Union County Extension
Master Gardener Volunteers
Successful Gardener 2022 Calendar
In 2022, the Successful Gardening series will attempt to walk you through all the steps to create and manage a garden, without focusing on a particular type of garden. From early planning considerations and seed starting in January to improving your soil in February, Composting in March, planting in April, fertilizing and caring for your plants in May, managing insects in June, managing water and weeds in July, preparing for Fall in August, new ideas for harvesting in September, flower arranging in October and finally, preparing for 2023 and upgrading your garden in November.
Our Successful Gardener classes are held on the first Thursday of the month at 7 PM. Our classes are free, unless otherwise noted, and open to the public. All Thursday night classes will be live, virtual events held on WebEx. The classes will be recorded and posted to YouTube. The YouTube link will be added to this page. There will be no classes in December. During several months in 2022 we will also host a live, in person workshop or lab class related to the monthly Successful Gardener class. Registration is required and each lab will have an Eventbrite link posted for registration.
If you have a topic you'd like us to include in this series, send an email to our Growline.
If you have trouble registering for a class, workshop or lab, send an email here.
January 6th, 2022
Where is my Garden?
Where should I site my garden? OR I have a garden spot what should I plant?
Topics: Site selection, right plant, right place, erosion control
Click here for the recording
January 22nd, 2022 10a-12p
January LAB Seed Starting, Ag Center Greenhouse
3230 Presson Rd, Monroe, NC
February 3rd, 2022
From the Ground Up
The most important gardening job: improve the soil!
Topics: soil science basics, soil testing, how to improve your soil
Click here for the recording
March 3rd, 2022
Save Some Cash and Use Your Trash
What's one of the best ways to improve your soil and decrease your waste stream? Composting!
Topics: how to make compost, how and when to use it, what's the difference between mulch and compost? more details here
Coming Soon Click here for the recording
March LAB Build a Compost Pile, Location and Date TBD
Eventbrite Registration coming soon
April 7th, 2022
I Have a Seed !
Which plants can I start from seed directly in the soil? What does a healthy transplant look like? How do you plant seeds and transplants? How do you care for plant babies?
Topics: proper planting techniques and seedling/transplant care
Click here for the recording
May 5th, 2022
Grow Little Buddy
When should you fertilize your plants? How should you fertilize your plants? What fertilizers are best for your garden situation?
Topics: fertilization types, applications, timing
Coming Soon Click here for the recording
June 2nd, 2022
Squish This Bug...Not That Bug
Most insects are (relatively) harmless or helpful so it's best to know which you need to remove (Bad Bugs) and which you need to leave alone or even attract (Good Bugs). Attract the Good Bugs and Manage the Bad Bugs!
Topics: Insect pests management, insect helpers attractants, insect ID
Coming Soon Click here for the recording
June LAB Insect ID, Location and Date TBD
Eventbrite Registration coming soon
July 7th, 2022
It's Hot, Now What?
If you are hot, so are your plants! What can you do to help them survive and even thrive in the heat of the summer?
Topics: summer watering techniques, summer weeding and pruning
Coming Soon Click here for the recording
August 4th, 2022
Time to Start the Fall Garden
August is the time to start your fall vegetable garden and to start planning the planting of perennial plants, shrubs and tree .
Topics: cover crops, fall vegetables for our area, perennials to plant in the fall, fall clean up
Coming Soon Click here for the recording
September 1st, 2022
Happy Harvester
Are you overrun with peppers, herbs, flowers? Can you have too much of a good thing? We've got ideas for your exceptional harvest!
Topics: when to pick, how to store immediately after picking, long term storage ideas
Coming Soon Click here for the recording
September LAB Herb Preservation Location and Date TBD
Eventbrite Registration coming soon
October 6th, 2022
#Flowers Make Me Happy
Which flowers are the best for long term arrangements, when and how to pick, how to keep flowers looking great longer, preserving blooms
Topics: flower preservation, fresh flower care
Coming Soon Click here for the recording
October LAB Flower Arranging Location and Date TBD
Eventbrite Registration coming soon
November 3rd, 2022
Clean Your Garden!
Once the first frost is past, the big clean up can begin, but also consider that a messy garden is a great wildlife habitat. Winter is also a great time to build new paths, garden structures and reconsider the "bones" of the garden.
Topics: garden clean up, wildlife habitat protection, building garden structures, tweaking the garden design
Coming Soon Click here for the recording