Vegetable Gardens
There are many good reasons for growing a vegetable garden in Mississippi.
A garden offers the opportunity to enjoy vegetables at their freshest. Sometimes only minutes elapse between harvest, preparation, and eating. Most fresh vegetables available at the grocery store travel about 1,800 miles between producer and consumer, and this travel often occurs over a period of several days. There’s a lot to be said for “homegrown” freshness.- In recent years, many people are growing vegetables to save money on their grocery bill.
- A garden can be a wonderful place for children. They provide opportunities for play, learning, and having fun.
Regardless of motive, gardening can be as simple or as complex a project as you make it. As the interest in all aspects of gardening has increased, so has the need for more information and education. Careful planning can make gardening easier, more productive, and more enjoyable. In planning your garden, it is important to consider a few basics.
The answers to most questions for the beginner can be found in Extension Publication P1091 - The Garden Tabloid. Links to different sections are listed below.
The Garden Tabloid - Extension Publication 1091:
- Grow Your Own Vegetables
- Fall Gardening
- Garden Plan
- Garden Soil
- Harvesting
- Herb Gardening
- Insects: Identification and Control
- Mulching
- Organic Gardening
- Planting
- Pollination
- Storing Vegetables and Seeds
- Tomatoes - Staking
- Vegetable Diseases
- Vegetable Varieties
- Watering
- Weed Control
Also available in PDF format for easy printing.
Find additional answers to most garden questions by searching.
Publications
News
Interest in gardening has nearly kept pace with social distancing and self-isolation rates across the country as the COVID-19 pandemic has circled the globe.
Everyone’s normal routine is being flipped upside down. Employees are working from home, kids are out of school, and social gatherings are postponed. Boredom and stress are setting in. Gardening to the rescue!
With much of our workforce telecommuting from home and with school suspended or cancelled for the kids, cabin fever has already become an issue for many households.
The first two months of 2020 have been exceptionally wet and dreary. But don’t lose hope, spring is right around the corner! The daffodils are blooming, and warmer days are in sight.
I’ve promoted the 2020 Mississippi Medallion winners Colorblaze coleus, beautyberry and Luscious lantana for the last three weeks. Now, I want to tell you about the fourth and final 2020 selection, Garden Gem tomato.
This will come as a surprise to the Southern Gardening Nation, but I think I’m starting to like eating fresh tomatoes. I’m certainly looking forward to picking fresh Garden Gem tomatoes this summer.
