Spring seminar offers something new for all gardeners

A week from spring was perfect timing for people attending the spring gardening seminar at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Jackson on Saturday.

For a $5 registration fee individuals could choose from classes on orchids, propagation, fruit production, cooking with fresh herbs, landscaping with containers, making use of shade, and flower and vegetable gardening.

"For the first few years, it began with a $12 registration fee, and there was not a lot of attendance," said master gardener Ketti Cash. "Then we had it for free and there was good attendance. Now that we've exhausted the local speaker source, we're trying to bring in professional speakers from afar."

Advance registration last year was 30. This year 65 people registered ahead of time, with about 100 total expected at the ninth annual event.

Master gardeners in green polo shirts were available to answer questions but also assisted at workshops in handing out supplies and directing participants. The purpose of the nationwide master gardener program is to train people who will pass on gardening information to others.

And even those with plenty of gardening experience learned something new.

Nelson Sparks of Cape Girardeau, a master gardener of 12 years, found the propagation workshop "refreshing."

The class, led by Denise Pingel, Southeast Missouri State University's horticulturist greenhouse manager, taught that placing plastic over the newly propagated plants offers high humidity, which protects cuttings from wilting, scorching or leaf drop if kept out of direct sunlight.

"This is an inexpensive way to have nice foliage," Sparks said.

The class also taught that clean cuts with scissors sanitized in bleach and water promote propagation and that trimming foliage from the cutting's lower half eliminates rot that would occur if the leaves were left on.

"The more foliage it [the cutting] has on it the harder it is to root," Pingel said. "It takes a lot of energy for plants to maintain that foliage."

University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist Kate Keeley of Ste. Genevieve, Mo., led a PowerPoint presentation on fruit crops including varieties, ideal growing conditions, ripening seasons, plant longevity, training, pruning and pest control.

To produce good, high-quality fruit, she recommended pruning as a top priority, following recommended soil pH and using good pruning tools to lower the risk of disease.

She stressed that testing and amending the soil is much easier to do before planting than after.

Master gardener Robert Harris had a table with information on the Fountain Street Community Garden Project near Fort D. Anyone is eligible to work in or contribute to the garden, which distributes the vegetables grown to senior citizen centers and churches for use in the community. In existence since 2002, the garden will improve with the addition of irrigation and flowers this year.

capagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133