During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Kentucky Extension Agents for Horticulture Education, headed by the Barren County and Hardin County agents, started the Horticulture Webinar Wednesdays as an alternative to in-person horticulture lessons during the shelter in place order.  Agents, specialists, and other experts were recruited to present a 30 minute lesson to the general public across the Commonwealth with time at the end for questions.  Live webinars were Wednesdays at 2 p.m. ET and 1 p.m. CT.  All presentations were recorded and posted to the Kentucky Hort News along with the slides, notes, a survey, and any other source materials needed at www.kentuckyhortnews.com/horticulture-webinar-wednesdays/. 

The Daviess County Horticulture Agent presented one of the first 10 webinars in early June on “Extending Vegetable Gardening into the Fall”.  Ninety-one people joined the presentation from across the Commonwealth.  Of the 49 participants that completed a self-assessment survey, 97% said they are going to plant cool season crops to extend their gardening season and 78% stated they were going to try planting a second crop to harvest in the fall.  They also indicated that they learned the following: there is a fall growing season, when to plant for fall harvest, what plants will grow in a fall garden, using season extenders, when to spray fungicides, there are some great fall crops, and rotational planting.