Cabell County Agriculture & Natural Resources

Master Gardener Program

This Month in the Garden Calendar

Persimmons

Rich in fiber, antioxidants and countless nutrients – persimmons have been cultivated for hundreds of years. Native persimmons (diospyros virginiana) can grow to 30 to 40 feet. While you can start a persimmon from seed, using a stem cutting will give you an identical copy of the parent tree. There are several different methods that can be used to propagate native persimmon. 

It is easy to propagate a persimmon from seed. Choose a seed from a fully ripe persimmon, remove a few seeds and soak them for a few days to loosen any sticky flesh. You will need to simulate the natural overwintering process by chilling the seeds, wrapping them in a moist paper towel and putting them in a jar or plastic bag inside of a refrigerator for three months. If the paper towel dries out, rewet it. 

More from the Garden Calendar

Lawn, Gardening & Pests News for Cabell County

AgAlert! Cucurbit Downy Mildew

Cucurbit downy mildew (CDM) has now been found in Monongalia County, West Virginia, as well as neighboring states – Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Maryland. For the latest information, visit the CDM regional map at https://cdm.ipmpipe.org/. 

Cucurbit downy mildew (CDM) is a destructive disease that can affect most members of the gourd family or Cucurbitaceae, such as cucumber, cantaloupe, pumpkin, squash, watermelon and zucchini. However, cucumbers are the worst affected cucurbit that can be completely killed in two weeks from the onset of the disease. 

Symptoms of the disease may vary slightly from species to species, but in general, it causes angular chlorotic lesions on the foliage. These lesions appear angular because they are bound by leaf veins. During humid conditions, the lower surface of the leaf is covered with a downy, pale gray to blackish mildew. 

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Join the Fall 2022 Master Gardener Training

WVU Extension Master Gardener training, typically offered through in-person courses organized by WVU Extension offices around the state, will once again be available online via Zoom sessions. 

Something we learned through this COVID-induced way of conducting our training is that many people found it very appealing and wanted to have the online training opportunity again this fall. We understand that some prefer in-person sessions, but given the persistence and volatility of the COVID situation, the best approach is to have a hybrid platform. 

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Join us for the 2022 Master Gardener Conference

The 27th annual Master Gardener Conference will be held on April 8-10, 2022, at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Garden enthusiasts and beginner gardeners from near and far are invited to join us this year! To register for the conference or find more information about the schedule and speakers, visit the Master Gardener Conference page.

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Agriculture

Agriculture News for Cabell County

2022 Agriculture Webinar and Dinner Meeting Series

Each winter, WVU Extension brings education, know-how and research right to your community through a series of educational dinner meetings. This year, we're offering a mix of virtual and in-person meeting opportunities across West Virginia for the 2022 agriculture education series!

Participants had the same opportunity to learn from WVU Extension specialists and industry experts about relevant topics to help you improve your own agricultural operations.

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Lease Recommendations for Land Owner & Tenants

Ben Goff, WVU Extension Agent in Mason and Putnam counties, offers recommendations for landowners and tenants who want to prepare for the upcoming farming season and work to minimize their respective risks.

Goff covers a variety of tips for farmers and landowners regarding farm leases, including:

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Mid-Ohio Valley Fall 2021 Beef Quality Assurance Trainings

The fall 2021 WVU Extension BQA trainings will focus on topics including:

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Cabell County Ag News

2022 Cabell County Master Gardener Course

The 2022 West Virginia Master Gardener Course will begin on March 3rd and run weekly on Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 PM through June 30th. This class will be primarily Zoom-based but the Cabell County Master Gardeners will be offering an in-person viewing opportunity in the WVU Extension-Cabell County Office located in Milton, WV. 

The charge for the course will be either $50 for the non-printable PDF West Virginia Master Gardener Manual or $100 for the physical book. To register for the Cabell County Master Gardeners' Course, visit  https://bit.ly/2022CCMGClass.

For more information contact WVU Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Evan Wilson at 304-743-1342 or email jewilson@mail.wvu.edu.

Natural Resources

Soil Testing in Cabell County