What Eats Potato in Delaware, and When
In Delaware, potato foliage answers to two confirmed feeders: the Colorado potato beetle and the tomato hornworm, both documented by University of…
Gardening in Delaware
Everything we have worked out for Delaware: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Wilmington, the last spring freeze runs April 3 to April 14 and the first fall freeze runs October 26 to November 7, USDA zones 7a-8a, 3,937 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 21.8 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Delaware: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
What Eats Parsnip in Delaware, and When
University of Delaware Cooperative Extension’s statewide list of garden pests doesn’t include a species built to feed on parsnip roots or foliage.
What Eats Carrot in Delaware, and When
According to University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, none of the nine insect species it documents for the state’s vegetable gardens actually feed…
What Eats Beet in Delaware, and When
Search “what eats beet in Delaware” and the honest answer is short: none of the nine insects the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension documents…
What Eats Asparagus in Delaware, and When
The direct answer is unsatisfying but true: the pest list University of Delaware Cooperative Extension keeps for home gardens in this state doesn’t name…
When to Pick Tomatoes in Delaware, and Ripening the Rest
The short answer: most Delaware gardeners start picking ripe tomatoes in mid-to-late July and keep going until the first fall frost forces a final…
When to Harvest Garlic in Delaware, and How to Cure It
Delaware gardeners typically lift garlic between mid-June and mid-July, once the lower third to half of the leaves have turned brown while the upper…
When to Pick Apples in Delaware, and How Long They Keep
Apples in Delaware are ready to pick anywhere from late August to late October, and the calendar page tells you almost nothing on its own.
Does Insulation Keep a Home in Delaware Cool?
Yes, insulation keeps a Delaware home cooler, though summer here is a moderate season rather than a punishing one.
Does a Wall in Delaware Need a Vapor Barrier?
Delaware sits entirely in IECC climate zone 4A, and the 2021 International Residential Code exempts only Climate Zones 1, 2 and 3 from the interior vapor…