Purdue Master Gardener Program
Do you know what it might mean when you see gray spots in the soil within 10 inches of the surface? Last year’s Purdue Master Gardener Interns learned that it means that iron is not being oxidized and hints at poor drainage. For a gardener, that means they could end up with a wet basement, if they are building a new house, or plants that have saturated roots. Therefore, if they have to plant something there, they might want to try a Bald Cyprus since they love wet soil.
After having such a successful year with last year’s Purdue Master Gardner class, Purdue Extension in Clay and Owen counties are offering the program again this winter. This year’s program will be held on Tuesday nights from 6:00 to 9:00 at the Owen County Extension Office in Spencer. It will run from February 12th to May 7th and will feature a variety of topics (pesticide safety, soils, turf care, vegetables, and much more) covered by a host of different Purdue Extension Specialists, Extension Educators and invited guests. The cost of the program is $115, which covers the cost of course materials, speakers, and a copy of the Purdue Master Gardener book.
There is limited space available for this program, so registering early is a must. Please contact the Owen County Extension Office to do so at 829-5020. The deadline to register for this program is January 31st at 4:00 p.m. Remember, this program allows you to study horticultural plants and their pests, improve your gardening skills, help teach others about horticulture, and have fun while doing so.
Through the Purdue Master Gardener program, you will achieve the rank of Master Gardener Intern by passing an exam with a score of 70 percent. Once you achieve the rank of Master Gardener Intern, you must volunteer for at least 35 hours to become a certified Master Gardener.