Extension

Whether you’re known in the neighborhood as the gardener who grows the best tomatoes, or you’re not sure of the difference between an acorn and butternut squash, the Oklahoma State University Extension offers a practical, research-based online course to help all gardeners succeed.

 

Now is an excellent time to take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about vegetable gardening and what it takes to be successful.

 

Vegetable Gardening is a self-paced course that helps build gardeners’ skills through step-by-step segments highlighting all aspects of gardening. The course features 12 30-minute modules and participants can access the course online 24/7 for up to 60 days. As gardeners interact with the videos, they will engage in learning activities and take quizzes. To complete the course, participants must access all pages and earn at least an 80% on each quiz. Registration is $50 and can be done online.

 

After completing the course, participants will have a better understanding of:

 

• Site selection
• Identifying soil types and key plant nutrients
• Choosing proper equipment
• Soil preparation methods
• Planning a garden based on vegetable families
• Comparing gardening methods
• Creating a vegetable garden design
• How to water, weed and mulch
• Modifying planting times and extending the vegetable-growing season
• Diagnosing insect and disease problems and course of action for those problems
• Production practices for specific vegetables
• Harvest and storage methods

 

The Vegetable Gardening course was created by Brenda Sanders, former host of OSU Agriculture’s “Oklahoma Gardening” program; David Hillock, OSU Extension consumer horticulturist; and OSU’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture.

 

OSU Extension also offers a wide variety of gardening information online.

 

Investing some time into educational gardening opportunities now will help ensure more success when the gardening season resumes.