Gardening Webinar Series
Join the University of Maine Cooperative Extension for our gardening webinar series! These one-hour and 15-minute webinars will include a 1-hour presentation, followed by Q&A and discussion.
Registration is required with a sliding scale program fee ($0 – $10) for each webinar. Participants will receive the Zoom information after registering for a webinar. All sessions will be recorded and shared with participants following the event. If you are unable to attend the live session, please register to receive a copy of the recording and a resource list.
Need help connecting with Zoom? Contact the US:IT Service Help Desk: 800.696.4357 or help@maine.edu
Healthy Gardens Start with Healthy Plants
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
6:00 PM – 7:15 PM
Plant shopping season is just around the corner or perhaps it has already begun! With a wide array of insects, diseases and invasive plant species to be mindful of, it’s more important than ever that gardeners know how to avoid bringing problems into their landscape. This webinar will offer tips on how to evaluate plants prior to purchasing and assess the health of mail-order plants when they arrive. Participants will also learn where to find current information regarding invasive plants, quarantines and invasive species updates. Additionally, we’ll talk about the importance of choosing the right plant for the growing conditions you’re working with and other strategies that can help you get off on the right foot in your next gardening adventure.
Instructor:
Carole Neil earned a B.S. in Botany with a minor in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Maine in Orono. She worked her way up in the horticulture industry in several different roles such as production crew member, grower, nursery manager, and head waterer. For the last 13 years, Carole has worked as an Assistant Horticulturist with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. In this position, she inspects plant material being sold in Maine to be sure it is healthy and pest free. She also certifies plant material being shipped out of the state or country, and assists growers with plant pest and horticultural issues. A lifelong Mainer, Carole enjoys spending her free time in the outdoors gardening, exploring trails with her dog, swimming, camping, and finding unique natural areas.
Registration is required with a sliding scale program fee ($0 – $10). Participants will receive the Zoom information after registering for a webinar. All sessions will be recorded and shared with participants following the event. If you are unable to attend the live session, please register to receive a copy of the recording and a resource list.
Growing Great Tomatoes, Peppers, Melons, and More!
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
6:00 PM to 7:15 PM
This webinar will focus on practical strategies for growing tomatoes, peppers, and melons. In addition to offering simple tips and tricks that will save you time and improve yields, our experts will share updates on new varieties trials taking place at our research farm in Monmouth, Maine. This presentation has something to offer all levels of gardeners – whether this is your 50th season or your first!
Instructors:
Peyton Ginakes is a Research Associate in the University of Maine’s Cooperative Extension program. She conducts applied research to address knowledge gaps in specialty crop production for Maine farmers. Much of her ongoing research is centered on vegetable crop trials with the goal of identifying promising varieties and cultural practices.
Mark Hutton, Associate Professor of Vegetable Crops and Extension Vegetable Specialist Mark also serves as associate dean for research in the University of Maine College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture, and associate director of the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station. Mark is based at Highmoor Farm in Monmouth where his professional Interests are: sustainable vegetable production practices, plant breeding and insect biocontrol. His research focuses on intercropping, living mulches, and sequential cropping for improved yields, quality, and reduced agrochemical inputs. He also evaluates and develops improved management strategies for hoop house crop production.
Registration is required with a sliding scale program fee ($0 – $10). Participants will receive the Zoom information after registering for a webinar. All sessions will be recorded and shared with participants following the event. If you are unable to attend the live session, please register to receive a copy of the recording and a resource list.
Beyond the Apple: Growing Unique Fruit in Maine
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
6:00 PM to 7:15 PM
Join orchardist and nurseryman Jesse Stevens for a webinar on lesser known perennial and woody crops. Having worked at several commercial apple orchards, he became disenchanted with the high-input methods needed to grow that fruit for market. For 15 years Jesse has been trialing a wide variety of fruit and nut bearing plants in the western foothills of Maine and will share his experiences of growing, propagating, harvesting, marketing and utilizing species such as hardy kiwi, haskap, figs and many more.
Instructor:
Jesse Stevens owns Sy’s Trees, a diversified orchard and nursery operation in Sweden, ME.
Registration is required with a sliding scale program fee ($0 – $10). Participants will receive the Zoom information after registering for a webinar. All sessions will be recorded and shared with participants following the event. If you are unable to attend the live session, please register to receive a copy of the recording and a resource list.
You might also like to view our Victory Gardens for ME series for help with your first (or second!) vegetable garden, and our On Demand Webinars for information on a variety of topics.