The Master Gardener program began in the 1970's in response to the many gardening questions that resulted from the rapidly increasing level of interest in home gardening. The idea was to train knowledgeable gardener volunteers to help University Extension staff deliver home gardening information to the public.

Our local Master Gardeners are able to build on their interests and acquire greater expertise through the resources available through the Extension Service and the University of Missouri.

University of Missouri Extension provides equal opportunity to all participants in extension programs and activities, and for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without discrimination on the basis of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or status as a protected veteran.

Hickory County Master Gardeners recommend contacting your local Extension Service for more complete plant and growing information and how to become a Master Gardener.

Meetings are reserved for Master Gardener members, but community programs hosted by the Master Gardeners are public events and will be announced in the local newspaper.

As of 12/31/2014, this blog will no longer post new articles. It will remain active as an archive. Please use the tools available in the right column to search for information and source links provided in previous articles.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://extension.missouri.edu/ and http://mg.missouri.edu/.


Gardening in Containers



            Do you want to garden with no weeding and less stooping?  Try container gardening.  Purchase flower pots and fill with good potting soil.  Don’t use garden soil because it will pack too tightly in the pot and there won’t be room for water and air in the soil.  Choose a pot with a drain hole in the bottom so the soil doesn’t become waterlogged.  If the pot is heavy, you can place it on casters to be able to roll it around.  Mix slow release fertilizer in the potting soil or fertilizer once every two weeks with a dilute fertilizer solution. 

            Look at where you plan to put the pot.  Most vegetables need full sun.  Decide if your site will be in full sun, partial sun or shade.  If it is a large pot, select several plants for it that fit the specific location.  Don’t mix full sun and shade plants in the same pot. 

Decide if you want vegetables, flowers or foliage plants or a combination.  You might mix a tall, spiky plant with a mounding plant and a trailing plant…thrill, fill, spill!  Mix complimentary colors such as yellow and purple or blue and orange.  Or use several plants with shades of the same color.  Transplant the plants at the same level as they were being grown; don’t bury the stems. 

Check the pot daily for watering.  Soil in clay pots dry out quicker than that in plastic pots.  During hot, windy conditions you may need to water the pot several times a day.  Inspect the plants weekly for insect or disease problems.  Some plants such as coreopsis may need to have the dead flowers removed to encourage more blooming.

Unless the plant can be moved indoors as a houseplant, it will need to be removed at the end of the season.  Store the container inside during the winter.  Many pots will crack if left outside during freezing weather.  To use the pot the following year, clean it well and start with fresh potting soil.  Most containers can be used for several years if cared for properly. 

For more information on growing plants in containers, contact your local University Extension Center or visit their website at www.extension.missouri.edu.

 Posted: 3/21/2014










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