Wisconsin Master Gardener Brown Bag Series

Don’t have room to grow tomatoes?  Ann Wied, Consumer Horticulture Educator for Waukesha County UW-Extension offers advice to get a plant going in a container.

Listen:

• Download MP3

More information:

• Tasty Tomatoes in Containers, University of Minnesota-Extension

Have a question about this topic?  Please post in comments section below.

Members of the UW-Extension Horticulture Team are taking the initiative to revive the monthly Brown Bag Series.

The Brown Bag programs were formerly coordinated by Horticulture Specialist, Bob Tomesh.  However, with his retirement and subsequent revamping of the statewide program, the Brown Bag Series had to go on the proverbial back burner.

The MG Program Office realizes demand for the program is very high and we are very thankful members of the Horticulture Team are willing to take on this effort.

More details will be available in the upcoming months.

New Brown Bag programs are temporarily on hiatus due to the ongoing overhaul of the statewide Master Gardener Volunteer program.

New programs will be recorded and released as time allows.

Grapes are one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world and have traditionally been able to grow in all but northernmost Wisconsin.  Success with grapes depends on many things such as having an ideal site, following proven cultural practice, and using the right cultivars.  In this podcast on Grape Recommendations I sit down with Judy Reith Rozelle, Assistant Superintendent at the West Madison Agriculture Research Station to hear her recommendations on grapes for the home gardener.  Over the last several years they’ve conducted evaluations on both seedless table grapes and wine grapes.   Though the results are still preliminary she’s willing to share some of the them now.

(Duration 16:19)

• Manually download this podcast (MP3)

2011 WMARS Grape Recommendation Summary

Seedless Table Grapes

• Trollhaugen (blue)
• Somerset Seedless (red)
• Vanessa (red)
• Reliance (red)
• Interlaken (white)
• Lakemont (white)
• Canadice (red)

Wine Grapes

• Brianna (white)
• Marquette (blue)
• Leon Millot (blue)

More Information:

• West Madison Agriculture Research Station
• WMARS Blog
• Midwest Grape Production Guide
• Midwest Small Fruit Spray Guide
• A Pocket Guide for Grape IPM Scouting in the North Central and Eastern U.S.

A home garden tour is a summer time staple for any garden enthusiast.  It’s a chance to explore other people’s landscapes, gather ideas and find inspiration for your own.  But opening the gate isn’t a decision that comes lightly to the home owner.  Preparations need to be made before folks start wandering across your property.  Joining us for this podcast on Home Garden Tours are Madison Area Master Gardeners Ann Munson and Jane LaFlash.  Both are veterans to home garden tours and share their experiences in preparing their gardens for public viewing and being docents, or garden tour guides.

(Duration 19:19)

• Manually download this podcast (MP3)

Tips for Home Garden Tours

• Ideally, give the homeowner one year or more in advance.  It  can be less time if in a pinch.
• A theme for your garden can make it interesting but don’t overdue it!
• Removing weeds and labeling plants can be important!  But your garden doesn’t need to be perfect.
• Fresh mulch can tidy up paths and hide a multitude of sins.
• Have the homeowner work with docent volunteers in advance.  Show them your property well before the tour.  Create a “cheat sheet” with information on notable plants, house history, artwork, etc.
• When volunteering as a docent, stay approachable and helpful to the visitors.  Work with the homeowner in advance to prepare yourself.  Do not be afraid to say “I don’t know”.
• Visitors should stay on paths and respect the homeowner’s property.  Also, don’t hesitate to share your appreciation with the homeowner.  They love showing off their garden!

“[They need to be] gardens with nice plants, nicely designed, and well maintained…. doesn’t have to be perfect, doesn’t have to be big, doesn’t have to be one where the gardener knows the genus, species, cultivar of every plant…”

Jane LaFlashes criteria for selecting gardens for home garden tours.

Pink flamingos are being tossed to the curbside as many gardeners opt for chickens in their urban and suburban gardens.   In addition to egg production, garden poultry may assist in insect control, provide a fertilizer sources and, well, can be more interesting than a gazing globe.  However, urban chickens aren’t all fancy-free.  Predators, damage to plants, and diseases should be a concern to any chicken owner.   Ron Kean, UW-Extension Poultry Specialist will discuss the many aspects of raising healthy chickens in our home gardens.

• Manually download this program (MP3)

More Information:

• Poultry Related Publications
• Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium

Farmer’s markets can play a pivotal role in our communities.  They provide fresh, locally grown produce for the consumers, while offering employment opportunities and business growth to the region.  Rose Skora, Agriculture Educator for Racine and Kenosha Counties works with farmer’s market development in Southeast Wisconsin.   Rose will discuss key elements of a successful farm market, including the educational component of a market—a role MGVs can play a part in filling.   Additional guests include MGV farm market volunteers Pam S. of the Madison Area MG Association and Deb T. of the Eau Claire Area MG Association.  Even if your MGA is already doing this, you may get some other ideas of creative activities to engage the public.

• Manually download this program (MP3)

More Information:

• New Directions in Marketing for Farmer’s Markets
• Mini Horticulture Fact Sheets
• Wisconsin’s Farm Fresh Atlases

Training and maintaining small statured fruit trees has many benefits for backyard gardeners. It can also support organic production which involves a system that uses a combination of management techniques to maintain soil quality and fertility, and control weeds, pests and diseases. These are not without challenges; apple scab, rusts, apple maggot, coddling moth, and curculio all have an impact on whether organic production is feasible. Each year these pests present themselves during the growing season and degrade fruit. Newer cultivars, with improved quality and hardiness, protectant products, and physical barriers are making organic growing ventures less risky. At present, organic production should be considered only on a trial basis. Join Bob Tomesh and Judy Rozell in a review of an organic system plan for a homeowner organic apple production.

• Manually download this program (MP3)

More information:

• Growing Apples in Wisconsin (A3565)
• Apple Cultivars for Wisconsin (A2105)
• From Garden to Table: The are of growing and preserving apples (A3778)

Most gardeners innately understand the connection between their mind, body and the garden.  Horticultural Therapy research shows empirical evidence on the positive impact plants and green space have on our personal well-being.

Mike Maddox, Rock Co. UWEX Horticulture Educator, will discuss some of the principle concepts of Horticultural Therapy and why it is important as we reach out to diverse audiences of all abilities.