Winter is the season when most fruit and nut trees are planted. For those sold “bare root”, planting during the dormant season is essential. If you’re interested in learning more about producing edible crops in 2023, the annual East Texas Fruit, Nut and Vegetable Conference on January 13 at Cross Brand Cowboy Church (11915 FM 2015 in Tyler) will offer professionals and hobbyists advice to gardeners on figs, grapes, muscadines, home vegetable production, peaches, plums and the growing history of the over 100-year-old royal nursery in Tenaha.
Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m., followed by the first block at 8:30 a.m. with lunch. Cash, check or credit cards will be accepted at on-site registration. The cost of the program is $25 to pre-register online before January 12th and $35 after. The program will only take place in person. Pre-registration is required for the number of lunches. No Texas Department of Agriculture CEUs will be offered for this event. Certified Texas Master Gardeners will be awarded CE (5 hours).
Topics and speakers include:
• Growing Figs in East Texas: David Creech, Professor Emeritus and Director of SFA Gardens, Stephen F. Austin State University
• Muscadines and Grapes: Michael Cook, North Texas Viticulture Program Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
• Feeding a Family from a Home Vegetable Garden: Greg Grant, Smith County Gardener, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
• Four generations of East Texas fruit, nut and vegetable sales: Andrew King, King’s Nursery, Tenaha
• Growing Peaches and Plums: Tim Hartman, assistant professor and extension specialist, fruit crops, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
This event was organized to meet the growing demand for fruit, nut and vegetable production information for home gardeners and commercial growers in East Texas. It’s an opportunity to learn tips from specialists and agents on how to be a successful gardener, how to avoid common pitfalls and how to learn more as you grow.
The East Region AgriLife Conference and Expo will be held on the same day, at the same time, on the same property, so be sure to find your way down the hill to the Fruits, Nuts and Vegetables Conference if you wish.
The East Region AgriLife Conference and Expo is on January 13th at Cross Brand Cowboy Church (11915 FM 2015, Tyler). Registration will open at 7:15 a.m., followed by the first session at 8:00 a.m. for commercial structural pest license holders and 9:00 a.m. for structural and agricultural license holders with lunch provided. Cash, check or credit cards will be accepted at on-site registration. The cost of the program is $10 to pre-register online before January 12th and $20 after. The program will only take place in person. Pre-registration is required for lunch. Six structural (SPCS) and five Texas Department of Agriculture CEUs will be provided for this event.
Topics and speakers include:
• Termite Identification and Control: Janet Hurley (SPCS license holders only), Senior Extension Program Specialist, IPM Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Dallas
• Pest Identification and Control Strategies: Bryant McDowell, Extension Program Specialist, Urban IPM Texas A&MAgriLife Extension, Dallas
• Update on Pesticide Laws and Regulations: Mark Matocha, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, College Station
• Pesticide Safety: Mark Matocha, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, Texas A&MAgriLife Extension, College Station
• Turf and Bermuda Grass Diseases: Chrissie Segars, Assistant Professor and Extension Turf Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Dallas
• Water X Weeds: An Integrated Weed Management Approach: Becky Bowling, Assistant Professor and Extension Urban Water Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Dallas
For more information about the conference or to pre-register, contact the Gregg County Extension office at (903) 236-8429. Online registration is available for the East Texas Fruit, Nut & Vegetable Conference at https://smith.agrilife.org/fnvc/ and the East Region AgriLife Conf & Expo at https://smith.agrilife.org/erace/ .