Fruit producers will have another opportunity to learn how to prune and train fruit trees to maximize fruit production. These techniques will be demonstrated on apple and pear trees growing at the ISU Southeast Research Farm near Crawfordsville on Wednesday, March 21.
Patrick O’Malley, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach commercial horticulturist, will discuss why and how the different types of fruit trees are pruned and trained to maximize annual fruit production. O’Malley presented a similar program in February at the Washington County Extension office to a full house. The workshop on March 21 will be a demonstration.
The workshop will be held at 1:00 pm at the ISU Southeast Iowa Research Farm located at 3115 Louisa-Washington Rd, Crawfordsville. The cost of the workshop is $5.00. If you have questions, contact Johnson County Extension and Outreach at 319-337-2145 or omall@iastate.edu.
Mahaska County Master Gardeners are hosting Treva Reimer on Saturday, March 17 at 10:00 AM at the Mahaska County Extension office; 212 North I Street, Oskaloosa. The presentation is open to the public; and there is no fee to attend. Prior registration is NOT required. Anyone who is interested in the topic is encouraged to attend.
More information about this and other horticulture events can be found at the Mahaska County Extension Office; 212 North I Street; Oskaloosa Phone 641-673-5841; and www.extension.iastate.edu/mahaska/yardgarden.htm.
Community gardening is on the rise in Oskaloosa! In 2016 there is an additional garden as well as additional plots at the community gardens in Oskaloosa. One place interested gardeners can find information about the community gardens of Oskaloosa is the new website bzposky.wix.com/communitygardens. This website was developed by Emily Brown, United Way Community Impact Coordinator. The site will be updated during the growing season!
Community Garden sites and the facilitators at the sites in Oskaloosa include OCSD Glendale Garden, Ron VanHeuvelen (641-660-4329. rvheuvelen@gmail.com); Hope Gardens, Blaine Vos (641-676-1601, oskyhope@gmail.com); Lifeforge Church Garden, David Steinbron (641-638-1657, daalstein@gmail.com); and William Penn Garden, Marsha Riordan (641-673-1044, riordanm@wmpenn.edu).
The OCSD FFA learning garden will again plant, tend, and harvest their garden and establish raised beds for vegetable production. The produce will be provided to the local food pantries. OCSD FFA Learning Garden facilitator is AG/FFA Instructor Bret Spurgin (641-895-2291, spurgeinb@oskyccsd.org).
For more information about community gardening in Oskaloosa, specific gardening topics or Mahaska County Extension horticulture programming, please contact Mahaska County Extension by email striegel@iastate.edu or phone at 641-673-5841 or visit our website www.extension.iastate.edu/mahaska.
Information from news release from ISU Extension, Mahaska County.
