Tomato hornworm, plucked off plant
School is out, summer is here and the garden is in full swing. Now is the time for gardening questions — what is that bug, why does my tomato look like that, and what should I do about my zucchini! Fortunately for us, the Fairfax County Master Gardeners offer free advice on caring for our gardens. They provide gardening fact sheets, soil test kits, and help us to identify bugs, insects, diseased plants, and assorted problems. It is always best to actually bring a sample of the diseased plant or the bug in a jar to show the Master Gardeners but if not, just talk with them at their plant clinics, no appointment necessary. The Master Gardeners staff plant clinics at the Fairfax County Farmers Markets, several Fairfax County libraries, Green Spring, and the Virginia Cooperative Extension office at the Fairfax County Government Center. Plant clinics at the farmers markets and libraries are open May through September 2015.
Farmers Markets
See the link below for street addresses. Note the times below are for the plant clinics, not necessarily for the rest of the market time; http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets
- Annandale, Thursday, 9 am to noon
- Burke, Saturday, 8 am to 11 am
- Fairfax County Government Center FM, Thursday, 3 to 6 pm
- Fall Church City, Saturday, 9 am to noon
- Herndon, Thursday, 9 am to noon
- Kingstowne, Friday, 4 to 7 pm
- Lorton, Sunday, 9 to noon
- Mclean, Friday, 9 to noon
- Mt. Vernon, Wednesday, 9 to noon
- Vienna, Saturday, 9 to noon
- Wakefield, Wednesday, 2 to 5 pm
- Reston, Saturday, 9 to noon
Libraries
- Chantilly, Saturday, 10:30 am to 1:30 pm
- Fairfax Regional, Saturday, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
- Kings Park, Saturday, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
- Oakton, Saturday, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
- Richard Byrd, Tuesday 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
- Tysons-Pimmit, Saturday, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Other Locations
- Green Spring Gardens Help Desk, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, Saturday, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm, except holidays; http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring/
- Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners Help Desk, 12011 Government Center Parkway, Pennino Building, 10 floor, Fairfax, Monday through Friday 9:30 am to 12:30; http://www.fairfaxgardening.org
