Jan. 5, 2012

Here's Randy's Weekly KTRH GardenLine Tip:

Issue #239

Happy New Year!

Throughout the year, I get countless calls and emails from folks who want to know where they can buy specific stone-fruit or citrus trees. While most nurseries carry basic peaches, plums, apples and pears ... and an occasional orange or lemon ... nothing compares to the annual fruit tree sales that most county extension offices put on January-March. While independent nurseries and garden centers are far superior to "box stores" when it comes to offering varieties proper for this region, much more is available at the these special sales.

Not only do they have extensive selections, they have the right varieties for specific counties. It always slays me to see big box stores selling varieties like Elberta peaches. They, for example, will never produce fruit here because of their intensive chill-hour needs.

At this year's sales, while you can find old standards in citrus and stone fruits, look for newer blueberry varieties. If you've benefited from sales in the past, that's great. But, if you've ignored them and have always said you wanted to take advantage of them, this could be your year!

It's been a GardenLine tradition for over 15 years to spotlight these events, and this year will be no exception. Let me apologize, though, for not getting this information out in late December as we have in the past. With Christmas and New Year's falling on weekends this year, we have been on sort of an extended vacation with our weekly email blasts. The good news is, you still have over a week to start preparing for this year's events.

As for classes and symposiums, note that some are not on the day of the actual sale. That trend started last year, and I think you'll see that more and more in the years to come.

While I was at it, I listed a few additional pre-sale classes for Harris, Galveston and Fort Bend counties plus some unusual sessions for specific fruit or vegetables. Aside from the Urban Harvest seminars below, I was unable at the time of this writing to determine if admission is charged for any the classes listed. You should contact those of interest and ask about possible fees for attending.

Here's the agenda:

Seminar: Growing Avocados and Papayas Sat., Jan. 7 - 9-11 a.m. Galveston County Extension Service Office 4102-B Main St. (FM 519) at Carbide Park, LaMarque Seminar: Successfully Growing Peaches in Galveston Sat., Jan. 7 - 2-4 p.m. Galveston County Extension Service Office 4102-B Main St. (FM 519) at Carbide Park, LaMarque Urban Harvest Sale Advance Symposium ($5 fee) Sat., Jan. 7 - 2-4:30 p.m. United Way Office 50 Waugh Drive Urban Harvest Sale Advance Symposium #2 ($5 fee) Tues., Jan. 10 - 6:30-9 p.m. United Way Office 50 Waugh Drive Urban Harvest Fruit Tree Sale Sat., Jan. 14 - 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Robertson Stadium, University of Houston Campus 713-880-5542 Fort Bend County Citrus & Fruit Seminar Featuring John Panzarella Thurs., Jan. 19 - 6:30-8 p.m. Fort Bend County Bud O'Shieles Community Center 1330 Band Road, Rosenberg Seminar: Growing Citrus in Home Garden Sat., Jan. 21 - 1-3 p.m. Galveston County Extension Service Office 4102-B Main St. (FM 519) at Carbide Park, LaMarque Montgomery County Master Gardener Fruit Tree Seminar with Tom LeRoy Sat., Jan. 28 - 8-9 a.m. Montgomery County Extension Offices 9020 F.M. 1484, Conroe Montgomery County Master Gardener Fruit Tree Sale Sat., Jan. 28 - 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Montgomery County Extension Offices 9020 F.M. 1484, Conroe Harris County Fruit Tree Sale Preview Sat., Jan. 28 - 8-9 a.m. Harris County Extension Service Bear Creek Facility 3033 Bear Creek Drive Harris County Fruit Tree Sale Sat., Jan. 28 - 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Harris County Extension Service Bear Creek Facility 3033 Bear Creek Drive

Harris County Fruit Tree Seminar with Skip Richter Sat., Jan. 28 - 10-11 a.m. Harris County Extension Service Bear Creek Facility 3033 Bear Creek Drive The Arbor Gate/Treesearch Farms Fruit Tree Seminar with Heidi Sheesley Sun., Jan. 29 - 9-10 a.m. 15635 FM 2920, Tomball 281-351-8851 The Arbor Gate/Treesearch Farms Fruit Tree Sale Sun., Jan. 29 - 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. 15635 FM 2920, Tomball 281-351-8851 Galveston County Master Gardener Fruit Tree Sale Sat., Feb. 4 - 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wayne Johnson Community Center Carbide Park, FM 519, LaMarque Fort Bend Co. Master Gardener Fruit Tree Seminar Sat., Feb. 11 - 8-9 a.m. Fort Bend County Fairgrounds, 1402 Band Road 281-341-7068 Fort Bend Co. Master Gardener Fruit Tree Sale Sat., Feb. 11 - 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fort Bend Co. Fairgrounds, 1402 Band Road 281-341-7068 Brazoria County Master Gardener Fruit Tree Seminar Sat., Feb. 18 - 8-9 a.m. 21017 FM 171, Angleton (New Location, a mile from BEES office) Brazoria County Master Gardener Fruit Tree Sale Sat., Feb. 18 - 9 a.m.-noon 21017 FM 171, Angleton (New Location, a mile from BEES office) Harris County Precinct 2 Fruit & Veggie Seminar with Heidi Sheesley Sat., March 3 - 8-9 a.m. Pasadena Fairgrounds Campbell Hall 7600 Red Bluff, Pasadena Harris County Precinct 2 Fruit & Veggie Sale Sat., March 3 - 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Pasadena Fairgrounds Campbell Hall 7600 Red Bluff, Pasadena

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