EDINBURG — Whether you’ve got a green thumb or a brown one for failing to grow healthy vegetables in the sweltering heat of South Texas, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service for Hidalgo County is offering a series of classes to improve your skills and go organic.
AgriLife Extension is offering their annual evening gardening class series, Vegetable Gardening Using Organic Methods, from 6–8:30 p.m Aug. 11-14 at the North San Juan Community Center, 509 E. Nolana Loop, north of San Juan.
The cost of the four-evening series is $45 per person or $60 per couple, according to Barbara Storz, AgriLife Extension horticulturist in Edinburg. Couples will share class materials.
“Even though it’s really warm outside with highs in the low 100s, right now is the perfect time to start seedlings to set out in the fall garden,” she said. “This is when we should be planting tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and all the brassicas, such as broccoli, cabbage and Brusselssprouts.”
The focus of the class series will be organic, where efforts are made to build a healthy soil system and monitor pests and diseases, Storz said.
“We will learn to practice integrated pest management, try alternative pest controls, plant flowers to support beneficial insects and learn about the different organic pesticides and how best to use them,” she said.
Storz said she and several other expert speakers will provide information on area soils, vegetable varieties best suited to South Texas growing conditions, timing of various crops and possible insect and disease pressures.
“You can’t beat a fall garden in the Valley,” she said. “But it starts now by knowing what to plant when. These classes will teach you that, but they are popular and seating is limited, so I strongly suggest registering early.”
For more information and to register, call the AgriLife Extension office for Hidalgo County in Edinburg at 956-383-1026.