A grouping of Cannas grown by a Master Gardener in Warsaw.

WARSAW – Kosciusko County Master Gardeners and the Purdue Extension Office are hosting a late-winter gardening series that begins March 5 in Warsaw.

The three sessions will cover lots of ground, including:

•  How the current climate impacts the plants in your landscape.
•  How to get plants to grow where they currently won’t.
•  How to extend the growing season using plastic and hoop houses.

The 22nd annual Gardening Away the Winter Blues classes will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Extension office in Warsaw and continues March 12 and 19.

The objective of this series is to provide practical ideas and solutions for homeowners to inspire them to get excited for the upcoming gardening season. Upon completion of the series, students will have the resources to troubleshoot and solve common problems found in their gardening experiences.

 Highlights of each session are:

March — Featuring Weather, Climate & Growing Plants in problem areas. Austin Pearson, Purdue Extension Educator, Tipton County will share information on weather and climate basic information, future projections, and their impacts on horticulture. Bug eating plants will be highlighted by Justis Lommel with tips on how to grow carnivorous plants. The evening will be rounded out by Juergen Voss, Open Air Garden, Warsaw, talking about growing flowers in problem areas like shade, and hot and dry areas.

March 12 — Garden safe solutions and a look at what is new this year. Speakers include Brad Clayton, of Clayton Garden Center, and Jason Becker, Fashion Farm, Ligonier.

March 19 — Topics include gardening with plastic and hoop houses. Mark Vanlaningham, from Creation Celebration Farm and the Warsaw Uptown Farmers’ Market, will talk about how to have a weed-free garden by using black plastic. He’ll also talk about the advantages of hoop houses and how you can use one effectively in your garden. Ann Schlabach, Harvest with a Heart, of Milford, will talk about their commitment to the well-being of the Milford community through their unique approach to healthy living and acts of service.

This series is open to the public. Registration is $20 per person; $25 family or $8 per session if received by March 1. The cost covers six hours of educational instruction, handouts, refreshments, and other landscape related information.

Master Gardeners who complete the class will earn six hours of educational credit or two hours per session. 

For more details and registration form contact the Purdue Extension  in the Kosciusko County office at (574) 372-2340 or visit the office’s website at http://www.ag.purdue.edu/counties/kosciusko/pages/default.aspx

Registration can also be completed online at www.kcmg.eventbrite.com.