How an Appalachian Apple Became The Gold Standard

It’s fall. Here at Bob’s this means three things – pansies, mums, and apples. Apples are pretty amazing. We owe modern apples to central Asian farmers thousands of years ago who first domesticated apples. However, we can look a little closer to home when it comes to the most popular varieties of apples today. Two popular varieties have their origin right here in West Virginia. Grimes Golden and Golden Delicious, West Virginia’s official state fruit. In 2013, the Golden Delicious was one of four apple varieties featured on 33-cent stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service.

Fall, History, Produce, StoryJohn MorganOctober 19, 2017apple, golden delicious, inside appalachia, West Virginia

How To Harvest Potatoes

To harvest potatoes, you’ll need a shovel or a spading fork. If you’re harvesting for supper, drive your fork into the soil at the outside edges of the plant. Carefully lift the plant and remove the potatoes you need. Set the plant back in place and water thoroughly.

Gardening, Plant Care, Produce, VideoJohn MorganJuly 4, 2017potato, potatoes, harvest, dig, digging, storage

Direct Seeding

Unless you live in an area where summers are really short, you're better off sowing some types of vegetables directly in a garden.

DIY, Gardening, Produce, VideoJohn MorganMay 18, 2017seed, sowing, rows, Gardening, vegetables

2017 Gardening Resolutions

2017 is here, and as I reflect back on this previous year’s gardening successes and failures, there are some goals I would like to set.

Gardening, Landscaping, Plant Care, ProduceJohn MorganJanuary 6, 2017garden, resolutions, new year

Bountiful Tips

Harvest time is here, and now you realize you planted waaay too much. With tons of tomatoes, bushels of beans, and zillions of zucchinis, you might feel like there is more than you can use. Here are some ideas for getting the most out of the most you’ve ever grown.

Cooking, Fall, Gardening, ProduceJohn MorganAugust 12, 2016produce, harvest, sharing, canning, compost

Flooded Gardens: Produce Safety is Key

Many of us watched in horror as flood waters ravaged communities around West Virginia over the last week or so. The flooding has been devastating with lives lost, homes lost and memories washed away. This flood will have an effect on many of our communities for years to come.

As the waters recede and clean-up efforts continue, there’s one area of concern that many may not have thought of: the safety of garden produce in flooded areas.

The Difference Between Peaches and Nectarines

Last night I had a customer that messaged us via Facebook. She was wondering if we still had peaches. Unfortunately we are out, but we do have nectarines. Did you know that nectarines are just peaches with their fuzz shaved off? Really! We have a crew locked in a back room at Bob’s equipped with razors. Not buying it? Me neither. However, genetically speaking, it isn’t that far from the truth.

ProduceJohn MorganSeptember 18, 2015peaches, nectarines, fruit, botany, science, genetics

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