Repent!

Fall is one of the best times for gardening in our area. With fewer hours of daylight and lower temperatures, (new plants don’t dry out as quickly, lessening their stress and our garden maintenance tasks.  The ironic thing is that many of us only get the “gardening bug” when winter is moving into spring.  We’ve been cooped up all winter; plant sales abound, and we’re raring to get out in the yard.  Then, by the end of a long  summer of hot, sweaty gardening, our enthusiasm has waned and we’re ready to kick back with a pumpkin flavored beverage in one hand and a bag of Halloween candy in the other.

I say, “Repent you lazy gardeners!” Fall weather is better for working, new plants will continue to grow through our increasingly mild winters (our average first frost is between November 15 and 25), you’ll have free mulch from falling leaves/pine needles, weeds aren’t as aggressive and there are still plant sales  to attend. 

Vegetables planted in September can be productive through December and beyond if we don’t get any sudden deep freezes.  Selections to consider include beets, lettuces, turnips, Swiss chard, spinach, collards, kale, radishes, mustard greens and kohlrabi.  Even if you’re not much of a vegetable gardener, you can add fall/winter color to your yard using Red Russian Kale and Rainbow Swiss Chard.

If you’re looking to add to your outdoor or indoor plant inventory you might want to swing by Lafayette Park (3500 Granby Street) on October 10 for the Norfolk Master Gardener Fall Plant Sale. 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM.  It is part of The Norfolk Arbor Day Festival that runs from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the same site.  It’s a great place to buy plants AND get quality advice on how to care for them.  Also, beginning at 10:30, the City of Norfolk will give away (yes FREE) trees to Norfolk residents who agree to plant them in their own yards (one per address and subject to availability. Normally there are a mix of tree species available.

There are also educational booths set up by various community groups, music and more. So, on October 10, put down your Pumpkin Spice Latte and head to Lafayette Park to get energized about Fall gardening!