What Eats Spinach in West Virginia, and When
Two things eat into spinach season in West Virginia: days that keep lengthening, and air and soil that keep warming.
West Virginia
For homeowners and renters in West Virginia: the planting calendar, the maintenance schedule and the local programs worth knowing about.
Gardening in West Virginia
Everything we have worked out for West Virginia: 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 Charleston, the last spring freeze runs April 9 to April 23 and the first fall freeze runs October 18 to November 1, USDA zones 5a-7a, 4,159 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 West Virginia: 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 Pumpkin in West Virginia, and When
Squash bugs and cucumber beetles get most of the blame for lost pumpkins, but in West Virginia the calendar can take as big a bite as any insect.
How High to Mow a Lawn in West Virginia
Most West Virginia lawns do best between 1.5 and 3.5 inches, and the right number depends on the grass underfoot. Tall fescue wants 3 to 3.5 inches.
When to Dethatch a Lawn in West Virginia
Most West Virginia lawns do not need dethatching. If a wedge of turf shows a brown, spongy layer thicker than 0.75 inch, early fall is the time to deal…
When to Plant Grass Seed in West Virginia
Early September is the best time to sow grass seed in West Virginia, with spring as the backup.
Heat Pump or Gas Furnace in West Virginia: Which Costs Less to Run?
Gas, by a moderate margin. For the same amount of heat delivered, a natural gas furnace costs less to run in West Virginia than a heat pump, and both…
When to Dig Up Dahlias, Cannas and Gladiolus in West Virginia
Lift dahlias, cannas and gladiolus in West Virginia a week or two after a frost blackens their foliage.
When to Winterize Sprinklers and Outdoor Faucets in West Virginia
In West Virginia, shut down the sprinkler system and outdoor spigots before the first hard freeze.
How Late Can You Plant Trees and Shrubs in Fall in West Virginia?
In Charleston, the safe window for planting trees and shrubs in fall closes between September 6 and September 20, which is six weeks before the first…
When to Mulch Strawberries and Perennials for Winter in West Virginia
Winter mulch in West Virginia goes down after the ground starts to freeze, not before.