Vegetable Gardens
There are many good reasons for growing a vegetable garden in Mississippi.
A garden offers the opportunity to enjoy vegetables at their freshest. Sometimes only minutes elapse between harvest, preparation, and eating. Most fresh vegetables available at the grocery store travel about 1,800 miles between producer and consumer, and this travel often occurs over a period of several days. There’s a lot to be said for “homegrown” freshness.- In recent years, many people are growing vegetables to save money on their grocery bill.
- A garden can be a wonderful place for children. They provide opportunities for play, learning, and having fun.
Regardless of motive, gardening can be as simple or as complex a project as you make it. As the interest in all aspects of gardening has increased, so has the need for more information and education. Careful planning can make gardening easier, more productive, and more enjoyable. In planning your garden, it is important to consider a few basics.
The answers to most questions for the beginner can be found in Extension Publication P1091 - The Garden Tabloid. Links to different sections are listed below.
The Garden Tabloid - Extension Publication 1091:
- Grow Your Own Vegetables
- Fall Gardening
- Garden Plan
- Garden Soil
- Harvesting
- Herb Gardening
- Insects: Identification and Control
- Mulching
- Organic Gardening
- Planting
- Pollination
- Storing Vegetables and Seeds
- Tomatoes - Staking
- Vegetable Diseases
- Vegetable Varieties
- Watering
- Weed Control
Also available in PDF format for easy printing.
Find additional answers to most garden questions by searching.
Publications
News
Each year as we approach Independence Day, my landscape and garden begin a transition to what I like to call “second summer.” This is due to the heat and humidity that set in anywhere from late April to mid-May.
Knowing that many Mississippians share a love for home-grown tomatoes, two Mississippi State University Extension Service agents designed programs just for them.
And just like that, we’re over halfway through the year. How is that possible? I have spent more time at my home over the past few months than I have in a long time!
More would-be gardeners than ever before are planting with hopes of a summer crop of vegetables, but getting to that harvest means handling the inevitable insect pests, weeds, disease and fertilizer needs.
With so many Mississippians staying at home more than usual, it’s the perfect time to start planning your summer landscape.
Success Stories
As Jimmy Henry’s health began to decline, his wife, Shirley, wanted him to remain comfortable, safe, and happy. When the time came for Jimmy to enter a nursing home, Shirley was determined to stay right by his side, so she went with him.
From the youngest to the oldest generations, thousands of people are visiting, shopping, and enjoying themselves at the Hernando Farmers’ Market, held Saturdays on the historic DeSoto County Courthouse lawn.
The market has more than just fresh produce. It connects the community by uniting the shoppers, producers, and artisans who come.
See what's new in Extension: a new monarch garden, a storytelling series will begin, the Garden Expo highlights Extension education, and Keep America Beautiful recognizes MSU Extension.
After a tragic car accident in 2017 led to the deaths of two Central Elementary School students, school leaders raised money to support their funerals. Their efforts inspired many South Mississippi residents in Lucedale and across George County.
John Monroe has been familiar with the Mississippi State University Extension Service since he was a child.
“I grew up on a small farm in George County,” says Monroe. “My dad took gardening seriously, and we weren’t blessed with the best soil. So my dad worked very closely with the county agent. He’d come out to our place on a regular basis.”
