Vegetable Garden – Gary's Garden Center

Summer Hours:Monday thru Friday 8 am - 5 pm; Saturday 8 am - 3 pm; Sunday 12 - 3 pm

The Best Water for Your Garden Falls From the Sky

Gardens & Yards, Plant Care, Vegetable GardenJune 26, 202669Views 0Likes 0Comments

Have you ever noticed how your garden seems to “wake up” after a good summer rain? Central Virgina is starting summer 26’ in an extreme drought and almost every day we hear someone say some version of “I’m watering my garden but it just doesn’t seem to be making a difference…” There’s a…

Gardening in America: From Jefferson’s Vision to Our Own Backyards

Gardens & Yards, Vegetable GardenJune 23, 202657Views 0Likes 0Comments

Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary As America approaches its 250th birthday, it’s a natural moment to reflect on the ideas that shaped our nation—not just in government and philosophy, but in the soil beneath our feet. In colonial and early American life, gardens were essential. Families relied on gardens for food, herbs, and medicine.…

Soil 101: Choosing the Right Soil for Every Garden

Flower Decor, Gardens & Yards, Home Orchard, Landscaping, Lawn Care, Plant Care, Vegetable GardenJanuary 26, 2026611Views 0Likes 0Comments

When it comes to gardening success, plants get most of the attention—but great gardens start with great soil. One of the most common questions we hear is, “Which soil should I use?” The answer depends on what you’re planting and where you’re planting it. Here’s a simple guide to the most common soil types and when to use…

GMO, GEO, Hybrid, or Heirloom? Sorting Out the Facts (Without the Drama)

Gardens & Yards, Uncategorized, Vegetable GardenJanuary 8, 2026497Views 0Likes 0Comments

GMO vs GEO vs Hybrid vs Heirloom Sorting Out the Facts (Without the Drama) Walk through any garden center in spring and you’ll hear it: “Are these GMO?” “I only grow heirlooms.” “Hybrids aren’t natural, right?” Tomatoes seem to sit at the center of the confusion. Labels get confusing, terms get…

🥦 Planting Fall “Cole” Crop Vegetables!

Gardens & Yards, Vegetable GardenSeptember 1, 2025656Views 0Likes 0Comments

As summer’s vegetables begin to fade, it's the perfect time to shift gears and start thinking about your fall vegetable garden. One of the best ways to take advantage of the cooler season is by planting “Cole” crops—a family of hardy, cool-loving vegetables that thrive in autumn temperatures. It’s worth noting that Cole crops can also…

Fungus is Among Us

Gardens & Yards, Plant Care, Vegetable GardenAugust 4, 2025723Views 0Likes 0Comments

Hot Humid Summer Weather and Evening Thunderstorms: The Perfect Storm for Plant Fungus As gardeners and plant lovers, we've all experienced that sinking feeling when our beloved green friends start showing signs of fungal invasion. The combination of hot, humid weather and frequent evening thunderstorms creates a nightmare scenario for plant health, turning our…

A Cool Spring = Slow Growing

Flower Decor, Gardens & Yards, Landscaping, Plant Care, Vegetable GardenJune 1, 2025823Views 0Likes 0Comments

Here in Central Virginia we have had relatively cool spring. Throw in cloudy wet weather for most of the month of May and you have slow growing vegetables and flowers with few blooms. On the plus side, you haven’t needed to water much if any! Problems to watch for… Fungus and blight: most…

State of Vegetable Gardens 2024

Gardens & Yards, Vegetable GardenJune 27, 202413KViews 0Likes 0Comments

Vegetable gardens are… HOT and DRY… It’s been a tough start for the vegetable garden season this year. If your garden seems to be struggling, don’t take it personal, you probably have done nothing wrong. It’s just one of “those” years. A few notes about what we are seeing and hearing: Increased Blossom End Rot…

Watering 101

Flower Decor, Gardens & Yards, Houseplants Guide, Landscaping, Plant Care, Vegetable GardenJune 25, 20249KViews 0Likes 2Comments

Watering 101 “How often do I water my plant?” is undoubtedly the most frequently asked question about plants and also one of the hardest questions to answer! Here’s the simple answer: Water when the plant gets dry. 9 out of 10 times when we see a watering problem it is due to overwatering - for…

Fresh pickled homegrown tomatoes sitting on a counter

Our Favorite Tomato!

Gardens & Yards, Vegetable GardenMay 1, 20247KViews 0Likes 0Comments

We often get asked what our favorite variety of tomato is! Here’s each of the Gary’s answers to that question! Gary Sr. Cherokee Purple Favorite: “Celebrity! A nice sized 8 oz. tomato that keeps well and has a good taste. Great for both canning and fresh eating!” Gary Jr. (Nelson) Favorite: “Cherokee…