Do you want to become a Master Gardener Volunteer?

Onslow County Master Gardener Volunteer Class Starts January 22, 2014

The Onslow County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension is offering a Master Gardener Volunteer class starting January 22.  The Master Gardener Volunteer Program is a joint endeavor of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and volunteers who wish to learn how to be better gardeners and help other gardeners by sharing their knowledge.  The program is designed to recruit and train volunteers to help meet the educational needs of the citizens of Onslow County.

Class participants learn about a wide variety of gardening subjects including vegetables, fruits, lawn grasses, shrubs, flowers and trees.  The training focuses on developing diagnostic skills for insects and diseases of plants.  Classes are also given on landscaping for water quality, soils, composting, propagation, wildlife control and much, much more!

Master Gardeners receive 40 hours of training and after graduation they provide 40 hours of volunteer work in the community.  Master Gardeners are involved in a range of community projects including: answering homeowner inquires at the Extension Office and Farmer’s Market, mailing out information bulletins to homeowners, conducting plant clinics, working with school children on special horticultural projects, talking to garden clubs, working on community beautification projects and developing the new Discovery Gardens of Onslow.

The 2014 Master Gardener course will begin January 22 and March 31.  Classes normally will be taught Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9:00 am until noon.  Cost for the course is $100, which includes a comprehensive Master Gardener Manual.

Persons interested in receiving an application for the 2014 course should call the North Carolina Cooperative Extension - Onslow County Center at (910) 455-5873, and request an application.  Spots are limited.

Onslow County Master Gardeners’ 6th Annual Camellia Show and Sale

The Onslow County Master Gardeners will host their 6^th Annual Camellia Show and Sale on Saturday, November 2.  This event is held in conjunction with the Farmer’s Market Fall Festival so there will be activities and events on site for the entire family.  The Camellia Show and Farmer’s Market are located at the Onslow County Multipurpose Complex at 4024 Richlands Highway, Jacksonville NC.

The Camellia Sale will be held outside from 8:30 am until 5 pm.  A selection of high quality 3-gallon camellias from Cam Too Nursery will be on sale.  Proceeds benefit the Onslow County Master Gardeners.      

The Camellia Seminar and Show are open to the public from noon until 5 pm inside the Multipurpose Complex.  This event is sanctioned by the American Camellia Society and will feature hundreds of beautiful camellia blossoms from area residents as well as camellia growers up and down the east coast.  Seminars will be held throughout the afternoon.  

Upcoming Classes

We have several classes and series offered for July and August offered in a variety of locations within the county:

Tarawa Terrace Community Garden Series 

Tarawa Terrace Community Center

Building TT44, Tarawa Terrace Boulevard

Alternate Fridays from 10 am until noon.  Each class will also have an opportunity to plant, maintain and harvest the community garden.   

To preregister, call 910.450.1687

July 12 - Vegetable Gardening

July 26 - Saving Your Own Seed

August 9 - Growing Succulents

August 23 - Rooting Cuttings

September 6 - Dealing with Deer

September 20 - Bulbs and How to Grow Them

Building a Beautiful Container Garden

Learn how to design and maintain a beautiful flowering container garden.

July 20, 2-3 pm – Main Base Library, Camp Lejeune

Corner of Holcomb Boulevard and Birch Street

910.451.5724 to preregister.

 

Fall Vegetable Gardening

Learn what to plant now for a productive vegetable garden this fall.

July 27, 10-12 – Onslow County Extension Office

4024 Richlands Highway

 

Saving Your Own Seed

Learn how to save your own seed from vegetable and flower plants for a successful garden next year.

August 17, 10-12 – Jacksonville Public Library

58 Doris Avenue East

910.455.7350 to preregister.

Squash Beetles

I've had several calls about squash beetles this week.  The squash beetle is native to the eastern US and is a member of the lady beetle family.  While most lady beetles are beneficial, eating plant pests like aphids, the squash beetle feeds on the leaves of cucurbits such as squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, musk melons and water melons.  Squash beetles feed on the undersides of the leaves often creating a skeletonized effect.   

The mature squash beetle is similar in shape to most beneficial lady beetles but the squash beetle is larger (about 3/8 inch long compared to (1/4 inch for most beneficial species).  The squash beetle is yellow in color and has seven black spots on each wing cover.  The larva of squash beetle are yellow, oval and have rows of long, forked spines on the back. 

Squash beetles can be controlled by handpicking in small plantings.  The best time to look for squash beetles is around noon, pick the beetles off the plants and dump them in a bucket of soapy water to drown. 

Mulch!

Mulch is a marvelous addition to planting areas. Gardeners rely on mulch to sup­press weeds and make garden beds look tidy. But mulch offers many additional benefits. It conserves moisture, keeps soil cooler, and reduces plant diseases. Over time, proper mulch­ing builds better soil by adding organic matter, reducing compaction, and preventing erosion.

Many types of mulch are available. Popular options include pine straw, pine bark, and hardwood bark. Pine straw is easy to transport, attractive, and stays in place fairly well. Although many people worry that pine straw will acidify their soil, it has little effect on soil pH. Pine bark mulches come in different sizes, from large nuggets to small chips. The drawback to pine-bark nugget mulch is its tendency to float, so don’t use it where water flows or ponds. Shredded hardwood mulch holds together well, making it a good choice in wet or windy locations.

Aim for three to four inches of organic mulch around trees and shrubs – too much mulch can reduce the amount of water that reaches the soil.  If depths are adequate but mulch looks weathered, rake it to loosen the surface and freshen its appearance.  Apply mulch evenly over the plant’s entire root system.  For trees and shrubs, this means out to the edge of the canopy.  Keeping mulch away from the trunk of trees and shrubs helps prevent insect and disease problems.  In landscape beds, mulch the entire bed evenly.    

Two to three inches of mulch will suppress weeds in most vegetable gardens.  Shredded leaves, clean straw, compost and shredded bark are all good options for vegetable gardens.  Mulch can be applies to vegetable gardens any time but the best time is late spring after the soil has warmed.  Applying mulch in early spring will delay soil warming and possibly plant growth.   

Organic mulches break down over time increasing soil organic matter, structure and water retention.  Avoid the use of landscape fabrics or weed barriers which prevent this movement of organic matter into the soil. 

Fruits for Onslow County

Each spring, local garden centers teem with a selection of fruit trees and shrubs.  As tempting as these displays might be, some plants are better options for Onslow County than others.  If you want to successfully grow fruit here, you will want to do your research first.  You will want to know which plants grow well here and which are likely to present challenges.  It’s also important to make sure that your planting site is suitable and prepared appropriately for the crop you are growing. 

Choosing Fruit Plants for Onslow County

Some fruits are steady and reliable producers here, while others have more insect and disease problems or do not produce fruit consistently under our growing conditions. 

When homeowners ask for a recommendation of fruits to grow, my short list includes the following easy-to-grow options: muscadine grapes, blackberries, blueberries (southern highbush or rabbiteye varieties), figs and strawberries.  Pecans, pears and plums can also be grown but they will require more management because of disease and insect pressures.  Apples, peaches and nectarines are harder to grow and usually require a diligent spray schedule throughout the growing season to produce quality fruit.  Some fruit just don’t do well here.  English walnuts, apricots, cherries, raspberries, grapes (other than muscadines), citrus (except in containers) and rhubarb are poor choices for Onslow County.

Some fruit crops require cross-pollination for best fruit set.  Pecans, apples, pears, plums, many muscadines, and blueberries require another compatible variety planted nearby for best fruit set.  Peaches, nectarines, strawberries, blackberries and figs are self-fruitful.  Many fruit trees are pollinated by honeybees which are susceptible to most insecticides, so never apply insecticides when fruit trees are in bloom.    

Good site selection is important for success.  All of these crops require good drainage, correct pH and full sun for optimum yield.  Choose a site with well-drained soil.  If you don’t have well-drained soil, build a berm or raised bed 4 to 5 feet wide to plant on.  Sample your soil so you can adjust the pH prior to planting. Blueberries are acid loving preferring a soil pH of 4.5 to 5.8.  Strawberries like a sweeter soil with a pH from 5.5 to 6.5; all the other fruits do best in the range of 6.0 to 6.5.   Fruit trees require full sun for optimum yield, good ripening and best flavor.  Blueberries and muscadines can tolerate a little bit of shade but will not perform as well as if given full sun. 

January/February Newsletter and Classes

The January/February edition of In the Garden Now is available now at http://onslow.ces.ncsu.edu/In%20The%20Garden%20Now/  Topics include fungus gnats (a common winter pest on houseplants), keeping holiday plants healthy, planting potatoes and peas, pruning, timely tips and tasks, and more. 


We have a lot of great classes coming up this spring:

Become a Master Gardener Volunteer
The Master Gardener Volunteer training starts on January 31.  These classes are offered Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9-12.  You will learn about everything from growing lawns and ornamental plants to fruits and vegetables in Onslow County.  Participants become Master Gardener Volunteers and commit to giving back to their community through Master Gardener projects.  Cost for the class is $100 which includes comprehensive Master Gardener manual.  Please call 455.5873 for more information or to request an application.

Learn to Grow Vegetables
Our HELP Garden (vegetable gardening class) starts February 1 from 5-7 pm.  Classes meet weekly on Friday nights.  This twenty week long class will lead you through the growing season.  You will learn everything from planning and planting a garden to harvesting, marketing your produce and beyond.  Cost for the class is $75 and you get to take home fresh produce too.  Call 455.5873 and speak to Larry for more details.

Get Ready for Chicks!
Our new livestock agent, Abby Dilley, and I will be offering a series on integrating gardens and livestock this year.  Our Barnyards by the Sea series kicks off January 26 at 10 am with a class on "Get Ready for Chicks" for people interested in raising backyard chickens.  This class is free.  Call 455.5873 and speak to Lisa or Abby for more details.

Spring Vegetable Gardening
The second installment of our Barnyards by the Sea series, learn all about planting a spring vegetable Garden in Onslow County.  This class will be held in two locations on February 23 - 10 am at the Onslow County Extension Office and 2 pm at the Main Base Library on Camp Lejeune.  Call 455.5873 for the Extension Office session or 451.5724 for the afternoon Camp Lejeune session (preregistration preferred).  Please note that you will need access to base to attend the afternoon session.

Terrawa Terrace Community Garden Spring Gardening Series
I will be holding an extended spring vegetable garden training on Tarrawa Terrace this spring.  This class will cover a variety of topics over 8 sessions from February 8 through May 17.  For more information or to register, please contact Lorraine 450.0514.  Please note that you will need access to base to attend this training.

I am eagerly looking forward to the new growing season and hope you are to.  I look forward to your questions and comments.