Breaking News
Community News

Wood County seminar looks to grow interest in gardening

By Staff Reports 5 min read

PARKERSBURG -- People with an interest in gardening who want to learn more can attend the Wood County Spring Gardening Seminar and Plant Sale on Saturday, May 1, at Bicentennial Park in downtown Parkersburg.

Gardening has become even more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent study from Princeton University reveals home vegetable gardening can not only increase produce consumption and physical activity, it is also associated with improved emotional wellbeing.

"The Spring Seminar is always a great learning experience" said Krista Rogers, President of the Wood County Master Gardeners. "The topics and speakers are so knowledgeable and I enjoy discussing gardening with other likeminded people.

"I look forward to this event every year."

Last year, the annual event was held virtually during the pandemic. This year will be an in-person event and participants will be following all COVID guidelines, including mask wearing, said Wood County Agricultural Extension Agent J.J. Barrett.

"The Spring Gardening Seminar is a great educational opportunity gardening enthusiasts of all ages in the Mid-Ohio Valley," he said.

The event, which is sponsored by the Wood County Master Gardeners, will be held under the canopy across from the Wood County Courthouse, next to the Blennerhassett Hotel, and will start at noon.

At 1 p.m. there will be a couple of speakers featured, including Dave Fleming of Greenleaf Landscaping and Barrett.

Fleming graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in Plant and Soil Sciences and is an Ohio Certified Nursery Technician-Landscape. He has been with Greenleaf for 35 years.

He will be discussing deer resistant plants with displays and examples.

"We thought that would be a good topic because over the last few years, deer have been such an issue, as far as plant damage," Barrett said of gardens and ornamental plants.

Fleming will discuss plants that are deer resistant and bring some examples as well as some examples of different sprays available to try to keep deer away. Some sprays include a mixture of hot pepper, rotten egg smell, garlic and other scents.

"It is something that smells pretty bad that helps keep the deer away," Barrett said. "The thing is a lot of these are sprays. If it rains, you have to reapply it.

"Many work, but they do wear off. People have to keep up with it."

Deer are a huge problem for many people in this area.

Some other home remedies people have used might be brought up.

Barrett will be teaching "Fertilizing the Vegetable Garden," about ways to fertilize a vegetable garden, including how to handle tomatoes and peppers compared to cabbages and greens.

"I will be discussing some of the differences between commercial and organic fertilizer," he said. "I will also be talking about the importance of garden lime."

Garden lime is a rock powder used to raise the pH level of soils.

Sometimes people apply too much nitrogen fertilizer which can impact the formation of some of the vegetables, Barrett said different vegetables need different amounts while some people tend to treat everything with a single strategy.

The most popular vegetables people grow are tomatoes, peppers, green beans and corn.

Tips will also be offered for growing different vegetables including staking and dealing with different disease issues many gardeners face.

Understanding WVU soil test results and matching those with fertilizer needs can be challenging, Barrett said.

There are some major differences in fertilizer management for legumes such as half runner beans and garden favorites like tomatoes and peppers, he said, adding sweet corn and some other vegetable love being supplied extra nitrogen.

The plant sale will include a variety of indoor and outdoor plants, vegetable plants, flowers, gardening tools, gardening books and more, said Wood County Master Gardener Judy Benedetti, who is organizing the sale.

Master Gardeners are volunteers who are trained in small scale food production, horticulture, and gardening through a training course. These volunteers, in turn, share their knowledge with the community. Master Gardeners undertake community based gardening projects and help the public find solutions to gardening and horticulture problems.

The Wood County Library Arboretum, The Armstrong Garden in Williamstown, The Boys and Girls Club Garden and Edison Arboretum are some of the projects the Master Gardeners work on.

"The Master Gardener Program is a great way to enhance your gardening knowledge not only for personal use, but also to enable a person to assist their community through Master gardener programs and efforts," said Marty Seufer, Wood County Extension Master Gardener.

Barrett said many people are looking forward to the seminar.

"People can stop in," he said. "This is the first event we have had in a long time.

"We are cautiously optimistic. It is a fun and educational event."

Many people will really start to begin gardening outside in early May after Mother's Day.

"People love their summer vegetables," Barrett said.

He hopes people will get a lot of useful information from the event.

"I hope they get some good educational information," Barrett said. "I know anyone who likes to garden or does landscaping in their yard has issues.

"Anyone who loves vegetable gardening, I hope they get some different tips and tricks."

Refreshments will be served and door prizes will be given away. Due to the pandemic guidelines, the Master Gardeners will not be dishing up their homemade food to eat. There will be bottled water and some prepackaged snacks.

There is no cost to attend, but people are asked to contact the WVU Extension Office at 304-424-1960 or jj.barrett@mail.wvu.edu to register or for more information.

Starting at /week.