Solution for plant-aholic: Share the abundance

My friend Chris recently told me she is married to a plant-aholic. "He doesn't suffer from alcoholism, or eatism, he suffers from plantism."

For months after he planted veggie seeds, he babied them until they took over the house. Unfortunately, in his enthusiasm to get his garden going, he put his plants out too early and they froze even though he had covered them with plastic. First they suffered from the cold under the plastic, and then, because he didn't remove the plastic soon enough, they baked as it heated up under there. "What didn't freeze, fried. He mourned to the point of tears."

After losing his plants, his family decided to console him by taking him to nurseries to replace them. However, this was not as easy as it sounds. The man is a plant connoisseur, so not just any plant would do. They spent the day finding just the right chilis, just the right tomatoes and so on through the vegetable palette. They didn't have the heart to tell him the cost of his plant addiction.

This is not an unusual story. I have been a plant-aholic, but I'm recovering. Many gardeners suffer this same addiction. Some recover and others never do. If you are a plant-aholic and have planted enough veggies to feed half of Northern Nevada, the Comstock Gardeners in Storey County will accept excess produce to help feed Storey County elders and families in need, as will FISH, Ron Wood Family Resource Center and other nonprofits. Call me for the contact in Storey County.

If, on the other hand, your garden froze, remember you can purchase delicious vine-ripened fruit and veggies at the many fabulous farmers markets in the area. Carson City has farmers markets on Wednesdays, 3:30-7:30 p.m. at the Pony Express Pavilion at Mills Park and on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at 3rd and Curry streets. Gardnerville's market is on Wednesdays from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at Lampe Park. Now, the Storey County Comstock Gardeners invite you to visit Virginia City's farmers market on Thursdays, beginning June 10 and continuing through Oct. 14, from 3-6 p.m. at Miners Park next to the Senior Center.

Perhaps you will never need assistance solving gardening dilemmas such as weed and insect management, or answering the eternal "What's wrong with my plant" question, but if you do, call your local University of Nevada Cooperative Extension office. In Carson City / Storey County the number is 887-2252. In Douglas County call 782-9960 and in Washoe County call 784-4848. Or e-mail me at skellyj@unce.unr.edu.

• JoAnne Skelly is the Carson City/Storey County Extension educator for University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and may be reached at skellyj@unce.unr.edu or 887-2252.