Welcome to
Suffolk Extension Master Gardeners
We Exist to Serve You
Suffolk Extension Master Gardeners (Suffolk EMGs) volunteer their time and expertise to provide FREE horticultural education for residents of the City of Suffolk, Virginia. They provide programs for both youth and adults on a variety of topics like tree care, native plants, flower and vegetable gardening, pest and disease identification, integrated pest management, and more. Visit the programs, events, and demonstration garden pages to learn more!
Ask a Master Gardener
Getting help is easy! Suffolk EMGs can be found at our office, on Facebook, by phone, email, and at various Suffolk farmers markets. Take advantage of our Ask a Master Gardener program, where you can contact us from the comfort of your own home! To submit a question, email us at SuffolkMG@gmail.com or call us at 757-514-4335. When emailing, attach pictures of the plant, pest, or problem and provide a detailed description. This will allow us to serve you. A Suffolk EMG volunteer will respond in a timely manner. Beginning in 2024, volunteers will be providing monthly office hours. Stop by our Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) classroom and obtain research-based assistance with your gardening questions and concerns.
Spotted Lanterfly Information
Pest Alert: Spotted Lanternfly Identification
and Reporting in Virginia
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You can prepare for the entire planting season by visiting https://brnw.ch/plantguide
To determine your USDA zone, you can enter your zip code here: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov
Garden pests comes in lots of shapes and sizes, and daily monitoring helps protect your harvest. In the last two days, I've found all of these in my garden. If you're new to gardening, you might not know what they all are or how to deal with them, and that's where Suffolk Master Gardeners can help!
We have monthly Help Desk Open Office Hours - Ask a Master Gardener! and Farmers Market Help Desk - Ask a Master Gardener! where you can stop by with photos of what's "bugging" your garden. If we can't provide a research-based solution to your problem on the spot, we'll get the answer for you. You can also pick up a pencil with our contact info so you know how to reach us later.
In these photos, the insects were all dropped into a bottle of water mixed with a little dish detergent. The bunny hopped away, probably to eat milkweed, asters, and pipevine, so the vegetables aren't too tempting. (I protect valued flowers with small fencing.)
Images
- Squash bugs on squash vine.
- Cluster of copper-colored squash bug eggs on squash leaf.
- Redheaded flea beetles on holy cucumber leaves showing feeding damage
- Yellowstriped armyworm on tomato leaf.
- Cottontail rabbit sitting in woodchips. ... See MoreSee Less
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🪲 Ever wonder what the life cycle of a 17-year cicada looks like?
This fascinating video from the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County takes you through the incredible (and very long!) journey of periodical cicadas, showing just how much time they spend underground before emerging all at once.
It’s a great glimpse into one of nature’s most unusual life cycles and a reminder of how much is happening in the natural world that we rarely get to see. 🌿
🎥 Watch the video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SmnXlpWmLg
If you’ve ever experienced a cicada emergence, you know it’s something you don’t forget! ... See MoreSee Less
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🥒🍅 Enjoying a big harvest from your garden this year? 🌽🫑
One of the best parts of gardening is enjoying your harvest long after the growing season ends. Whether you're interested in canning, pickling, freezing, or dehydrating your fruits and vegetables, using safe, research-based food preservation methods is essential to ensure quality and prevent spoilage.
Home food preservation can be a great way to reduce waste, save money, and enjoy your garden's bounty throughout the year. 🌿
Learn more about safely preserving your harvest in this helpful article from Virginia Cooperative Extension:
... See MoreSee Less
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