The results are in! The Master Gardener Seed Trial team recently announced the results of the 2019 Seed Trials. A total of 124 Master Gardeners from 44 counties tested six varieties of five different vegetables, two flowers, and one herb during the 2019 growing season. Trials were conducted at 22 community gardens, four school gardens and home gardens across the state.

In Dakota County, two community gardens participated in the seed trials – South St. Paul Vegetable Seed Trial Garden and Rosemount Vegetable Seed Trial Garden. These projects are led by Master Gardener volunteers Janice Gestner and Patti Jeffrey/ Linda Wenzel, respectively.

Recommendations are based on flavor, disease and insect tolerance, productivity and germination rates.

Tall Yellow Snapdragons – “Aromas Fresh Lemon”
Red / Organge Nasturtium – “Indian Chief”
Mint – “Licorice Mint”
Early Tomatoes – “4th of July”
Snap Peas – “Sugar Ann”
Red Cabbage – “Ruby Perfection”
Golden Beets – “3-Root Grex”
Arugula – ” Surrey”

Visit the Extension site for more information and a complete list of the 2019 seed trial results.

Registration is now open for Let’s Get Growing 2020 – register today!

Let’s Get Growing is an expo for more than 200 gardeners of all skill levels looking to learn more and have a great time! We have a schedule packed with fantastic speakers lined up for you. Click here for full session information and all the event details.

Giving Let’s Get Growing as a gift this holiday season? Download and print our card!

If you already subscribe to our emails you will be notified when registration is open, but don’t worry it isn’t too late to sign-up. Just fill out our form to subscribe and make sure you don’t miss news of our events and classes.

Milkweed is a required plant for monarchs to live and thrive. Caterpillars munch only on milkweed leaves and the females lay their eggs on the plants as well. Milkweed is also a great nectar plant for many other pollinators like bees and other butterflies, but also hummingbirds.

Most people think of the plant common milkweed when someone mentions milkweed, but there are other varieties that can be found in Minnesota and are great for your gardens too. Remember that named varieties you might see in the garden center are great plants, but insects and birds prefer the native varieties they have seen for almost ever.

Butterfly Weed is a fantastic garden plant since it is a shorter, more compact milkweed bursting with orange flowers.

Despite its name, Swamp Milkweed, will do just fine in average garden soil. This variety also doesn’t spread except by self seeding and is easy to dig up or move early in the season.

Other native varieties of milkweed include whorled, purple and poke. No matter which you plant, the insects and birds will be sure to gather!

Join our outgoing community of Master Gardeners in Dakota County by applying to become a Master Gardener. The application for this year is now available on our website along with all the details. Applications are due by October 1.

The mission of the Dakota County Extension Master Gardener program is to educate and assist the public by answering questions and solving problems about horticulture and related environmental topics. There are more than 130 Dakota County residents who are University of Minnesota Extension-trained and volunteer thousands of hours each year.  Come grow with us!

Have questions?  We would be more than happy to answer any questions you have about our program and activities.  Just contact us!

Much information has been shared about the plight of bees and pollinators in recent years. The Midwest was once home to a large population of rusty batch bumble bees but are now considered endangered.

The bees were recently spotted in Burnsville in a prairie conservation area showing that efforts to create more native habitat for pollinators is paying off! Learn how to spot these bees and to report your sightings by visiting the U of M Bee Lab.