Virginia Cooperative Extension Office

With a name like that you never know what kind of extension you are going to get. However, this is a good one and I am assuming that all states have something like this if they don't have one called by the same name. (no not "Virginia" it would be the name of your state my sillies)

I have been doing a bunch of research on how to plant effectively a specific sized space, how and when to harvest specific plants and what plants are good for our area. The Virginia Cooperative Extension Office is an "extension" of our state horticulture and agriculture programs attached to the universities. Specifically here in Virginia they are Virginia Tech and Virginia State University. They have a website and within it there is tons of information on all kinds of things that you would want to know about having a garden (vegatable or flower) in the state and sometimes specifically in the area in which I live. So I am out there on Friday afternoon (don't tell I was at work doing this) and I start printing off articles on broccoli, cabbage, corn, greenhouses, hot beds, and pests. Saturday evening I am reading and I am amazed with the amount of great info that I got. Not only does it give me the details on how to plant and when to harvest, it gives me info on how to store it as well as how much to grow or harvest per person for a year's worth of vegetable. For example, you should harvest 15 lbs per person of cabbage. Now I like my cabbage but 15 lbs? that is a lot of cabbage. The say to make it in sauerkraut to can or to store it in a root cellar or dark place at 32 degrees for up to 5 months. Can you see my refridgerator piled high with cabbage. For our family that would be 60 lbs!! I am counting a 15 lb share per adult and then two 15 lb share for all three kids. That is a ton of cabbage. Then when you start adding up broccoli (8 lbs/person), cauliflower(8 lbs/person), and green beans(you get the idea), peas, corn, tomatoes. Man our whole utility room would be full of freezers, refridgerators, and shelves. But then again I suppose that is how our forefather pioneers did it. Wonder what the neighbors would think if my husband started digging a root cellar???

Anyway, if you are at all interested in gardening google your state name and "extension office" and see if you have one. You could check out Virginia's website too.

Oh, by the way, the info that I read and advice from my smart sister said to pluck off the top of the broccoli that has flowered and it should sprout more shoots from the sides. Hopefully, I will get some broccoli, otherwise I am replanting for a fall harvest!! Broccoli saved!!