College of Agriculture and Life Sciences – October 2014

Vegetable gardening in the desert

Having trouble with your tomatoes? Join Sarma Spitzer, Tohono Chul Docent, as she explains the basics of vegetable gardening with consideration given to the challenges of gardening in an extreme environment. The emphasis will be on small space, container and raised bed gardening aimed at including edibles in a landscape. This event is sponsored by the SaddleBrooke Master Gardeners and will be October 16, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. in MountainView Ballroom East.

Also bring your questions to Ask a Master Gardener at 12:30 pm.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact: Zann Wilson at 219-263-3261, [email protected]; Richard Gibson at 520-836-5221, [email protected]; Terry Ellsworth at 520-836-5221, [email protected].

Annual plant sale

Finally, our plant sale has arrived and we are anxious to please.

Our members have been busy propagating, growing, trimming, fertilizing and potting many plants to make your gardens look their best this year.

With a few additional annuals mixed in, you will be the envy of your neighbors and winter visitors.

Master Gardeners will be available to answer any questions you may have, and as always we are available should you need guidance with problem plants, trees and shrubs. Call our Plant Hotline, Pat Flanagan at 520-407-6459 to arrange a visit.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, October 18, at the MountainView clubhouse between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. No early bird specials, please. For further info contact Carolyn Ruland at 520-460-8425.

Don’t forget to bring a box to load your purchases. Volunteers will be on hand to assist you with transport to your vehicle.

Thank you in advance for participating in this wonderful event. Through this project and your support we are able to provide you with qualified, knowledgeable speakers for our monthly presentations.

Garden talk on the tree of life – Arizona Native Mesquites

SaddleBrooke Master Gardeners will be at Oracle State Park to answer your gardening questions at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 19, at the Kannally Ranch House at Oracle State Park followed by a garden talk on Arizona Native Mesquites, which will be given by Kathie Griffin, SaddleBrooke Master Gardener. This gem of a park is just a few miles to our northeast at the far end of Oracle. For a complete schedule of events taking place in the park that day, go to the Oracle State Park website: azstateparks.com/parks/orac.

For further information or directions, contact Kathie Griffin at [email protected].

Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodations.

Gardening series coming

High Desert Garden Basics is a mini-course for interested gardeners. This six-part gardening series sponsored by the SaddleBrooke Master Gardeners is designed for the home gardener wanting to learn more about growing things in our interesting and sometimes challenging desert environment. These classes will benefit gardeners of all experience levels. How to work with our soil? How much water is enough? What grows in the high desert? What is that strange bug? These classes will answer all those questions.

The course lectures will include: Working with our Soil and Good Irrigation Practices, Trees and Shrubs for the Desert, Selection and Care of Citrus, Cactus, Agaves, and other Succulents, Flowering and Herbaceous Plants, and Diagnosing Pests and Plant Disease and their Controls.

This six-week course will be limited to 25 students and will require pre-registration. Course participants will be selected on a first come, first served basis. The cost for the six weeks of instruction is $30.

High Desert Garden Basics

Consecutive Tuesdays beginning January 13 through February 17 from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Sonoran Room of MountainView clubhouse. For questions or to register contact Kathie Griffin at [email protected].