Sussex County Master Gardeners workshops kick off Jan. 30

The Sussex County Master Gardeners will offer winter and spring workshops via Zoom and in person at the Carvel Center, 16483 County Seat Highway, Georgetown. The classes are free. Preregistration is required at udel.edu/0011525.

An email to participants will be sent out with a Zoom link/phone number and handouts 24 hours prior to the scheduled workshop.

Around the World of Mushrooms is set for 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 30, via Zoom. Master Gardener Michele Forzley, the Mushroom Lady, will offer a quick overview of the world of fungi. Participants will learn about identification, cooking, nutritional aspects and foraging for mushrooms.

Landscaping with Native Perennials will meet at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 20, in person and via Zoom. Master Gardener Terry Plummer will introduce attendees to a wide variety of native plant materials that will draw insects and the birds to the garden. Native perennials will provide a delightful landscape that will make garden life easier, with less watering and fuss.

Vegetable Gardening is set for 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 5, via Zoom. Master Gardeners Ana Dittel and Linda Peters will talk about the needs of a productive vegetable garden, including sun, water, nutrients and the garden layout. They will cover selecting, planting, and growing vegetables. They will also discuss precautions to take against certain insects and diseases.

Building a Raised Bed Garden - 8’ x 4’ x 36” will meet at 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 26, in person only. Master Gardener Norma Parks will lead a group of Master Gardeners building a new raised bed in the demonstration garden at the Carvel Center to replace an old structure. Participants will learn how to build the wooden raised bed with an irrigation system. Prior to the build, the gardeners will deconstruct the old bed, reserving the soil and perennial plants. Everyone who registers will be notified of the date of the deconstruct in case they want to attend.

IPM for the Home is set for 1 p.m., Thursday, April 11, in person and via Zoom. Master Gardener Penny Huth will present. Integrated pest management, or IPM, is a process gardeners can use to solve pest problems while minimizing risks to people and the environment. Attendees will learn the basics of managing insects, weeds and diseases in the landscape using minimal chemical control practices. 

For more information, contact Kaleb Scott at kjscott@udel.edu or 302-856-7303. For answers on lawn and gardening issues, call 302-856-2585, Ext. 535 or go to udel.edu/extension/ask.

Master Gardeners are working volunteers supported by Delaware Cooperative Extension through the University of Delaware and Delaware State University Extension offices. Any attendees who have special needs to be accommodated should notify the office two weeks prior to the event.