Some Gardening Help Information

[Rob Tucker]

Used with permission......

The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawaii (CTAHR) offers vegetable seed packets for the low cost of only $1. You can go to their web site www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/seed and order directly or visit the CTAHR extension office in Kainaliu (up the hill from the Aloha Theater) and purchase them there. These seeds are bred expressly for growing in the Hawaiian Islands and there is a wide variety to choose from. You have the peace of mind knowing that the food you are growing is safe and you are helping the environment, as well as your pocketbook.

If you want to learn more about gardening in Hawaii, for a nominal fee, the Kona Outdoor Circle offers on-going Tropical Gardening classes in a wide variety of areas including Soil, irrigation and fertilizing. You can call them at 808-329-7286 for more information.

For more serious gardeners, the University of Hawaii will be offering a course to become a Master Gardener in September. Ty McDonald, University of Hawaii –CTAHR Extension Agent will conduct the course. Call 808-322-4892 to reserve a spot.

The Extension office also offers Soil testing and pest and disease identification.

A Gardening help line is also available on Thursdays, between 9 AM and 12 noon. Call: 808-322-4892

Bill, Master Gardener

[Andrew]

Thanks Rob for this great info. I will be taking advantage of these offerings for sure.

Andrew

[macuu222]

Are all the gardening classes in Kona?

[Carey]

The Kona Outdoor Circle is in Kona, but CTHAR has an extention office in Hilo that offers the Master Gardener Program, seeds, & plant assistance:
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/Site/Extprograms.aspx

Master Gardener class general info:
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/Site/ExtHG.aspx

The extention office is on Komohana, but has been under construction the last year... do not know if the offices are still in temp facilities or back in the main facility... but if interested, give them a call. (We went to the coqui frog sprayer training there a couple of years ago, just before they had to move out of the offices...)

[Rob Tucker]

Don't thank me. This all comes from Bill the Master Gardener.

Punaweb moderator

[Markie]

The next master gardener class for the Hilo side will be the beginning of next year. You should apply by September. The person in charge on this side is Andrew Kawabata. The offices are being temporarily housed in a facility on the same road as the zoo but a mile or two past it.

If you have questions for master gardeners, the hours for the Hilo side are Tuesday and Friday from 9 to noon. The number is 981-5199. If you call Thursday at the number Rob mentioned you will be calling someone in Kona who doesn't know as much about gardening on this side of the island. If you want printed information they will mail it to you for free (or you can download information from the Web site.)

I took the last master gardener class and would highly recommend it.

On Sunday I'm setting up a booth at the Makuu market with another master gardener on how to get rid of fruit flies; we will be selling fruit fly traps for $2. The other master gardener with me will be showing people how to grow tomato plants upside-down!

Markie

[Andrew]

I'm going to make an effort to sign up for the next gardening class on Hilo side.

At the moment I'm in Kona and plan on swinging up through Kainaliu to pick up some of the seeds that Rob mentioned.

Andrew

[Guest]

quote:

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Originally posted by Markie

On Sunday I'm setting up a booth at the Makuu market with another master gardener on how to get rid of fruit flies; we will be selling fruit fly traps for $2.

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These traps... are they the ones that just sterilize the Male Fruit Flies?

If so, UH was giving these traps away for free awhile back. Not sure if they still are though.

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It is the way... the way it is.