Portsmouth Master Gardeners

09/05/2026

Happy National Hummingbird Day! On September 5th, 2026, the Portsmouth Master Gardeners Association is thrilled to celebrate these mesmerizing creatures that bring vibrancy and life to our gardens. Hummingbirds, known for their incredible agility and dazzling colors, play a crucial role in pollination, helping to maintain the health of our ecosystems.

Share a photo of a hummingbird or their favorite plant from your garden below.

Photo by Veronika Andrews via Pexels. Hummingbird in flight with blurred background.
https://www.pexels.com/photo/hummingbird-in-flight-with-colorful-background-37881114/

09/05/2026

Too many tomatoes? Who ever would say such a thing?!
Seriously though, if this summer heat held off tomato production and you're swimming in sauce right now, here are some ideas for your abundance.
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09/04/2026

Today is National Food Bank Day. Did you know the vegetable garden at Virginia Cooperative Extension - Portsmouth donates the produce grown on site to local food banks? The latest count is 1751.83 pounds donated so far this year. Give a shout-out to the Vegetable Garden team!

Image via PMGA member. Blue wheelbarrow filled with freshly picked vegetables ready for donation to a local food bank.

09/04/2026

Planting natives means longer summer/fall blooming times if you choose wisely. Keep a lookout for native asters, goldenrods, and other late-fall bloomers for your garden and those that fly by on their great migration.
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09/03/2026

Got Mosquitoes? Put down the phone and sprinkle some dunks in these hidden water sources. Tip & Toss!
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🦟Got mosquitoes? Control them at their source--water--by eliminating spots where water can collect and by treating other spots of standing water with a mosquito dunk.

Just a few sprinkles of a dunk will do the trick in small areas. Did you know that mosquitoes can lay eggs in puddles as small as water in a upside down bottle cap? Larger areas like a bucket, take a full dunk.

Did you spot all the areas in the photo where there could be standing water in a backyard? Where else would you put them?🤔

09/02/2026

Seems summer is not quite ready to leave us. Be careful out in the garden, friends.

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Hot and humid conditions persist through the rest of the week with temps close to 100° on Wednesday and Thursday. Isolated thunderstorms are possible late today and tomorrow afternoon. Storm chances increase Thursday night into Friday as a cold front drops through the area. Chances for severe weather is highest Thursday and Friday with low chances today and tomorrow.

09/02/2026

Our September Garden Talk is about more than Compost! 🍂

When autumn arrives in Southeast Virginia, the leaves may look like garden cleanup waiting to happen—but before you rake, bag, and haul them away, take a closer look.

Those leaves are habitat.

Leaf litter provides food, shelter, insulation, and overwintering space for an incredible variety of small creatures.

GARDEN TALK: SOIL MATTERS: COMPOST, LEAVE THE LEAVES, AND THE CYCLE OF LIFE

📅 September 16
🕡 6:30 PM
📍 Churchland Branch Library

09/01/2026

Wondering what to plant in September? It is time for fall gardening! 🥕🥦

Direct Sowing:
Zone 8A: Beginning of the month: Carrots, Rutabaga. All month: Beets, Swiss Chard, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Baby Salad Lettuce, Mustard, Radish, Spinach, Turnips
Zone 8B Direct Sowing Recommendations are available in the publication linked below.

Transplanting:
Zone 8A: Beginning of the month: Cauliflower, Cabbage, Leeks. All month: Broccoli, Chinese Cabbage, Head Lettuce
Zone 8B Transplanting Recommendations are available in the publication linked below.

You can prepare for the entire planting season by visiting https://brnw.ch/plantguide - keep in mind that this resource has not been updated to reflect the new hardiness zones. To determine your USDA zone, you can enter your zip code here: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/

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Post taken from Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program

Reaching the end of garden season? No way! There's still plenty to plant in September as we prepare for fall gardening! 🥕🥦

Direct Sowing:
Zones 6A & 6B: Baby Salad Lettuce, Mustard, Radish, Spinach
Zone 7A: Beginning of the month: Beets, Swiss Chard, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi. All month: Baby Salad Lettuce, Mustard, Radish, Spinach, Turnips
Zone 7B: Beets, Swiss Chard, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Baby Salad Lettuce, Mustard, Radish, Spinach, Turnips
Zone 8A: Beginning of the month: Carrots, Rutabaga. All month: Beets, Swiss Chard, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Baby Salad Lettuce, Mustard, Radish, Spinach, Turnips
Zone 8B Direct Sowing Recommendations are available in the publication linked below.
Transplanting:
Zones 6A & 6B: Beginning of the month: Head Lettuce
Zone 7A: Beginning of the month: Broccoli. All month: Head Lettuce
Zone 7B: Beginning of the month: Broccoli, Cabbage, Chinese Cabbage, Leeks. All month: Head Lettuce.
Zone 8A: Beginning of the month: Cauliflower, Cabbage, Leeks. All month: Broccoli, Chinese Cabbage, Head Lettuce
Zone 8B Transplanting Recommendations are available in the publication linked below.
You can prepare for the entire planting season by visiting https://brnw.ch/plantguide - keep in mind that this resource has not been updated to reflect the new hardiness zones. To determine your USDA zone, you can enter your zip code here: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/

09/01/2026

September Garden Notes

In Zones 8a and 8b, September is the gateway to fall gardening. Daytime temperatures start to moderate, making it ideal for cool-season crops, fall flowers, and late-season fruit care . This month focuses on planting, transplanting, harvesting, and preparing for winter while still managing heat

08/31/2026

Applications are now being accepted for the 2027 Intern Training Course. Please visit our website for more information and the registration link. Deadline October 31, 2026.
https://www.pmgv.org/become-a-master-gardener