WVU Extension Service garden calendars available

Note: This article is from the Point Pleasant Register. The same calendar is available from the Harrison County Extension office located on the 6th floor of the County Court House. The Harrison County Extension Agent is Larry Campbell and can be reached at 624-8650

POINT PLEASANT — Growing a healthy garden can make a healthier gardener, according to West Virginia University Extension Service experts.

The 2009 WVU Extension Service Garden Calendar highlights 12 months of healthy habits and gardening tips.

According to WVU Extension Agent Rodney Wallbrown, the garden calendar is the WVU Extension Service’s most-requested publication.

“This is one of the most popular publications that the WVU Extension Service puts out,” Wallbrown said. “People start calling and stopping by the office well in advance of Jan. 1 asking about it. They already want it and are really anxious.”

The garden calendar is available at the Mason County WVU Extension office in the courthouse annex. The monthly calendar and gardening guide offers information helpful to beginning and avid gardeners. According to Wallbrown, the calendar provides day-to-day planting and harvesting reminders, and notes range from tips on when to plan a garden layout to when to mulch roses.

“(The garden calendar) is popular because of the information in it — not only the article for each month on the selected topic, but it also lists what month and what day should be (used) for planting certain crops,” Wallbrown said. “People like the advice.”

In January, readers are reminded to avoid using salt where runoff might injure plants and are encouraged to create garden plans documenting when and where the garden will be planted. In February, reminders include tips about ordering fruit trees and seeding vegetables indoors. The important notes continue through December.

In addition, the calendar features a short article on a novel or problematic topic each month. An extra bonus is the Extension Experts page, which gives leads on finding inexpensive mulch, tips about feeding trees and other gardening insights.

Wallbrown described gardening as becoming increasingly popular in the county.

“Gardening is popular and getting more so with the economy and prices of food and contaminated foods. A lot more people are growing their own produce,” he said, adding that some residents grow their own produce and sell it at the Farmers’ Market to bring in extra money.

The garden calendar is free and lists the phone number of each county office of the WVU Extension Service. For more information, call 304-675-0888.