Fauquier VCE offers special free workshop on fall vegetable gardening

Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) and the Fauquier County Master Gardeners (FCMG) are offering a special workshop program on “Fall Vegetable Gardening ” presented by Tim Ohlwiler, VCE Horticulture Extension Agent.

“With milder temperatures and fewer plant diseases in the fall, many gardeners find fall vegetable gardening can be both very enjoyable and productive,” Ohlwiler said.  “The basics of gardening remain the same for every season—you have to know your soil, know your plants and know what they need.  But the fall presents special requirements as the temperatures decline and frost and freezing ground become a consideration.”

The workshop will cover:

• What to plant:  Selecting cool-season vegetables that grow best in our region’s agricultural zones:  6b for Northern Fauquier and 7a for Southern Fauquier.

• When to plant:  Planting in late summer for fall and early winter harvest, with an understanding of average frost and freeze dates.  First frost can occur from Oct. 1 -14 in our area.

• Where to plant:  Designing a garden space that receives 8 – 10 hours of daily sunlight.

• How to plant:  Discussion of soil preparation techniques to enhance Virginia soil.

• How to succeed:  Discussion of watering, fertilizing and weed and insect control.

The workshop will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 19, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Virginia Cooperative Extension – Fauquier County Office at 24 Pelham St., Warrenton. It is free of charge and open to the public.  To RSVP, contact the Fauquier County Master Gardener Help Desk at 540-341-7950, Ext. 1 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners (VCE-MGs) are volunteers with Extension dedicated to working with the community to encourage and promote environmentally sound horticulture practices through sustainable landscape management educational programs. For information on the Master Gardener program and upcoming events go to http://www.fc-mg.org.