The Olympic Peninsula is uniquely suited to grow vegetables all year thanks to its geographic position and mild climate. And with food prices on the rise, it pays to know more about growing vegetables year-round. Find out how four-season gardening can benefit your family by providing good nutrition and additional food security. Join veteran Master Gardener Bob Cain for the Green Thumb Gardening Tips Series Zoom presentation “Scheduling Planting for Fall and Winter Gardening” on June 23 from noon – 1 p.m. for valuable information on end-of-year growing.

Bob will discuss the local climate and how it influences what, when and where vegetables can be grown, as well as reasons why we should consider this as a food security option. He will also look at the opportunities and limitations of growing vegetables during the colder parts of the year when many vegetables will be commanding peak prices.

Bob will distinguish between fall and winter gardens since they require slightly different approaches, planting schedules and limitations. “Some gardeners may prefer to try a fall garden first and see how that works for them. If their attempts are successful, then perhaps they will make the leap to winter gardening,” Bob suggested.

Bob will look at limitations of fall and winter gardening—such as supplemental heat needs and weather protection—and provide examples of how they can be overcome by using a bit of ingenuity and forethought. “Fall and winter gardening can be carried out even where the planting area is small, so do not let that discourage you,” Bob said. In addition, many of the gardening techniques discussed will carry over and can be used to get a jump-start for growing in the spring.

Join by computer: https://wsu.zoom.us/j/92007991742?pwd=OWxtbmNBditKd3ordjA2WEFyME9PUT09

Or join by phone: 253-215-8782

Meeting ID: 920 0799 1742

Passcode: 709395

Bob earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees in biology and chemistry and has a Ph.D. in chemistry. He has 40 years of experience growing vegetables in Scotland, Ireland, Colorado and Washington. Bob is a veteran of the Clallam County Master Gardeners since 2009. He has written monthly articles on plant disease for the Clallam County Master Gardener Newsletter and is a frequent contributor to gardening columns in the local newspaper. Bob has been celebrated as the 2009 Master Gardener Intern of the Year and 2011 Master Gardener of the Year. He served as the Garden Manager of the Woodcock Demonstration Garden in Sequim for seven years and is a past President and Board member of the Master Gardener Foundation of Clallam County.

For more information on gardening in the colder months, join Bob for a more detailed and comprehensive presentation on “Fall and Winter Gardens” on July 16 from 10:30 a.m. – noon at the Clallam County Master Gardener Woodcock Demonstration Garden in Sequim as part of the “Digging Deeper” series. This presentation will cover additional topics such as successful varieties for this area and what vegetables work best in a four-season rotation.

The “Green Thumbs Garden Tips” education series, sponsored by the WSU Clallam County Master Gardeners, is held on the second and fourth Thursday each month through October. In November, December, and January, one lecture is offered. Scheduled presentations are subject to change. Visit the WSU Extension Clallam County website calendar for the latest information on upcoming presentations. For questions, call 360-565-2679.