Vegetable Program Upcoming Events

Join Extension specialists and expert growers from across the region for a full-day workshop for commercial tunnel tomato growers to learn from each other the best practices for growing high-yielding and delicious tunnel tomatoes profitably.

For fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. This training is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement for covered farms that "at least one supervisor or responsible party" completes "food safety training … recognized as adequate” by FDA (21 C.F.R. §112.22(c)).

Title: Management of Up and Coming Strawberry Diseases in the Northeastern United States (credits applied for)

Join UMass Extension, the New England Vegetable and Berry Growers' Association, and invited speakers for a day of educational presentations!

Opportunity to meet with representatives of the USDA Risk Management Agency, Farm Services Agency, and MDAR to discuss risk management options for specialty growers in the Northeast.

Strawberry School is designed to help people who are interested in strawberry production as a commercial enterprise.  Basic site requirements, site preparation, production systems, plant selection, care of young plants, nutrient management, pest management and will be presented by Dr. David Handley, Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. 

Blueberries are among the most popular fruits to grow in the home garden. They are healthful and well suited to growing in New England conditions. Come learn the basics for pruning blueberries for your home landscape. This session will lay down the foundation for Blueberry growers covering horticultural practices, site selection, soil and planting, pruning, fertility, pest management and IPM, and history.

Many people do not realize that all apple varieties are reproduced by grafting - they are not grown from seed. For horticultural enthusiasts, one of the most satisfying techniques to master is grafting. Jon Clements will present a hands-on workshop on ‘bench grafting’ and ‘cleft grafting’ of apple trees. Other grafting techniques will be discussed. Proper tools and sharpening will be included. All participants in the workshop will graft several of their own apples trees to take home. There will be a break for participants to enjoy a BYO lunch.

Sometimes the smallest creatures can cause the greatest impact. Join in and learn about disease management for tree fruit. Key disease IPM concepts will be discussed. Identification, biology and management of a selection of common tree fruit diseases will also be presented.

Join Jon Clements as we actually plant an apple “fruiting wall” consisting of five apple varieties and only taking up 50 feet of linear space in your home landscape. Not an espalier, so supporting, training, and pruning of these dwarf apple trees is simplified. Ongoing care and maintenance will also be discussed. Participants may end up taking home several (depending on participation) bare root apple trees to get their own fruiting wall started. *

*These workshops will be partially outdoors, so please dress appropriately for potentially wet, cold, and muddy conditions.