Kraus Farm, Nokesville, VA (2026)

04/03/2026

Just a look at some of the things blooming on our farm right now. We have only one acre (small for farm standards) but we’re very careful about the use of our space. So far, we have at least fifty varieties of fruits growing on the back of our property.

Pictured here:
1: Apple Tree, grafted with a few varieties
2: Pear Tree, also grafted with 3 types
3: Peach Tree: shares a tree with nectarines and plums
4: Virginia Bluebells, tucked into our shady grove
5: Sassafras Sapling
6: Paw Paw Tree (love their dark flowers)
7 & 8: Native Crab Apple tree
9: Red Maple
10: Blueberry blooms
11: Juneberry (serviceberry)

Not pictured but also popping out or blooming here: Redbuds, elderberries, cherry trees, Nanking cherry, figs, Golden Alexanders, tulips, all kinds of perennials, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, peonies, hellebores, ferns, lilies, garlic, onions, potatoes, and sweetspires.

I love this time of year!

03/08/2026

These warmer days have woken my garlic up!

In Northern VA, garlic is typically planted in late fall, and then it roots up over the winter. By early summer, you’ll have a brand new bulb beneath each set of leaves. 1 leaf=1 clove in the bulb, and different varieties produce a different number of cloves. But they all look like this when they first sprout, and then they’ll start to fill out as more cloves develop.

Our favorite varieties here are hard neck because they throw up “scapes” in the spring that are absolutely delicious.

This year we’re growing Chesnok Red and Idaho Silver varieties. I’ll keep some for fresh use, and I’ll preserve some and dehydrate some for garlic powder.

Since this spot will open up in early summer, this bed will be planted with beans and summer squashes when they’re harvested.

If you think you’d like to try planting some garlic this fall, order in spring to ensure you get your order on time and in the varieties you actually want. I prefer as they are virus tested and they have lots of fun organic options, including sampler packs. I always put in my calendar to check in early May to place my order, but you can peruse their options in the meantime.

03/03/2026

March is the perfect time to plant potatoes in Northern VA. We always aim to have ours in the soil by St. Patrick’s Day.

🥔 Certified Organic Seed Potatoes are available for pre-order now in our online store for local pickup. Remember: seed potatoes are harvested at Ed and stored differently and at different times than grocery store potatoes, and they’re tested for viruses (unlike food potatoes).

🥔 Fun Fact: grocery store potatoes use generic names for potatoes to be able to interchange different varieties that look similar. Grow your own to ensure you’re getting the variety you want!

🥔 Don’t know where to start? We have workshops for that! I’ll go over the “cheap and lazy” method we use for all gardening consultations. The best, most balanced gardens require less money and energy than most people would expect. We will cover research-based, bio-friendly practices for selecting varieties, prepping soil, preparing a space or containers, planting, maintaining, harvesting, and storing your potatoes. Not only will you have access to the recording later, but you’ll also have lifetime access to an online vault of resources that go along with it!

🥔 Kids love growing potatoes because the seed potatoes are nice and big, the grow quickly, and they’re fun to harvest. Yukon Golds even grow flowers!

🥔 Many clients assume you need a ton of space to grow potatoes, but in fact you can grow them in a container on your porch if you wanted.

🥔 Our Certified Organic Yukon Gold potatoes are a yellow fleshed potato renowned for outstanding flavor and dry texture. Perfect baked, boiled, mashed or fried and they keep really well in storage.

Join our workshop! It’s designed for people everywhere, so share with friends and family and let’s grow together ❤️🥔

02/26/2026

Kraus Farm is offering a series of virtual workshops--check it out! I'll be offering some of my most popular topics covered in our private consultations as part of a public offering. Sign up for any one (or all!) of our workshops, and you'll get access to the live link, the virtual recording, and several relevant resources to help guide you long after we meet. These interactive workshops are designed with YOU in mind--no matter where you live! Share with a friend; these workshops are relevant to all types of gardening spaces and locations.

Our topics include:
• Garden Planning
• Seed Starting
• Potatoes & Sweet Potatoes
• Productive, Pest-Resilient Gardens
• Darling Dahlias
• Tomatoes: The Juicy Details
• Planting for Pollinators

Looking forward to seeing you!
https://www.krausfarmva.com/collections/gardening-workshops

02/19/2026

Northern VA People:
Check out the Native Seedling Sale happening now through the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District. They sell bundles of 4 native plants for $20--that's only $5 per shrub/tree!

This year they're offering my four favorite plants! They are offering two bundled options, each including (2) of both plants.

"Pick of the Patch" (Small Trees) 2 each of:
• American Plum: (Prunus americana) - super hardy small tree (20-35') with beautiful clusters of white flowers in the spring. Considered a "keystone" species, it supports a huge amount of wildlife and works great for a hedgerow or privacy as well. These trees are fast growing and low maintenance, and native bees LOVE it.
• Paw Paw: (Asimina triloba) - a native tree that produces fruit similar to a custardy cross between a banana and a mango with a hint of vanilla sweetness. They're only 12-20' high, so they're manageable and very easy to grow. Deer, pest, and disease resistant. Very pretty canopies. Tolerates shade well. You'll need at least 2 if you want fruit. This is the only host of the Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly!

"Berry Bonanza" (Shrubs) 2 each of:
• Canadian Serviceberry: (Amelanchier canadensis) - fantastic for a showy shrub or even privacy at 15-30' tall. Early spring brings SO many clusters of tiny white flowers. Gorgeous and firey in the fall. Brings in the birds and the bees; can be easily pruned for a neat (Read: HOA friendly) appearance. As a keystone species, it provides more wildlife value than most plants
• American Elderberry: (Sambucus canadensis) - my personal fav. Gorgeous umbels of white flowers turn into delicious berries in late summer on a 6-12' shrub, usable for jellies, syrups, pies, or even just feeding the birds. Grows in partial shade best, but mine are fine in the full sun. The hollow stems provide nesting spaces for native bees, and it's a great nectar source for butterflies too. Very fast growing.

Any one of these plants will provide beauty, wildlife benefits, and landscape appeal to your outdoor space. I've purchased seedlings from them every year, and they never disappoint. Pre-order before they run out. The link below will take you to the storefront to pre-order. Pickup is in late March.

https://nvswcdevents.myrec.com/info/products/default.aspx?CategoryID=101

01/12/2026

Somebody walked into my garage where I had a pile of my divided dahlia bundles ready for checking and said, “Oh my gosh, I thought that was drugs for a second.”

I mean… same difference. IFKYK 🤪

08/26/2025

Fact Checking Google

When any search engine uses A.I. to complete a search or give a summary, it's searching the entire internet. That includes the misinformation, the satire, and the propaganda. This is especially important to note when seeking gardening advice. I suggest using your local Master Gardener sites to find research-based solutions or suggestions, and do not rely on Google or AI search tools for this reason. Here's a great example:

I've been finding a lot of decapitated baby birds on my property, and was looking into what predator may be doing this. I've seen a lot of outdoor cats around, and suppose it's probably them but I wanted to see what other sources had to say. Google's AI feature suggested I find a rehabber for those birds, saying that they say "it's likely that they'll need medical attention without a head." Real life, guys. That's what it said.

Here's your reminder to use reputable sources!

08/04/2025

This is a Swamp Milkweed that I bought on clearance at a local nursery (straight native species). Two weeks later, it’s covered in Oleander aphids—those orange bugs around the stem. I don’t remove them for two reasons.

1) it encourages new fresh growth when foliage is lost, and that’s what monarchs like to lay eggs on for young caterpillars to eat.

2) it brings in the prey. Look closely for those white eggs on long hair-like strands coming off of the leaves. Those are lacewing eggs! The third photo highlights them specifically. Lacewings and their larvae are voracious aphid eaters.

Long story short: if you leave it only up to you to manage pests, you’ll never attract their predators. They like a target-rich environment. If you leave them be and let nature do its thing, it’ll pleasantly surprise you. Gardening has become so much easier now that I’ve just stepped back. This is especially true with pests like aphids, which don’t typically kill plants but are a nuisance. I’ve also taken this stance with hornworms, and just get moved away from the garden on a sacrificial branch. (Stronger pest populations, like squash bugs and cucumber beetles, may require hand-picking still.)

06/26/2025

What the Phlox!? How Rude(Beckia)!

06/16/2025

The Governor of Virginia has officially proclaimed: It's Pollinator Week!

"Pollinator Week 2025 is a celebration of the vital role that pollinators play in our ecosystems, economies, and agriculture. Under the inspiring theme "Pollinator Weave Connections," this year's event urges us to appreciate the essential role pollinators play in creating and expressing human culture, in all of its forms. These essential creatures, including bees, butterflies, moths, bats, beetles, and hummingbirds, are the unsung heroes behind the food we enjoy and the beauty that surrounds us. As we reflect on the interconnectedness of our world, let's unite in a collective effort to protect and preserve these crucial pollinators. By understanding the impact of our actions on their habitats and embracing sustainable practices, we can pave the way for a flourishing future. Join us in celebrating Pollinator Week 2025, and let's cultivate a world where both nature and humanity thrive in harmony. Explore our resources, learn about pollinator-friendly initiatives, and be inspired to contribute to the vision of a greener and more sustainable tomorrow." (https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator-week/)

06/04/2025

Garden hack: a mailbox in your garden space helps you keep all your tools dry, contained, and close by. I put all my garden gloves in a screw-top container in there too (keeps spiders out. IYKYK).

This mailbox was a custom request. I knew I wanted a mailbox, but didn’t want it to look like your average USPS stop. Siobhan at did NOT disappoint. She incorporated all the things I love about our farm and I can’t wait for the flowering Mandevilla vine I planted at the base to give it a little something’ extra.

This is a space I’m currently revamping. We took down an old rotted garden bed and a much older shed and replaced it with some new metal raised beds. I moved a bunch of overcrowded perennials from old beds to this spot by the greenhouse to establish and it is already looking so pretty. Thank you, Siobhan!! This is the cherry on top and I. AM. OBSESSED.

06/01/2025

It's Pride Month and so I'd be remiss if I didn't share our list of Northern VA native wildlife who strut their stuff. I'm voting these "Wildlife Most Likely to be in a Pride Parade: NoVA Edition."

1: Northern Cardinal: despite being obviously flamboyant, these guys absolutely SERVE when there's snow on the ground. Are they ever not posing?
2: Orange Assassin Bug: Aptly named, this guy SLAYS. Not only is he dressed to the nines 24/7, but he never leaves the house without his tights.
3. Showy Goldenrod: She would sashay down the parade route like nature’s drag queen in full gold glam, turning heads and serving pollinator realness
4. Carolina Mantid: a green, glamazon runway assassin—arms up, attitude high, and ready to sn**ch wigs with every calculated strut. (And come on--she eats the males' head when she has no use for them.)
5. Indigo Bunting: serving sky-high eleganza — a little sapphire queen strutting through the trees with feathers so fierce, she’s got Mother Nature gagging on her blues!
6. Gayfeather: rocking a spike of purple perfection, standing proud and proud-er, and giving you all the drama, elegance, and unstoppable charisma you crave. She. is. serving.

Kraus Farm

04/03/2026

03/08/2026

03/03/2026

02/26/2026

02/19/2026

01/12/2026

08/26/2025

08/04/2025

06/26/2025

06/16/2025

06/04/2025

06/01/2025

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