Invest In Gardening Skills for Life

Potting Shed University
Mondays | February 9- April 27 | 6:30-7:30 p.m.

A series of 12 diverse garden topics for you to hone your skills to become a better gardener for years to come.

$5/person per class | Pay at the Door registration starts at 6:00 p.m.

Monday February 9, 2015 – Winter Seed Sowing
Missy Sanford, Master Gardeners of Greene County President
Whiling away the winter and dreaming of Spring?  Scouring the seed catalogs that arrive in your mailbox in January and planning the perfect garden?  Winter sowing involves planting seeds during the dead of winter in covered containers.  They are then stored outdoors, allowing the seeds to experience the chill of winter…ice, snow, rain and all. When the temperature warms enough, the seeds germinate and start to grow. By the time the soil in the planting beds has warmed, the seedlings are ready to transplant out.We will each plant a tiny greenhouse from a recycled and/or free container to take home.

Monday February 16, 2015 – Haybale Gardening
Mark Berskoetter, Master Gardeners of Greene County
UPDATE! Due to inclement weather, this class was cancelled and rescheduled for Thursday, April 16, 2015. If you are looking for the convenience of raised bed and the versatility of something that could be moved from place to place each year, this is the class for you.

Monday February 23, 2015 – Worm Composting Bins
Kelly McGowan, Horticulture Educator, MU Extension
Earthworms naturally compost kitchen scraps faster and more efficiently than any other method, producing a nutrient rich fertilizer in the process.  Learn how to do this on a small scale by converting a plastic storage bin into a worm composter.  It’s a low maintenance and fun way to recycle!

Monday March 2, 2015 – Favorite Perennials for the Garden
Gail Wright, Master Gardeners of Greene County
Learn about tried and trouble free plants that thrive year after year. These plants offer a long season of bloom starting in late winter and continuing through autumn. Some are chosen for their foliage color and texture that add interest in the garden. Perennials can be grown on their own or incorporated into a mixed bed garden.

Monday March 9, 2015 – Intro to Home Winemaking
Patrick Byers, Horticulture Specialist, MU Extension
“Home winemaking – a combination of horticulture and biochemistry, with a bit of biology thrown in! Join Potting Shed University for an introduction to this fascinating project – choosing the appropriate fruit, crushing the fruit and preparing the must, inoculating with yeast, monitoring the fermentation process, and finishing and bottling the wine. “

Monday March 16, 2015 – All About Tomatoes
Kelly McGowan, Horticulture Educator, MU Extension
Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable crop grown by home gardeners. In this class you will learn about choosing cultivars, fertilizing, pruning and staking, harvesting, tomato diseases and problems, insect problems and much more.

Monday March 23, 2015 – Companion Planting
Mark Berskoetter, Master Gardeners of Greene County
Did you know many plants grow better when placed next to certain other plants? This class will give you a wealth of information to help plan for the best harvests and flowers – and do it naturally.

Monday March 30, 2015 – Intro to Herbs
Barb Emge, Master Gardener of Greene County
Did you know that you can easily grow your own bay tree for those bay leaves used in soups, stews and Cajun cooking or that you can make your own herb blends or pesto? Have you tried to grow herbs before and wondered why some herbs didn’t do well and want to try again? Join us as we discuss growing 15 of the most common culinary herbs here in southwest Missouri. If you have room for pots or have space in your yard for a small herb garden and 4-6 hours of sunlight a day, you can easily grow enough herbs for all of your needs.

Monday April 6, 2015 – Planting a Water Garden
Pat Ware, Master Gardeners of Greene County & President of Springfield Watergarden Society
Learn about the many plants that will thrive in your water garden, from hardy to tropical, water lilies to marginals, even lotus and floaters. Instructions on the right kinds of containers to use, what kind of soil, how to fertilize, different methods of planting, and more. Learn everything from how deep in the water your plants should go, to how to winterize plants and protect them from your fish. Also, see pictures of both common and uncommon water plants. Detailed instructions on exactly how to go about dividing and planting water lilies and other water plants will be provided. Learn what water plants can go in the ground and what ground plants can go in your water garden.

Monday April 13, 2015 – Attracting Butterflies to Your Garden
Linda Bower, Master Naturalist
Would you like to have a more lively garden? Learn how to sustain butterflies on your property throughout their entire life cycle. This presentation includes videos of the Monarch life cycle in action and gorgeous photographs of common backyard butterflies and their host plants. Essential gardening practices and fun design ideas will leave you inspired and ready to create your own butterfly paradise.

Thursday April 16, 2015 – Haybale Gardening
Mark Berskoetter, Master Gardeners of Greene County
If you are looking for the convenience of raised bed and the versatility of something that could be moved from place to place each year, this is the class for you.

Monday April 20, 2015 – Container Gardens
Dellene Nelson, Master Gardeners of Greene County
Container gardening is more than thrilling, spilling and filling, this class will have you thinking out of the box. Why not plant some of your favorite eatables as well as perennials and small shrubs. Lets look at interesting containers as well. Soil, sun light and watering requirements will be discussed.

Monday April 27, 2015 – Vertical Garden Growing UP in the Garden!
Rebecca Nichols, Master Gardeners of Greene County
New and experienced gardeners from all over the world have a renewed interest in vertical gardening. Although the concept is thousands of years old, an increase in urban living has created the need for new and efficient ways to grow vertically. Living walls, tuteurs, pergolas and wall pockets can be utilized to maximize space. Come see the new trend in growing flowers, vegetables, herbs, and succulents. This class will cover the advantages, challenges and methods used to create vertical gardens as well as which plants do well growing UP. Additionally, there will be demonstration of creating a garden from a recycled wooden pallet.

Master Gardeners of Greene County is all about growing- cultivating interests in gardening, nurturing knowledge and skills for success, and reaping the rewards of community service.

Members of the Master Gardener organization provide horticultural information and training to home gardeners, based on proven research, specific to area climate, soil and plants.

Stop by on your way home from work!