march 2020 hortupdate · join us to learn how to home-can and how to dehydrate your foods to...
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March 2020 HortUpdate
Woodford CountyCooperative Extension Service
184 Beasley DriveVersailles, KY 40383-8992
(859) [email protected]
March 2020The first day of spring is officially March 19th! We have some exciting programs
coming up to help everyone get ready for the 2020 growing season. All of our events
are listed below and please click on the links to find flyers, registration, and more
information. Our Spring Gardening Workshop is March 28th and we have some great
topics/speakers lined up this year so you don’t want to miss it! We are also having
our first annual Berry & Asparagus sale on March 21st. The Master Gardener Plant
Sale will be held on April 25th this year so mark your calendars!
You can find more information in the events section of this newsletter. If you have
any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or by
phone at 859-873-4601.
March 2020 HortUpdate
Monarch Waystation GrantThe Monarch Grant Program is designed to encourage Woodford County residents to
establish or expand Monarch waystations by planting native plants that will attract
and sustain Monarch butterflies as well as other species of butterflies and pollinators.
The Woodford County Cooperative Extension Service and the Woodford County
Conservation District in partnership with The Woodford County Extension Master
Gardeners are sponsoring grants in 2020. Each grant recipient will receive
approximately 10 plants (a value of about $50) to plant at their residence or on other
property in Woodford County. To find the application click here on the Monarch
Waystation Grant Application. You can email completed applications to
[email protected] OR drop them off at our office. For more information
please call the Woodford County Extension Office at 859-873-4601.
Cover Crop Seed This year we are offering Buckwheat seed as a cover crop for gardens. Buckwheat is a
short-season cover crop that matures in just 70 to 90 days and its residue breaks
down quickly. Buckwheat suppresses weeds and attracts beneficial insects and
pollinators with its abundant blossoms. Stop by the Woodford County Conservation
District or the Woodford County Extension Office to get a free bag of Buckwheat
Cover Crop Seed starting on April 27th. For more information contact us at 859-873-
4601.
New Tool for Identifying Pests of Woody PlantsThe Department of Entomology has created a new, interactive website to help
concerned tree owners identify their insect problems. The “Guide to Insect Pests of
Woody Plants” will hopefully be of use to you if you have the pest in hand or if you
just have the damage they left behind.
The layout is very similar to other helpful guides, such as “Garden Insects of North
America,” and can be used best by knowing what plant is being attacked. If you click
on the “Pest List by Tree/Shrub Species” you will see an alphabetical list of some of
the more common woody plants. If you click on one of the species, you will find lists
of the most frequent pests of that plant. The site is not exhaustive of all woody plants
or all pests, but will be updated with more species soon.
There are also dichotomous keys specifically for Maple, Elm, and Walnut pests and a
general pest identification key to help narrow things down.
This is a fun way to research the issue you are having and then call your local county
March 2020 HortUpdate
extension agent to confirm what you find.
H.E.A.R.T.S.Leadership Woodford County (class of 2019-2020) is currently working on the
community service project they created, called H.E.A.R.T.S. (Helping Educate At
Risk Teen Students). They are partnering with the Middle and High School to have a
Hygiene Drive for Woodford County teens in need. Items being collected are
deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hair brushes, shampoo, conditioner, feminine
products, and body wash. Monetary donations are also being collected to purchase
these items. For more information on where to bring items, click here to see a flyer.
Food Preservation WorkshopsJoin us to learn how to home-can and how to dehydrate your foods to prolong fresh
foods. All classes are free, but pre-registration is required. Click here to see the flyer
for dates and details. Call or email to register: (859) 873-4601 or email
Upcoming Events:
Wednesday, March 11th – 5:30 PM – 7 PM, Shiitake MushroomInoculation Class, Woodford County Extension OfficeGrowing your own mushrooms is both exciting and tasty. We will learn all about
shiitakes and then drill and inoculate logs for participants to take home (2 logs per
participant). Registration is required by March 6th at the Extension Office, limit of
25 participants so sign up soon! Cost $10.00 per person. Register online here. Call
859-873-4601 with any questions.
Monday, March 16th - 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Homebased MicroprocessorWorkshopThis workshop is required in order to sell products such as home-canned tomatoes
and tomato products, pickled fruits and vegetables, salsa, barbecue sauces, pepper
March 2020 HortUpdate
and herb jellies, pressure-canned vegetables, and low- or no-sugar jams and jellies.
There is $50 fee for this workshop. More information can be found at the
website here. Click here for the flyer.
Saturday, March 21st 9 AM – 12 PM, Berry & Asparagus Plant Sale, HuffmanPavilion at Falling Spring ParkFirst annual Berry plant sale! Berry plants for sale will include strawberries,
blackberries and raspberries and asparagus. Information on planting, growing and
maintenance will be available as well. Prices will be $0.50 per 1 year crown asparagus
plant, $2 per plant for raspberries, $3.00 per plant for blackberries, and $0.50 per
plant for strawberries. For any questions call 859-873-4601.
Saturday, March 28th – 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM, Spring GardeningWorkshop, Woodford County Extension OfficeTopics this year include Selecting and Growing Hydrangeas, Container Gardening for
Beauty, Design, and Plant Selection, Building a Raised Bed for Vegetables, Growing
Vegetables using Organic Methods, Growing and Using Microgreens, and Vertical
Gardening with Ornamentals and Vegetables. Click here to register online.
Thursday, April 9th - 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM, Growing PawPaw Trees Learn from KSU expert, Sheri Crabtree, how to plant, grow and care for pawpaw
trees. Each participant will receive 2 trees with the registration fee of $25 OR attend
the class for free and receive the information. Pre-registration and payment (if
wanting trees) is required by March 13th. Online registration will be available soon.
Call 859-873-4601 for questions.
Tuesday, April 14th - 12:00 p.m., Magnificent Mushrooms, WoodfordCounty Public Library (Versailles Branch)Mushrooms are grown and available year round at our grocery stores, but have you
ever tried different varieties? Come learn all about cooking different types of
mushrooms and see a demonstration of a delicious mushroom dish. This class is free
and there will be samples, so please RSVP. Call or email to register: (859) 873-4601
Saturday, April 18th – 10 AM to 2 PM, Tree Seedling Giveaway, Kroger inVersailles Annual tree seedling giveaway! More information to come in the next newsletter.
Save the Date!
March 2020 HortUpdate
Saturday, April 25th – 9 AM to 12 PM, Annual Master Gardener Plant Sale,Downtown Versailles Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your questions. There will be heirloom
tomatoes, peppers, herbs, annual & perennial flowers, milkweed & nectar plants for
butterflies, yard/garden art and more! We can only accept payment by cash or check.
Thursday, April 30th – 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM, Beginning VegetableGardening, Midway LibraryIn this Beginning Vegetable Gardening course you will learn where to put your
garden, when to plant it and what are some of the easiest veggies to grow. We will
also discuss maintenance tips and how to get the most out of your backyard garden!
Participants will receive seed and a vegetable gardening guidebook. This is a free
class but please register by calling the Midway Library at (859) 846-4014.
Thursday, May 14th - 2 p.m., Plant Native Program
Alicia Bosela, educator and owner of Ironweed Native Plant Nursery will speak about
native plants at the Woodford County Extension Office. This program is free & open
to the public. RSVP by calling 859-873-4601. There will be limited number of
milkweed and nectar plants for sale!
