Virginia Cooperative Extension - Roanoke

08/18/2026

Join Virginia Cooperative Extension for FREE Fall Gardening & Landscape Care Classes and learn how to keep your landscape thriving through the fall and beyond!
Topics include:

🌳 Caring for lawns, trees, and shrubs
✂️ Planting, pruning, fertilizing, and winterizing your landscape
📅 When: Wednesdays, August 19, 2026
🕠 Time: 5:30–6:30 p.m.
📍 Location: Troutville Ag & ACE Hardware
8649 Cloverdale Road, Troutville, VA 24175
✅ FREE to attend!
Register today by calling 540-992-1001 or stopping by Troutville Ag & ACE Hardware.
Bring your gardening questions and leave with practical tips you can put to use right away. We hope to see you there! 🌿
Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and local governments, and is an equal opportunity employer. For the full non-discrimination statement, please visit ext.vt.edu/accessibility.
If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Dana Acimovic, Roanoke County / Roanoke and Salem Office at (540) 772-7524 during business hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to discuss accommodations 5 days prior to the event.

08/14/2026

🐓 Backyard Poultry 101 🐣
Monday, August 17, 2026
9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
FREE
Roanoke County Cooperative Extension Office
3738 Brambleton Ave., Room 16
Roanoke, VA 24018
Have you ever thought about raising your own chickens? Whether you're interested in collecting fresh eggs, producing meat for your family, or starting a small poultry enterprise, this workshop will help you get started with confidence.
We will take you through the step-by-step process of how to raise meat birds and egg layers from hatching through to the end product. The workshop will address the different breeds of chickens, as well as which breeds are best for obtaining the value-added results you want for your individual markets.
Space is limited to 20 participants, so register early!
Register at: ext.vsu.edu/calendar
Questions?
Brent Noell
📞 804-892-0140
✉️ [email protected]

f you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Dana Acimovic, Roanoke County / Roanoke and Salem VCE office at 540-772-7524 / *TDD during business hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to discuss accommodations 5 days prior to the event. *TDD number is (800) 828-1120.

08/06/2026

08/06/2026

Have you got plans for your garden this month? August is a busy time for planting! 🌞🌱

Direct Sowing:

Zones 6A & 6B: Beets, Swiss Chard, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Salad Lettuce, Mustard, Radish, Rutabaga, Spinach, Turnips

Zone 7A: Beets, Carrots, Swiss Chard, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Salad Lettuce, Mustard, Radish, Rutabaga, Southern Pea, Summer Squash, Turnips

Zone 7B: Beets, Carrots, Swiss Chard, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Salad Lettuce, Mustard, Rutabaga, Southern Pea, Summer Squash, Turnips

Zone 8A: Bush Beans, Beets, Carrots, Collards, Kale, Cucumber, Eggplant, Salad Lettuce, Mustard, Okra, Peppers, Southern Pea, Summer Squash, Turnips

Zone 8B: Check the publication linked below!

Transplanting:

Zones 6A & 6B: Broccoli, Cabbage, Chinese Cabbage, Cauliflower, Leeks, Head Lettuce

Zone 7A: Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Chinese Cabbage, Cauliflower, Leeks, Head Lettuce

Zones 7B & 8A: Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Chinese Cabbage, Cauliflower, Leeks, Head Lettuce, Tomatoes

Zone 8B: Check the publication linked below!

You can prepare for the entire planting season by visiting https://brnw.ch/plantguide
To determine your USDA zone, you can enter your zip code here: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov

08/06/2026

Virginia Cooperative Extension cordially invites you to the 2nd Annual Cut Flower Field Day! Whether you are a cut flower grower, floral designer, gardener, or enthusiast, join us for a day of learning, networking, educational booths, a daylily farm tour, and vendor access.

Event Details:
Date: September 25th
Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Deb's Daylilies, 636 Adams Rd, Randolph, VA 23962
Cost: Free to attend

RSVP & Vendor Information
Please RSVP by September 18th to Erin Small:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (434) 392-0300

If you wish to sponsor the program or participate as a vendor, please notify Erin when registering. Don't forget to bring cash if you plan to purchase from vendors or leave donations!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accessibility & Accommodations (ADA Notice)
Virginia Cooperative Extension is committed to providing equal access to its programs.
Event Terrain & Attire: Please dress according to the weather and be prepared to walk on outdoor, potentially unstable terrain.
Requesting Accommodations: If you are a person with a disability and require assistive devices, services, or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Erin Small, ANR Agent at the Prince Edward Extension Office, at (434) 392-0300 (or via TDD at (800) 828-1120) during business hours (8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) at least 5 days prior to the event to discuss your needs.

07/31/2026

Join Virginia Cooperative Extension for FREE Fall Gardening & Landscape Care Classes and learn how to keep your landscape thriving through the fall and beyond!

Topics include:
🌼 Planning a successful fall vegetable and ornamental garden
🍅 Extending the growing season with cold frames
🌳 Caring for lawns, trees, and shrubs
✂️ Planting, pruning, fertilizing, and winterizing your landscape

📅 When: Wednesdays, August 5 & 19, 2026
🕠 Time: 5:30–6:30 p.m.
📍 Location: Troutville Ag & ACE Hardware
8649 Cloverdale Road, Troutville, VA 24175

✅ FREE to attend!

Register today by calling 540-992-1001 or stopping by Troutville Ag & ACE Hardware.

Bring your gardening questions and leave with practical tips you can put to use right away. We hope to see you there! 🌿

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and local governments, and is an equal opportunity employer. For the full non-discrimination statement, please visit ext.vt.edu/accessibility.

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Dana Acimovic, Roanoke County / Roanoke and Salem Office at (540) 772-7524 during business hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to discuss accommodations 5 days prior to the event.

07/23/2026

🐓 Backyard Poultry 101 🐣

Monday, August 17, 2026
9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
FREE

Roanoke County Cooperative Extension Office
3738 Brambleton Ave., Room 16
Roanoke, VA 24018

Have you ever thought about raising your own chickens? Whether you're interested in collecting fresh eggs, producing meat for your family, or starting a small poultry enterprise, this workshop will help you get started with confidence.

We will take you through the step-by-step process of how to raise meat birds and egg layers from hatching through to the end product. The workshop will address the different breeds of chickens, as well as which breeds are best for obtaining the value-added results you want for your individual markets.

Space is limited to 20 participants, so register early!

Register at: ext.vsu.edu/calendar

Questions?
Brent Noell
📞 804-892-0140
✉️ [email protected]

07/17/2026

What’s in Your Water? 💧

Using a well, spring, or cistern for your drinking water? Take charge of your water quality! Virginia Cooperative Extension offers affordable water testing clinics across the state through the Virginia Household Water Quality Program.

$70/sample kit (subsidized kits may be available)
Tests for: Coliform bacteria, E. coli, lead, copper, arsenic, hardness, pH, nitrate, sulfate, fluoride, and more!

Upcoming Clinic(s) in Roanoke City and County:

Kit Pick-Up: Monday, Sept. 28 | 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | VCE Roanoke Office, 3738 Brambleton Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24018

Drop-Off: Wednesday, Sept. 30 | 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a. m. | VCE Roanoke Office, 3738 Brambleton Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24018

Pre-registration is required. Register for your kit online at: https://www.tinyurl.com/VAHWQP-RO

Did You Know?
40% of Virginia well water samples tested positive for coliform bacteria.* Make sure yours isn’t one of them.

Learn more at wellwater.bse.vt.edu
Accessible, confidential, and essential for your health.
*based on 6866 samples tested from 2008 - 2016 in 90 Virginia counties

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Dana Acimovic at (540) 772-7524 or (800) 828-1120 during business hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to discuss accommodations 5 days prior to the event.

07/16/2026

Summary of Governor's Office Drought Update:

Virginia is experiencing one of its worst droughts on record. The current water year is the second driest on record, and the Roanoke Drought Evaluation Region has received only 57% of its normal rainfall.

Stream flows in the Roanoke River watershed remain extremely low, with flows below the 5th percentile.

Soil moisture remains well below normal, particularly along the Blue Ridge Mountains, increasing drought stress on crops, pastures, and landscapes.

Many wells in the Roanoke region are at provisional record daily low water levels, with groundwater levels below the 5th percentile.

Major reservoirs, including Smith Mountain Lake and John Kerr Reservoir, are several feet below normal.

If conditions continue to deteriorate, Virginia may issue a drought emergency declaration, triggering mandatory restrictions on non-essential water use.

https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2026/july-releases/name-1121328-en.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com