DIG ONLINE: Citrus Primer - Selection, Care, Pests and Diseases

THIS IS AN ONLINE ZOOM CLASS

Class Description:

Everything a newbie needs to know to get started on growing any citrus tree in the low desert. From kumquats to oranges, learn best varieties, growing conditions, planting, fertilizer and watering techniques to get your tree off to a great start. Then if things go wrong, learn how to diagnose the most common environmental mistakes, pests and diseases and what to do about it.

Participants will learn:

• Learn the different types and varieties of citrus that grow well in the low desert
  
• Know the best location and how and when to plant your tree.
  
• Get the basics on watering and fertilizer to get your tree off to a good start
  
• Find out how to diagnose the most common issues and what to do about them
  
• Learn to observe your citrus trees, fruit and the surroundings.
  
• Identify good insects from bad pests.
  

Presented by Master Gardeners Jan Schreier and Laurie Farricielli, MD

Jan Schreier is the founder and current newsletter editor for the Minnesota Water Garden Society. She is the owner of Happy Ponds, a business helping design, install and maintain water features and ponds. She has been a Minnesota Master Gardener for over 15 years, and recently became an Arizona Master Gardener when her winter snowbird activities made her realize that gardening in Arizona was closer to gardening on Mars instead of Minnesota. Jan runs a large plant sale in Minnesota and donates over 1,500 plants from her own yard to another, so she can really relate to northerners who come to the low desert and find that what works up north doesn’t necessarily work here.

Laurie Farricielli, MD has family that is originally from Castellamare, Italy where everyone has backyard gardens. It is a way of life. Italy’s climate allowed for lush vegetation. Visiting her grandfather’s farm was a weekly event to pick pepper, tomatoes, zucchini and whatever else needed to be done that day. (Including shoveling livestock debris! ). Life kept her busy with family, medical school, and a busy Scottsdale medical practice. Her husband’s family were from Santa Clara Valley, have a rich family history of peach and plum farming in Silicon Valley, and coffee plantations in Oaxaca, Mexico. A great combination! Eggplants are her favorite vegetable to grow, cook and eat, and, in Maricopa, many varieties of eggplant, can grow all year. Thirty years of backyard gardening, lots of fun, and lots of mistakes. The desert is a tough teacher! Master Gardening classes are a wonderful opportunity to gain knowledge and skills unique to the dry, unforgiving climate of Arizona.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Maricopa County Extension ONLINE, 4341 East Broadway Road, Phoenix, United States