Montgomery County, VA Extension Office & Soil Testing Directory
Welcome to the official directory resource for Montgomery County, VA. Connecting local homeowners, urban gardeners, and commercial growers with Virginia's land-grant university extension resources, state soil testing lab services, and Master Gardener volunteer clinics.
1. Extension Office Contact Details & Operational Hours
The Virginia Cooperative Extension - Montgomery County serves as the primary educational extension center in Montgomery County. Visit or call during standard operational hours for agricultural advice, soil sample kits, and youth 4-H programs.
| Official Office Name: | Virginia Cooperative Extension - Montgomery County |
| Physical Address: | 755 Roanoke Street, Suite 1G, Christiansburg, VA 24073 |
| Direct Phone Desk: | (540) 382-5749 |
| Email Contact: | montgomery@vt.edu |
| Office Hours: | Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Official Web Portal: | https://montgomery.ext.vt.edu/ |
2. Official Soil Testing Laboratory & Pricing
Testing your soil is the single most important step before adding fertilizers or agricultural lime. The official testing laboratory serving Montgomery County is Virginia Tech Soil Testing Laboratory.
| Official Testing Lab: | Virginia Tech Soil Testing Laboratory |
| Lab Location: | 145 Smyth Hall, 185 Ag Quad Lane, Blacksburg, VA 24061 |
| Routine Sample Fee: | $10 per routine soil sample |
| Expected Turnaround: | 5 to 7 business days |
| Official Lab Website: | https://www.soiltest.vt.edu/ |
How to Collect and Submit a Soil Sample in Montgomery County:
- Pick up a Soil Kit: Pick up official sample boxes and submittal forms at the Virginia Cooperative Extension - Montgomery County (755 Roanoke Street, Suite 1G, Christiansburg, VA 24073).
- Collect Sub-Samples: Use a clean stainless steel trowel to take 10 to 12 soil cores from a 4-to-6-inch depth across your garden or lawn area.
- Air-Dry: Mix sub-samples in a clean plastic bucket and air-dry on clean paper at room temperature (never use an oven).
- Submit Sample: Return your filled soil box to the extension office or mail directly to Virginia Tech Soil Testing Laboratory.
3. Master Gardener Volunteer Program & Plant Clinic
The New River Valley Master Gardeners provides free plant disease diagnostics, lawn care advice, and eco-friendly pest management tips.
| Program Name: | New River Valley Master Gardeners |
| Plant Clinic Hours: | Tuesday and Thursday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Note: Plant clinics run seasonally; call office during winter months) |
| Direct Helpline Phone: | (540) 382-5749 |
| Program Portal: | https://nrvmastergardeners.com/ |
Volunteer Training: 50 hours of Virginia Tech and Virginia State faculty instruction.
4. Regional Soil & Growing Snapshot for Montgomery County
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: Zone 6b
Natural Soil Profile: Blue Ridge and Ridge-Valley Loam (Naturally acidic)
Popular Local Crops: Apples, berries, sweet corn, cool-season grasses
Extension Specialist Tip: Virginia soils leach calcium during rainy spring months; test soil pH to calculate lime requirements.
5. 🧮 Interactive Soil Amendment Calculator for Montgomery County
Estimate the recommended agricultural limestone or elemental sulfur needed to adjust your garden soil pH based on local Blue Ridge and Ridge-Valley Loam (Naturally acidic) characteristics.
📚 Recommended Extension Guides & Soil Articles
Learn more about interpreting your Montgomery County extension soil test report and managing plant nutrients:
Frequently Asked Questions (Montgomery County Directory)
The Virginia Cooperative Extension - Montgomery County is located at 755 Roanoke Street, Suite 1G, Christiansburg, VA 24073. You can call their main desk directly at (540) 382-5749 during standard business hours (Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM).
Standard soil analysis for Montgomery County garden samples through Virginia Tech Soil Testing Laboratory costs $10 per routine soil sample. Check with the office for special sample types.
You can reach the New River Valley Master Gardeners hotline by calling (540) 382-5749 during plant clinic hours (Tuesday and Thursday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM).
Montgomery County falls primarily within USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b. Local soil is characterized as Blue Ridge and Ridge-Valley Loam (Naturally acidic).
Written & Verified by Sahajul
Verified Author & Founder
Sahajul is an independent agricultural data researcher based in India and founder of LocalSoilLab.com. He specializes in compiling, structuring, and verifying US land-grant university extension services, soil lab testing fee schedules, and county Master Gardener contact directories directly from official .edu and USDA NIFA portals.