The amount of fertilizer to apply to a garden depends on the natural fertility of the soil, the amount of organic matter present, the type of fertilizer used, and the crop being grown. The best way to determine fertilizer needs is to have the soil tested. Soil testing is available through your local Extension agent, through private labs, and with soil test kits which can be purchased from garden shops and catalogs.

Mulching is a practice adaptable to nearly all home gardens. To mulch is simply to cover the soil around plants with a protective material, organic or inorganic.

This publication provides guidance on establishing and managing asparagus, a hardy perennial vegetable productive for 12 to 15 years. It covers site selection, soil preparation, planting crowns or seedlings, and cultural practices such as fertilization, mulching, and weed control. The publication emphasizes proper planting depth, delayed harvesting to build crown strength, and techniques to extend harvest periods. Guidance is also provided for managing common diseases, insects, and cultural problems. Harvesting, storage recommendations, and expected yields help gardeners successfully grow asparagus in home gardens.

This publication will describe the common types of beans grown in Virginia's home gardens and how to grow each.

This publication provides guidance for growing cole crops—broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and kohlrabi—in home gardens. It outlines environmental preferences, planting methods, spacing, fertilization, and essential cultural practices for each crop. Management recommendations address shallow root systems, mulching, transplant production, blanching cauliflower, and timing plantings to avoid heat stress and bolting. The guide identifies common diseases such as clubroot and black rot, insect pests including cabbageworms and aphids, and cultural issues like poor heading or woody stems. Harvest indicators, storage conditions, and expected yields are included to help gardeners achieve high‑quality cool‑season brassica crops.

Sweet corn varieties differ significantly in time to maturity and in quality; yellow, white, bicolor, standard, and extra-sweet varieties are available. Most varieties planted are hybrids, which have been bred for greater vigor and higher yields. A continuous harvest can be planned by planting early, mid-season, and late-season varieties or by making successive plantings of the same variety every two weeks or when the last planting has three to four leaves (corn sown in early spring will take longer because of cool temperatures).

This publication provides guidance on growing cucumbers, melons, and squash in home gardens. It describes key cultivar types and outlines planting, spacing, fertilization, trellising, and pollination needs. Melons and squash are detailed by environmental preferences, cultural practices, and growth habits, including recommendations for black plastic mulch, transplanting, and managing pollinator activity. Common diseases, insect pests, and cultural problems are identified, along with strategies to reduce damage. Harvesting guidelines, storage conditions, and expected yields are included to help gardeners achieve high‑quality fruit across these warm‑season crops.

This publication provides comprehensive guidance on growing leafy green vegetables, including lettuce, spinach, cooking greens, and chard. It outlines environmental preferences, planting methods, spacing, and fertilization needs for each crop. Cultural practices emphasize cool‑season production, succession planting, proper watering, and mulching to maintain soil moisture and reduce disease. The guide details characteristics and harvest stages for crisphead, butterhead, romaine, and leaf lettuces, as well as strategies to prevent bolting and bitterness. Common diseases, insect pests, and cultural disorders are identified, along with recommended storage conditions and expected yields, helping gardeners achieve high‑quality, continuous harvests.

This publication provides guidance for growing onions, garlic, and shallots in Virginia home gardens. It outlines environmental preferences, planting methods, spacing, fertilization needs, and key cultural practices for each crop. Onions are detailed by type, day‑length response, and methods for producing bulbs and green onions. Garlic production focuses on selecting quality cloves, proper timing, and soil preparation to ensure full bulb development. Shallot culture emphasizes dividing sets, shallow planting, and careful weeding due to shallow roots. Common diseases, insect pests, cultural disorders, and recommended storage conditions are also described, helping gardeners produce high‑quality, long‑keeping alliums.

This publication provides guidance for growing potatoes, peppers, and eggplant in home gardens. It outlines environmental requirements, planting methods, spacing, fertilization, and cultural practices essential for each crop. Potatoes require cool temperatures, certified seed pieces, proper hilling, and careful harvest to prevent greening and rot. Peppers thrive in warm soils, with transplants recommended for reliable production; guidance covers sweet and hot varieties, fertilization, and moisture management. Eggplant requires warm conditions, rich soil, and consistent care to prevent stress and promote fruiting. Common diseases, insect pests, harvest indicators, storage recommendations, and expected yields support successful production of these warm‑ and cool‑season crops.

This comprehensive guide from Virginia Cooperative Extension provides gardeners with practical, research‑based information on successfully growing tomatoes in home gardens. It explains ideal environmental conditions, planting methods, maintenance practices, fertilization schedules, and common cultural challenges. The publication also outlines different tomato plant types—determinate, indeterminate, dwarf, cherry, beefsteak, paste, and heirloom varieties—helping gardeners choose the right tomato for their needs. In addition, it covers troubleshooting tips for poor fruit set, environmental stress, pests, diseases, and storage recommendations. A detailed section on heirloom tomatoes highlights their flavor advantages and popular varieties. Designed for beginners and experienced gardeners alike, the guide supports productive, disease‑resistant, high‑yield tomato gardening throughout Virginia’s growing season.

This publication provides guidance on growing a range of root crops, including carrots, beets, radishes, parsnips, turnips, rutabagas, and salsify. It outlines environmental requirements, planting depth and spacing, fertilization needs, and essential cultural practices such as thinning, moisture management, and soil preparation to promote uniform, well‑shaped roots. Each crop’s unique characteristics, maturity timelines, and harvest indicators are described, along with expected yields and recommended storage conditions. Common diseases, insect pests, and cultural disorders are identified, helping gardeners diagnose issues such as woody roots, poor germination, bolting, and nutrient deficiencies. The publication supports successful production across cool‑season root vegetables.

A fact sheet on growing peppers in the Virginia home garden.

A factsheet on growing eggplant in the Virginia home garden.

A fact sheet for growing potatoes in the Virginia home garden.