Allamakee County Master Gardeners prepare for annual plant sale slated for May 19
Masterful preparation ... Members of the Allamakee County Master Gardeners, left to right, Phyllis Baker, Mary Trebbien and Judy Egeland are pictured above transplanting tomato plants into individual pots in preparation for the annual Master Gardeners plant sale. In addition to tomato plants, many varieties of plants and other Master Gardener grown items (some of which are pictured below as they grow in the Waukon High School greenhouse) will be available for sale at the Master Gardeners annual plant sale scheduled for May 19 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon. Submitted photos.
Allamakee County Master Gardeners will hold their annual plant sale Saturday, May 19 in the 4-H building at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Since February of this year, several of the Allamakee County Master Gardeners have planted seeds, watered and transplanted many items in preparation for the plant sale.
At one time, Luster Heights Correctional Facility partnered with the Master Gardeners in the growing process for the plants prior to the facility’s closure. The gardeners supplied the seeds and growing medium and the plants were tended to in the growing process at the Luster Heights greenhouse.
The past two years, the Master Gardeners have been fortunate to form a partnership with the Waukon High School FFA Chapter under the direction of Jessica O’Connor. The FFA chapter has provided space and growing tables in its greenhouse at Waukon High School.
The Master Gardeners anticipate having several varieties of tomatoes available at the annual sale, including some of the old fashioned heirlooms and some newer varieties. Also available will be several kinds of peppers and other vegetables, herbs and flowers. Included at the annual event will be plants from some of the Master Gardeners’ home gardens, such as hostas, lilies, herbs, cannas and calla lily bulbs, houseplants and often fresh cut rhubarb.
Master Gardeners will also be on hand to answer questions and help make planting suggestions. The Waukon FFA chapter will have some hanging baskets available at the sale and wagons to help buyers load their vehicles.
The sale is scheduled to start promptly at 8 a.m. with no early sales. Even organizers say this is an event looked forward to by area gardeners in anticipation of weather being suitable for planting by then. For additional information on the sale, watch for the advertisement to be placed in a future edition of The Standard.
