The Alexander County Farmers Markets will be starting back on May 15 in Bethlehem (Mt. Bethel Methodist Church - 9042 NC-127) and May 17th in Taylorsville (Alexander County Services Building - 151 W Main Ave.). The Bethlehem Market will run on Thursdays from 4-7pm and the Taylorsville Market will run on Saturdays from 8am - noon. If you are interested in being a farmers market vendor at either market in Alexander County, please contact Cari Rosenbalm at cari_rosenbalm@ncsu.edu or 828-632-4451. We always look forward to adding new vendors who either hand make, bake, or grow their own products!
Click on the following links to see the Garden Calendars for each month:
Month-by-month lists of common plant diseases, pests, and other problems you may encounter in North Carolina yards and gardens. Straight from our PDIC (Plant Disease & Insect Clinic) entomologists and pathologists!
Who’s Ready for Squash?!?I love some fried squash, like I’m sure many of you do. But how are we supposed to battle in growing our own squash with that pesky vine borer??? Our NC State Extension has the answers!! The key is to create a barrier around the base of the squash vine where it meets the soil line. There are some other cultural practices that will help as well! Check them out!
Hummingbirds Are Back! - Tips on Maintaining Your Feeders
Mix your own feed!! It is super easy and cheap, and you know exactly what’s in it. Boil 1 cup of water and mix with 1 cup of sugar until it dissolves. Then add 3 cups of cold water and mix again. Then fill you clean feeder and store any excess in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Check your feeders daily! You may need to refill or clean it out!
To keep a clean feeder, disassemble it and soak it in hot water. Scrub ALL the feeder parts, especially the port holes that they are drinking out of (a pipe cleaner works great for this area)! Rinse, allow the feeder parts to air dry, and then reassemble and refill. It is recommended to clean every time you change out the water, and to change our water often (especially as we get into regular hotter temperatures)!
NEVER add red dyes, it can harm your hummers!
Put out feeders in early spring and take up around 2 weeks after you see your last hummingbird in the fall/winter.
NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension.
