This is the second season of our Commercial Horticulture Demonstration Plot at the Boone County Nature Center.

This years plot was a  featured stop on the Boone County Farm Tour. Our focus this season is on demonstrating crops and growing methods to help our farmers market growers diversify their crop mix. As part of this effort we are showing plasticulture growing techniques, season extension methods and utilization of integrated pest management. An issue identified by our current produce growers is the limited availability of cover crops that fit in with their limited land resources.

This season Teff grass/grain was planted between the rows of plastic. Teff is a warm season annual grass originally from Ethiopia. We wanted to eliminate herbicides between rows and have a cover making the harvesting of vegetables easier. The other benefits are weed control and an abundance of organic matter retuned to the soil.

The Horticulture Demonstration Plot is located on a heavily trafficked road and is readily visible. Banners were added this year to further promote our efforts.

Matted row strawberries, cut flowers, specialty peppers, tomatoes and sweet potatoes are all demonstrated and their production promoted to regional growers.

In the spring of 2018 a home demonstration orchard was established at the site. Disease resistant fruit trees on dwarfing rootstock were planted. The orchard will be used in the future hands on pruning classes and to show effective home tree fruit production practices.

Pop up meetings and twi-light tours are held during the growing season. 

The plot, high tunnel, and orchard are maintained by a dedicated group of Master Gardeners. All produce is donated locally through Master Provisions.