I am brokenhearted.  Unless something miraculous happens, this will be my last week to publish this article, work as a County Agent, and serve the great people of the Pee Dee.  I am retiring from the best job on earth and the   memories flow like the Great Pee Dee River. One of my Dad’s favorite sayings was, “If I have done it one time, I have done it a thousand times.”   When I was young all I could think about was the thousand rows of crops he had for me to hoe and harvest, but I really didn’t understand the meaning of his words.  Now, after teaching a thousand Master Gardeners, writing a thousand news articles, and making a thousand presentations to community groups, I think I am beginning to understand a little.  Each endeavor is so very important, but with each event you learn much, improve a little, and continually move to another. 

            Doesn’t this sound a little like gardening?  Each plant is cherished, nurtured, and really babied but there is always more to plant, care for, and harvest.  Some are annuals, biennials, or perennials, while others, like the Angel Oak, are thousands of years in age.    My sometimes feeble attempt at gardening always includes picturing or placing myself into the life of the plant itself.  In other words, if I were this plant what would I require, want, and need to flourish?  Just like people, each plant has its own requirements to excel.  Azaleas, rhododendrons, blueberries, and camellias like a lower pH than most plants; however, tomatoes and peppers prefer a fairly high pH of 6.5. Turnips, mustard, cabbage, collards, and sweet potatoes require more boron while peanuts require more calcium.  We could continue in this vein for eternity, and this is one of the reasons I tell all the folks who take the Master Gardener Course that they will truly never be a master of gardening.  I have worked with plants all my life and every day I still learn.

            To mark my retirement, the great people in my office are giving me a party.  After all these TV shows, articles, and presentations over the years, many people introduce themselves to me and say that they feel like they’ve personally known me.  Well, I feel like I also know you, and, in fact, through all my appearances at many civic and community organizations we may have actually met.      Therefore, this is my invitation to you to come to my retirement party which will be held on   June 5th from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Schoolhouse Restaurant in Scranton.  $7.50 is the cost of the meal, which you can pay at the door.  You may call my office at (843) 661- 4800 for more information. I hope to see you there.

Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.

 Vegetable Gardening is once again the “Talk of the Town.”  In fact I was encouraged to write this article by folks who never have gardened or only have a faint memory of their parent’s gardening. Therefore, let’s talk about the BASICs of vegetable gardening in the south.

BA -    First of all, you need to realize that growing your own vegetables will be a Big Adjustment for both you and your family.  We are Big-time Addicted to running to the grocery store to get everything we need, when we need it, and exactly the amount we need.  Vegetables take months to grow and produce, each crop has its own season or production timetable, and for goodness sakes you may have to adjust your recipes, diet, or lifestyle to fit the crop “Coming In,” as my daddy the old time farmer would say.  Also you will need to develop a Bad Attitude against weather extremes, destructive insects, and disease.  Seventy degrees one day and snow the next day- --if it is tough on you it is tough on plants.  Also, scout your garden for insect and disease problems and treat only when necessary.  For instance, many local vegetable growers have replanted their spring transplants twice or three times already.  The moral of the story is that you have to possess a mailman mentality and you cannot let the cold, heat, drought, rain, insects, or diseases destroy your hard work. Remember, if all else fails our long growing season many times allows you time to replant and start anew and there is always next year, so never give up.  Also watch out for Bad Advice.  For instance, many of the gardening shows on TV are produced in the North, even many that are on SCETV, and present little relevant, reliable, or trustworthy information for the SC gardener.

S -       Next, as I teach all Master Gardeners “A Good Soil is the Foundation of a Good Garden”, there are three things you can add to improve your soil “Organic Matter, Organic Matter, and Organic Matter, but organic matter only stays in the Soil for one year in SC. Also, take a Soil sample so you will know the pH, the concentration of nutrients, and the lime/fertilizer requirements of your Soil in relation to the crops you are trying to grow.  You may obtain sample bags which explain how to properly take a Soil sample, at our office located at the back of the Social Services Building on the corner of Third Loop and Irby, each sample costs $6, and will take 2 weeks to get your answer.

I -        Next, Irrigation is the key to consistently producing vegetables in our area.  I remember back to the days when my granddaddy and daddy, who did not have the option of irrigation, were devastated because drought had destroyed their crops.  If you want a successful, long-lived, and pleasant gardening experience - Irrigate.  Most vegetables require between 1 and 1.5 inches of water per week which can be supplied by rain or Irrigation.

C -       Finally, determine who will Care for the garden and plan accordingly.  Around my house I am the gardener so I plant only what I can handle, Care for, harvest, and prepare.  If you are blessed enough to have others to assist you in your gardening efforts---plant more, more often, and enjoy.

Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.  If you enjoy gardening and using flowers and plants in decorations, please watch Down Home with Tony and Amanda on Thursday nights at 8:00 pm.