Small farmers and gardeners can learn about and practice plant propagation and seed saving techniques at a March 25 UMES Extension workshop. The goal of the program is to help participants become their own seed and plant source—the first step to becoming a breeder for specific plants.
“Participants from our annual Small Farm Conference this fall requested an expanded hands-on experience to master the different techniques to propagate plants,” said Henriette den Ouden, a specialty herb consultant with UMES Extension. “Different sexual/seed and asexual/vegetative propagation techniques allow us to generate new plants with desired characteristics.”
The in-person class will take place from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at UMES’ Research, Extension and Teaching Farm on Stewart Neck Road in Princess Anne. Lunch is included in the registration fee of $20.
Growers will receive instruction on the different propagation methods and when to use each, along with getting supervised practice. Hands-on practice and discussion will also take place related to seed saving techniques, including how to prepare for projects later in the year.
The workshop will be led by Sadanand Dhekney (below), professor of plant breeding and biotechnology at UMES, along with den Ouden and Dr. Nadine Burton, an alternative crop specialist with UMES Extension.
Register at https://bit.ly/3lnef5N . For more information or for accommodations, email hdenouden@umes.edu or call 410-621-5450, Ext. 104.
Gail Stephens, agricultural communications and media associate, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, 410-621-3850, gcstephens@umes.edu
Photos by Todd Dudek, agricultural communications, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, tdudek@umes.edu
