Click for a hub of Extension resources related to the current COVID-19 situation.
COVID-19 Resources
Bluebonnet Master Gardener AssociationTexas AgriLife Extension Service

Members Only   Enter Hours

Fort Bend Regional Vegetable Conference – Summer Session Scheduled

by

The Fort Bend Regional Vegetable Conference is a celebration of vegetable production along the upper Gulf Coast region. Counties of Waller, Wharton, Harris, Galveston, Brazoria, Colorado, and Austin join with Fort Bend to put on this event focusing on teaching sustainable practices to help producers maximize efficiencies and profitability. Although we were not able to host our annual Vegetable Conference in February, we have put together a short virtual summer session with topics centered around sustainable and organic production, disease and insect management, and variety selection. Partnering sponsors have allowed us to offer this program at a great price. The cost to attend is $10.  We will offer three (3) continuing education credits in the General category for Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator license holders.

Come join us virtually at the Fort Bend Regional Vegetable Conference – Summer Session on Thursday, July 29, 2021.  The conference will begin at 9:00 am and end at 12:00 pm.

To register, please go to https://tinyurl.com/t86xftbh.  There will be no in office registrations.  For general questions, please contact Brandy Rader at 281-633-7029.

 

2021 Fall Horticulture Seminar

by

Please join Texas A&M Agrilfe Extension Service August 27, 2021 for the Fall Horticulature Seminar, hosted by Texas A&M Agrilfe Extension Service for Austin County.  Topics, which will be presented by AgriLife Extentions Agent Robert “Skip” Richter and Specialists Tim Hartmann, Ph.D and Monte Nesbitt, Ph.D  include:

Planting Fall Vegetables
Fruit Tree Care and Maintenance
Citrus Tree Care and Maintance
Prepping Plants for Freezes

RSVP HERE by August 25, 2021  or call 979-865-2072.

Twenty Years and….Counting! (& the Keyhole Garden)

by

By Faye Beery, Bluebonnet Master Gardener Assocaiton

That is how long the Master Gardener program has been going in our 4 county region.  On May 25, 2021 the Bluebonnet Master Gardeners celebrated our 20th anniversary of the demonstration garden in Austin County. While the weather was not the best, everyone enjoyed the program given by Dr. Shackelford, good food and seeing the Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association’s demonstration garden located at the Sens Acitvity Center in Bellville, Texas. Vegetables were available, most gave a voluntary donation to the garden,  as well as some produce was avaialbe to pick in the garden.

Pete Smith standing the in the “keyhole” of the keyhole garden

A big attraction in the garden was the keyhole garden. The keyhole concept was first introduced into arid African regions by the U.K. organization Send a Cow. The idea was to help poor families grow their own food despite the poor soil and drought conditions. The keyhole concept is a raised circular bed with a wedge shaped cutout on one side which allows persons easy access to the whole bed. When seen from above, it resembles a lock and keyhole. In the center is a wire cage for compost which decomposes and provides nutrients to the bed.  This form is less labor intensive and more affordable for people who want to grow their own food. And you don’t have to bend over.

The outer structure can be any sturdy material, cinder blocks, bricks, rocks are a good choice. They are placed in a round design with a wedge on one side so that individuals can reach the middle as well as the outsides allowing for easy planting and harvesting. The wire cage in the center makes it easily accessible to place the compost materials.

Building the keyhole

Keyhole garden constuction

building the keyhole garden

Keyhole garden under construction

 

Rainwater system & keyhole garden

Rainwater system & keyhole garden

A strong advocate of the keyhole concept is Deb Tolman, PhD, from Clifton, Texas. She is an environmental scientist and landscape designer and co-founder of the Silo Project a non-profit organization, which is centered on sustainability. Due to her outreach and workshops, there are more than 70 keyhole gardens in Clifton, which is in arid North Texas.  She recommends a 3:1 ratio of brown and green material which forms the core garden. Decomposition rapidly generates heat and breaks down the material to feed plants. Brown material includes brown grass/leaves; paper and wood, straw, sawdust, lint from the dryer or vacuum, and lots of cardboard, which is the first layer in the bottom of the bed. It should be thoroughly wet to begin decomposition. Green materials include kitchen scraps, manure, green grass/leaves, or plants. Her website provides instructions on how to construct a keyhole garden.  Follow the link to her  Field Guide PDF .

There is also a new addition to the garden which is currently under construction this week. It is Pete and Paula’s pollinator patch. They plan to include plants which attract pollinators to the garden to pollinate the vegetables that grow there. We’ll have more on this when they begin planting.

I know everyone is happy to get back to our regular meetings. See you at the next one!

2021 Texas Master Gardener Virtual Conference- DAY 1

by

The 2021 Texas Master Gardener State Conference will be held virtually this year on May 18-19, 2021. The leadership workshop will be on May 17, 2021.

Join us as we walk through Texas gardens! We have an amazing line-up of inspirational speakers ready to share with you their favorite topics in horticulture. We will also travel across the state through virtual tours to see the diverse gardens of Texas.

The conference offers continuing education hours for Master Gardeners including three keynote presentations, twenty-four breakout sessions, and four virtual tours.

The conference is also time to celebrate the Search for Excellence Awards and the incredible achievements our volunteers are accomplishing in education across the state.

Cost:  $50 includes both Day 1 & Day 2!

 

Register Button

BMGA Chapter Meeting – Sealy

by

BMGA Chapter Meeting at the American Legion Hall in Sealy.

Time:  8:30 – 10:00 Board Meeting
10:00 – 10:30 Social/Team Time
10:30 – 11:30 Presenter
11:30 – 12:00 General Chapter Business

Place:   Austin County /Sealy     American Legion Hall, 1630 Meyer Street, Sealy, TX 77474

Presenter:  Jay White – Texas Gardener Magazine

Presentation:   Texas Gardener’s Grow Great Vegetables

Masks and social distancing required.
All snacks must be individually wrapped food items.

Deadline for Tomato & Pepper Plant Orders

by

Deadline to place your order is TODAY.

Washington County Horticulture Committee Tomato & Pepper Plant Sale – Now Accepting Orders

Calling all gardening enthusiasts!  It’s that time of year again and we wanted you all to be the first to know that the Annual Tomato and Pepper Plant Sale is officially here and we are ready to take orders.  The varieties featured have all been selected by Washington County Horticulture Committee Members and are suitable for our area.

This year the lineup features 13 tomato varieties including one new option.  In addition to some new tomato varieties we will be offering basil, cilantro, dill, and parsley as part of the sale!  Also included in the selection will be bell peppers, banana peppers, poblano peppers, jalapenos, eggplant, squash, and zucchini!  A brief description of each tomato variety is included on the back of the flyer; we have put some basic information together to help you make the best decision!

If the great selection and confidence in the proper varieties for our area is not enough, we are also offering these plants at $2.50 per pack!  Plus, all proceeds from this sale benefit the youth of Washington County through the annual AgriLife Extension – Horticulture Committee Scholarship Program.  Each year the Horticulture Committee works to identify graduating seniors pursuing a degree in agriculture who are deserving of a scholarship and will award these scholarships in May at their school assemblies.

Order forms are available online at https://washington.agrilife.org/plantsale or at the Washington County Extension Office.  All orders must be paid for when they are placed, and no orders will be accepted without payment.  For more information on the Tomato and Pepper Plant Sale please call the Extension Office at (979) 277-6212.

Orders are due by March 12th!  – Don’t delay, order today!

Pick-Up will be on Tuesday, March, 23 from 10:00am-5:30pm at the

Washington County Expo Sales Facility in Brenham!

Online Event: The Unexpected Health Benefits of Gardening

by

Unexpected Health Benefits Flyer

Planting flowers and vegetables can result in beautiful bouquets and bountiful harvests for your meals. But did you know that gardening offers many health benefits as well? Join Jennifer Shukaitis, MPH, FCHS Educator, Rutgers Cooperative Extension from the State Office to learn how gardening may benefit the well-being of you and your family members.  See registration link below:

When: March 31, 2021 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Central Time

BMGA CEU: 1 hour

Register for the Event Here

Presenter: Jennifer Shukaitis, Family & Community Health Sciences Educator III (Eqv. to Asst. Professor), Dept. of Family and Community Health Sciences

 

 

Cultivate! Earth Friendly Gardening & Landscaping

by

Bexar County Master Gardeners will host CULTIVATE!, its semi-annual educational seminar with 7 different gardening topics offered free and online. Each workshop is an hour long and full of great gardening information.  Join them for one or all seven! For workshop descriptions, and all the details go to  https://bexarmg.org/cultivate-sessions/

Our workshops this spring:

Succulents with MG Stephanie Jones

Texas Native Ornamental Shrubs for Your Landscape with MG Lynn Cox

Growing Vegetables in Bexar County with David Rodriguez Bexar County Extension Agent-Horticulture

After the Big Freeze…What to do in your Garden (Special session with David Rodriguez)

Gardening Begins with the Soil with MG Bill Swantner

Spring into Texas Superstar Annuals with MG Lynn Cox

Shady Characters in the Garden with MG Lynn Cox

Cultivate! Earth Friendly Gardening & Landscaping

by

Bexar County Master Gardeners will host CULTIVATE!, its semi-annual educational seminar with 7 different gardening topics offered free and online. Each workshop is an hour long and full of great gardening information.  Join them for one or all seven! For workshop descriptions, and all the details go to  https://bexarmg.org/cultivate-sessions/

Our workshops this spring:

Succulents with MG Stephanie Jones

Texas Native Ornamental Shrubs for Your Landscape with MG Lynn Cox

Growing Vegetables in Bexar County with David Rodriguez Bexar County Extension Agent-Horticulture

After the Big Freeze…What to do in your Garden (Special session with David Rodriguez)

Gardening Begins with the Soil with MG Bill Swantner

Spring into Texas Superstar Annuals with MG Lynn Cox

Shady Characters in the Garden with MG Lynn Cox

Plant Picturepages by Aggie Horticulture

by

LogoSometimes, the answer is just knowing where to look;  and someitimes, a picutre is just what you need to answer the question.   With the help of many collaborators, Aggie Horticulture assembled a few theme-oriented searchable databases for use in their classes and for the public to use and enjoy.  If you have not checked out Aggie Horticulture’s Plant Picturepages, the link is below.  Find the information you need in pictures or just enjoy the many horticulature related sites and photos.

Plant Picturepages

Ask an Expert is now Ask Extension

by

Question Mark image

Ask an Expert is now Ask Extension.  This service offers one-to-one expert answers from Cooperative Extension/University staff and volunteers within participating Land-Grant institutions from across the United States.  Before posting a new question, you may also search previously answered questions in the Knowledgebase catalogue.

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR EXTENSION EXPERTS?

Ask A Question

Search the Knowledgebase

Frozen Plants? Aggie Horticulture Facebook Live Events

by

Logo

Texas A&M  Extension Horticulture faculty are using their weekly Facebook live events and one additional event to talk about the freeze and what to expect with plants. The schedule will be as follows:

Wednesday 1:00 p.m. Ornamentals & Vegetables

Friday 1:00 p.m. Fruit

Friday 4:00 p.m. Turf

These events can be found on Facebook on the Aggie Horticulture page and will be useful information for Master Gardeners and the public.  All events are free and open to the public.

Protecting Landscapes & Horticulture Crops from Frosts & Freezes

by

As temperatures drop below freezing in our area, gardeners may need to take action to protect their plants and landscapes.  Luckily, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Monte Nesbitt and Robert “Skip” Richter give advice on protecting landscapes and horticultural crops from frosts and freezes.  For the full version of this paper (9 pages) please click this link:  Protecting Landscapes and Horticulture Crops from Frosts and Freezes

protecting horticultural crops from freezes

Washington County Spring Lawn, Landscape, and Garden Soil Testing Campaign 

by

The Spring Lawn, Landscape, and Garden Soil Testing Campaign is underway in Washington County and will run January 25 – February 26. This campaign is made possible through the support of the Multi-County Ag Committee and in cooperation with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Soil, Water, and Forage Testing Lab in College Station.  Link to Event Page

Soil sample bags and submittal forms for the soil testing campaign are available at three locations including:

  • The Washington County Extension Service located at 1305 East Blue Bell Road in Brenham
  • Brenham Produce located at 1103 South Market in Brenham
  • Plants-‘N-Things located at 3900 Highway 36 South in Brenham

All soil samples, forms, and payment must be returned to the Washington County Extension office to receive the discounted pricing.  Full payment by check payable to MCAF is due when the samples are submitted to the Extension Office.  Extension Office staff will deliver your samples to the testing lab.  Sample results will be returned to the County Extension Office and then distributed to submitters via email or regular mail.

Soil Campaign

This Soil Testing Campaign offers homeowners and gardeners the opportunity to have their soil tested to determine its current fertility and receive a recommendation to improve the fertility required to maintain and produce the best possible outcome for their garden, lawn, or landscape.  This campaign is only intended for soil analysis on non-agricultural land; only samples from lawns, landscapes, and gardens will be accepted.

The cost for a routine analysis will be $8.00 and a routine analysis with micronutrients will cost $15.00.

In exchange for the reduced testing cost, some information regarding your management practices will be asked on the soil testing form.  The information you will be asked to provide includes the last time the area was fertilized, a description of previously used fertilizers, and whether or not the soil has been sampled in the past.

If you have any questions concerning the Spring Lawn, Landscape, and Garden Soil Testing Campaign, please contact the Washington County Extension office at (979) 277-6212 ext.2.

Frost/Freeze Protection in Small Raised Beds

by

By Paula K. Trahan, BMGA Master Gardener

As our Texas fall has turned into a real winter including snow in Bluebonnet Master Gardener’s four counties, we are all seeking to protect our precious plants we put into the soil in September and October.  Depending on the size of garden you have, there are options to shield your investment and not lose much, if any, plant stock.

In past seasons, I have not been vigilant in covering my small, raised beds and just taken my chances.  This stance has cost money (losing future production and plant material) as well as extra work (all the wilted plants are a mess!).   Social distancing has given me time to design a frost/freeze protection system that can be deployed easily and removed for use this year and next.  With an up-front cash outlay of less than $100.00, the coverage is approximately 160 sf (two raised beds, 4×20 feet each).

The structure consists of several 1/2” pvc pipes, 10’ long.  Each pipe is bent in an arch across the raised bed and tucked inside along the raised portion of the bed’s 2×10’s.  The interval is about 4’ apart. With a bed width of 4’, this arch is around 4’ high giving plenty of height for your growing plants. As the bones of the system doesn’t interfere with the garden itself, you can leave these in place until the danger of frost is gone in spring.

Planket installed over raised bed for the recent freeze in Cat Spring, Austin County.

Planket installed over raised bed for the recent freeze in Cat Spring, Austin County.

 

The product to cover and protect was readily available at a local do it yourself store.  The brand purchased was Planket.  It comes in various sizes and variations such as round and rectangular.  The application for my garden needed 2 packages of 10×20’.  These were cut in half resulting in four 5×20’ pieces. This was easier for one person to handle when installing, especially on a windy day.  Each piece was laid lengthwise across the skeleton of pvc pipes then clipped together with colorful binder clips and then attached to the pipes themselves with small plastic clamps.

 

Clips holding the fabric on to the pvc skeleton.

Clips holding the fabric on to the pvc skeleton.

The clamps are perfectly sized, and the fabric doesn’t blow apart or in the case of recent sleet and frozen precipitation, it won’t sag and touch the plant material inside.

With our unpredictable weather it may be necessary to remove after only one or two days.  It is quite simple to take the Planket off and store for the next frost warning.  Just unclip all the fabric, lay it out lengthwise on the grass and roll each piece onto the cardboard tubes in which they were purchased.  Rolling them at a two-foot width allows for storage in a plastic tub along with the binder clips and clamps.  Plus, storing them in a roll makes for trouble free use in the future.

 

After several hours of freezing weather, the brussel sprout leaves are unfazed. Very easy to check on the status of your plants by just unclipping at various places.

After several hours of freezing weather, the brussel sprout leaves are unfazed. Very easy to check on the status of your plants by just unclipping at various places.

Brussel sprouts looking good. Ready to harvest soon.

Brussel sprouts looking good. Ready to harvest soon.

 

Broccoli plants are still producing from side shoots, so we are protecting them.

Broccoli plants are still producing from side shoots, so we are protecting them.

As it is early January, you can still get a couple of months use out of a system such as this.  Considering the cost of plant loss and replanting, it can still be cost efficient for your garden. We all remember those late Easter freezes and now you won’t be caught off guard! For more information on larger garden frost protection, please consult your local BMGA Master Gardener.

Tomato & Pepper Plant Sale – Spring 2021

by

Photo of Tomatoes

Washington County Horticulture Committee Tomato & Pepper Plant Sale – Now Accepting Orders

Calling all gardening enthusiasts!  It’s that time of year again and we wanted you all to be the first to know that the Annual Tomato and Pepper Plant Sale is officially here and we are ready to take orders.  The varieties featured have all been selected by Washington County Horticulture Committee Members and are suitable for our area.

This year the lineup features 13 tomato varieties including one new option.  In addition to some new tomato varieties we will be offering basil, cilantro, dill, and parsley as part of the sale!  Also included in the selection will be bell peppers, banana peppers, poblano peppers, jalapenos, eggplant, squash, and zucchini!  A brief description of each tomato variety is included on the back of the flyer; we have put some basic information together to help you make the best decision!

If the great selection and confidence in the proper varieties for our area is not enough, we are also offering these plants at $2.50 per pack!  Plus, all proceeds from this sale benefit the youth of Washington County through the annual AgriLife Extension – Horticulture Committee Scholarship Program.  Each year the Horticulture Committee works to identify graduating seniors pursuing a degree in agriculture who are deserving of a scholarship and will award these scholarships in May at their school assemblies.

Order forms are available online at https://washington.agrilife.org/plantsale or at the Washington County Extension Office.  All orders must be paid for when they are placed, and no orders will be accepted without payment.  For more information on the Tomato and Pepper Plant Sale please call the Extension Office at (979) 277-6212.

Orders are due by March 12th!  – Don’t delay, order today!

Pick-Up will be on Tuesday, March, 23 from 10:00am-5:30pm at the

Washington County Expo Sales Facility in Brenham!

 

 

Online Horticulture Learning Could Never be Easier

by

 

LogoSo many online horticulture learning opportunities you don’t know where to start?  This guide can get you started learning from horticulture experts.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension recorded many of their programs for viewing on your own schedule.  These recorded presentations are free to the public.

Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association members may claim Continuing Education Units (CEU) for these all AgriLife programs that pertain to gardening and horticulture; live or recorded.  Just watch the presentation and record your time as CEU.  BMGA members, remember to get your CEU credits recorded by December 31, 2020 to apply those hours to your re-certification requirement.  For 2020, you need 6 CEU credits.

Below are links to some of these programs to start learning from our Aggie experts.

Gulf Coast Gardening Online Series
There are 22 videos for more than 24 hours of learning. Topics include:

Young Tree Care – Video  #5
Earth Kind Pest Disease & Weed Control – Video #10
Texas Superstar Plants – Video #19

Horticulture & Gardening Webinar Series with David Rodriguez, County Extension Horticulture Agent, Bexar County
There are currently 17 of these recorded sessions for more than 13 hours of education. Topics include:

Getting Your Lawn and Landscape Ready for Summer Heat – Video #9
Tomato Basics 101 – Video #13
Butterfly Gardening – Nectar Plants – Video #5

Aggie Horticulture Facebook Live Recordings
There are 55 horticulture recorded events. Wow!  You do not need a Facebook account to watch.  Topics include:

Homeowner Greenhouses- Video #41
Transitioning to a Fall Garden, Two Parts – Video #40 & #45
Toys for Vegetable Gardening – Video #50
Fall Blooming Flowers & Biennials Planted in Fall – Video #51
Growing Blueberries in Containers – Video 18

 

A History of the Sens Activity Center Demonstration Garden

by

 A History of the Sens Activity Center Bluebonnet Master Gardener Demonstration Garden 

 By Faye Beery, Master Gardener
Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association

Sens Garden produce

Sens Garden produce

The original garden was started by then Master Gardener Judy Mead in 2001.  It was a program started with the Boys and Girls club at the old Bellville High School. Due to planned construction, around 2003, the garden was moved to the jail with the help from then Sheriff Dewayne Burger, and was called the Jail Garden. Members decided that a more appropriate name would be the Chesley garden when the garden was moved from behind the jail to beside the jail on Chesley street. Ed Linseisen, Larry Miller, Harry DeFoy, and Marvin Schindler, along with other members, were instrumental in getting the garden established.

The garden remained at the Chesley street location until 2015. Many interns earned their hours there as well as learning about vegetable gardening from Master Gardeners. Vegetables were given to the food pantry; some were sold to the Farmer’s market and some brought to meetings for sale to the members. Some were given to the inmates for use in the jail kitchen. Many hours of friendship were forged working in the beds and learning from one another about vegetable gardening.

In 2015, Sheriff Brandes announced that the sheriff’s office would be constructing a new building where the garden was located and asked that the garden be moved.   The board of directors at Sens Activity Center had contacted me for help with the landscaping at the Center.  The Center had adequate land for a garden and access to water, which was not included in other sites that had been explored for a garden. In December of 2015, Garry Kroeger submitted a proposal to the City of Bellville to use the Sens Center land for a new Master Gardener demonstration garden. In return, the Master Gardeners would care for the flower beds around the Center. The city agreed to provide the necessary water and parking space. In 2016, Garry and a team of Master Gardeners and community help moved all the bedding materials and the shed to the Sens Activity Center.

Garden under construction

Garden under construction

Many hours of hard work went into plowing the land and establishing the beds. The first year, deer and rabbit, and probably other small animals also found the garden rewarding. Unfortunately, some vandalism also occurred, and it was decided that a fence would be built around the garden. This provided security for the garden, and no further crops were lost to marauders. Garry Kroeger had been instrumental in finding a good site for the garden and had also done much of the work including using his own tractor to plow the land, and has spent many hours working to see that the garden is as productive as possible.

Garry's Garden Sign

Garry’s Garden sign

The Master Gardeners decided to name it Garry’s Garden, and Elery Kimes, also a Master Gardener, made the sign to put on the fence in his honor. Pete Smith has also been instrumental in working the garden, and fortunately lives in the subdivision, giving him easy access to working there. Pete has been managing and directing efforts to pick and prepare vegetables to be sold at the Farmer’s Market on the square in Bellville.

The garden has been extremely prolific under Garry’s and Pete’s direction. It is still giving interns and Master Gardeners opportunities to work for their hours and to develop friendships and knowledge. Usually, around 5 to 7 people work the garden each Wednesday starting around 7:00 to 8:00 am.  In 2018, 1,208 lbs. of vegetables were harvested from the garden. Some were sold, some were given to the food pantry, some were taken to meetings, some were taken home by those who worked there. In 2019, 1,505 lbs. were harvested from the garden. Vegetables included beans, peas, corn, blackberries onions, chard, cucumbers, okra, eggplant, cabbage, turnups, carrots, broccoli, squash, potatoes, peppers, bell and jalapenos, cantaloupes and some herbs.

Volunteers weighing produce

Volunteers weighting produce

Pete Smith working the okra

Pete Smith working in the okra

Next year will be the 20th anniversary of the garden. Hopefully, we can have some sort of a celebration and educational activity to let everyone know about the history and successes of the garden. Everyone is welcome to come and work with us in showing what can be done to raise your own produce and lessening dependence on outside sources. Not only does local produce taste better and is better for you, but it reduces transportation costs and reduces waste.

Hope to see you there!