finally, listen to experienced gardeners and learn from them. Visit the Extension Master Gardener Organic Vegetable Garden (see below for more information on the OVG). Stop by your local community garden and chat with anyone who has a well-kept plot. Consider volunteering some time in the Plot Against Hunger gardens in Arlington where very experienced gardeners are happy to share their wisdom. Utilize the services of the Extension Master Gardener Help Desk that are available at mgarlalex@gmail.com.
Next Month: Pests of Cool Season Plants - Lettuce, Radish, Leafy Greens
Illustration © Melissa Joskow |
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 Visit the Organic Vegetable Garden!
One of the best ways to learn about vegetable gardening is to see long established gardens in action. Make time this year to visit the Organic Vegetable Garden in north Arlington at Potomac Overlook Regional Park, one of the seven demonstration gardens operated by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia.
 Here Extension Master Gardeners (EMGs) focus on organic, urban vegetable gardening and gain experience in propagating plants from seeds, crop rotation techniques, composting, routine garden and soil maintenance, seasonal organic vegetable gardening techniques, use of an on-site water system (including a rain barrel), development of community educational materials, and hosting of public garden events.
The volunteer EMGs are always happy to answer questions. They hold work parties on Wednesdays from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., starting in late February or early March. There is often someone in the garden throughout the week, watering, harvesting, and just trying to keep up with the weeds. Keep your eye open for their Ask a Master Garden series on the second Saturday of May, June, July, and August - time to be determined.
The garden is always open for people to come in and look around. Please close the gate to keep out the deer!
Most of the produce (including kale, beans, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, squash, and okra) harvested in the garden is donated to those in need. To meet demand, more space in the garden has been devoted to hot and sweet pepper varieties as well as an assortment of client favorite beans. In 2019, 700 pounds of food were delivered to the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC). In 2020, 427.5 pounds of fresh produce were donated directly to the Victory Garden effort in Arlington, which supplemented the work of AFAC in collecting and distributing food to those in need.
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For more information on Vegetable Gardening, check out Select On-Line References for Kitchen Gardening on the Master Gardener of Northern Virginia (MGNV) site. MGNV volunteers support the work of Virginia Cooperative Extension's public education outreach.
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