Denise Membreno

Denise writes about the people and places of Smith Mountain Lake in "Shorelines," published bi-weekly.

Recent columns

• Just for Me Mammogram Program is for many Bedford women
• Walter's Greenhouse: Well rooted in the community
• Park gearing up for return of the osprey
• As waistline expanded, wallet deflated

Growing up, I watched my dad grow enough beans and tomatoes to last through the winter. Several years ago I decided to try my hand at sowing seeds. My dad died nearly seven years ago and gardening makes me feel closer to him.

My gardens do not compare to his. I know little of how he made them or how he made them flourish. Because he's not here to ask, I've relied on local extension agents, greenhouse owners, neighbors and friends.

Tim John, 28, is an agriculture extension agent at Virginia Cooperative Extension of Franklin County. He is entering his second month on the job after graduating in May from Virginia Tech with a degree in agricultural economics.

John said the lack of water already is an issue this growing season. In our area, it may rain in Penhook, but entirely miss Westlake. Moneta may have a downpour, but Goodview rain gauges only measure a trace of precipitation.

"A lot of people want to water during the day, and that's not really a good idea just because the water is going to evaporate as fast as you put it on," John said. "If their soil is really dry, it is best that they water early and then again late, say seven or eight o'clock."

Contrary to popular belief, he said watering at night doesn't necessarily cause plant disease.

"Growing up on the farm, Dad always watered in the evening and never had any trouble," said John. "If you water too much you get insects and rot. You just really have to watch your plants."

John recommended digging down three or four inches to determine how dry your soil is and how often you need to water. Moist soil down at the roots means your plants are getting water where they need it. He said soaker hoses are a good way to conserve water and get the water where you need it.

Mulching your garden may seem like a great idea, but there are a few guidelines that need to be followed.

"Mulch can help, but it can hurt," John said. "It will hold water and keep it from evaporating, but at the same time, it's a good place for bugs to get in and hide. I've seen people use grass clipping with good success, but you have to be careful that there are no pesticides on the grass or that will get into your vegetable."

I learned that with my first garden. I bought mulch and put it round my plants with great success. I marveled at how healthy the plants were and how lucky I was that the bugs were not eating them.

It was when I looked into buying mulch for around the swing set that Frances Carr, manager of Cascade Gardens on Virginia 24 near Stewartsville, told me I would need pesticide-free mulch. Ding, ding, ding, the bell sounded in my head. I had put pesticides on my vegetable garden and did not realize it.

Carr said old newspapers can be used as mulch; "They just take longer to decompose."

Another Carr nugget, which I have been doing this year, is putting banana peels in the soil around my roses. Apparently it adds potassium to the soil.

Another piece of advice I put into use this year came from Master Gardener Carol O'Neill. She suggested putting Epsom salt into the soil when I planted my tomatoes. O'Neill said that helps alleviate bottom rot, a problem I experienced last year. So far, no bottom rot.

Tomatoes are the jewels of every backyard gardeners' bounty. With the recent salmonella scare surrounding store-bought tomatoes, the backyard harvest has become more important. Not only did I put Epsom salt and organic matter in the holes I dug for my tomato plants, I followed the advice of Rosalin Walter of Walter's Greenhouse in Hardy.

Walter clipped the lower leaves off the plants I bought and told me to plant the roots 12 inches underground.

What? I had never heard of that and I would lose half the height of the plant.

"All these little hairs on the stem will become roots when they touch the soil," explained Walter as she pointed to the stem of the plant.

I dug deep holes, scored the roots, set my plants and watered. The plants never experienced shock and are producing tomatoes, thank you Rosalin.

The last new thing I tried this year came from a friend, Ken Basham. I mentioned that I have been unable to produce quality cantaloupe or watermelon.

"When we were kids we'd plant our watermelons in hills and put a pipe into the top of the hill, and that's how we'd water the plants," explained Basham. "Watermelons need lots of water. This way the water gets where it needs to be and you actually save water."

So I tried it on my summer squash and it is working beautifully. I planted the melons late so I may have to try the technique again next year to see if it helps me get the fruits my husband loves.