What Plant/Yard questions do you have?
By this time of the year your gardens should be well established and now you are dealing with the daily chores of weeding, controlling pests, making sure the garden is getting enough water, and finally harvesting the “fruits of your labor.”
But along the way, there may be questions you have, such as: is that bug a good one or a bad bug? Why are the leaves on my vegetable turning yellow? What are those spots on the leaves of my squash plant, and many more.
You can research the questions on the internet, and get many opinions, but which one is applicable for the gardens of our area?
Part of the Bradley County Master Gardner’s service to the residents of Bradley County is to help with gardening and yard questions you may have.
Residents may call the Bradley County Extension office at 423-728-7001, log on to: https://bradley.tennessee.edu/bradley-county-plant-clinic/
Make it stand out
scan the QR Code or visit the office at 2373 Parker St, at the PIE Center and present your flower/yard/vegetable/or weed issue.
The extension office will connect you with a member of Bradley County Master Gardener’s Plant Clinic. A member of the Plant Clinic will contact you directly and help answer your questions.
Importance of Having a Soil Test
One way to ensure that your garden will thrive is to have the soil tested. Have you completed a soil test lately? If not, now is a great time to visit the Extension Office and pick up a soil test kit. The kit includes a bag for you to gather soil from various areas of your garden, instructions to complete based on your specific plan for the garden, and how to return the test kit. You will then receive a report that gives you suggestions on improving the soil for your specific plan. The Extension Office staff can also answer questions regarding the soil test results.
What about preserving your harvest?
Once your produce is harvested, what do you do with the abundance you have?
We all love our fresh vegetables as they come in. Nothing else is much better than fried squash and okra, a hot ear of corn, juicy tomatoes straight from the vine or a bunch of green beans cooked in the insta pot. But what do you do when you have more than you can eat or share? There is a hidden gem available for Bradley County residents, the Bradley County Cannery, located next to the Farmer’s Market on Peerless Road. The Cannery is operated by the staff of the Bradley County Extension office, they offer expert advice and instructions on canning and preserving vegetables, fruits and making jelly.
And, do not miss visiting the Farmers Market at 3120 Peerless Rd NW. Local farmers and producers provide fresh fruits, vegetables and even meat and other food products to the local community. The market is open on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 7:00am until 12:00 or until they run out of product. So, stop by early and often. You can visit their Facebook page at Bradley County Farmers Market.
