Seed starting can be intimidating, with calendar complications and lots of equipment. Streamline the process in this course from Colie Collen of Flower Scout, who will review the optimal start dates and conditions for a wide range of cut flowers, herbs and veggies and guide participants through the best ways to start seeds at home.

Acquire the skills required for beautiful and successful container gardens with Jenna O’Brien, owner of Viridissima Horticulture and Design. Start with techniques for overwintering tropicals, tender perennials, bulbs, annuals and more without a greenhouse, through storage of dormant plants, seed collection, cuttings, divisions and other simple techniques. Students will get to know the plants that thrive in containers and how to care for them and consider container selection, siting, planting, growing, controlling pests and maintaining moveable gardens (3 Classes).

Learn from expert instructor Michael Phillips how to manage your own orchard. Successfully growing fruit for your family becomes straightforward when you narrow the big picture down to getting the basics right. Fungal and bacterial disease can be successfully managed with deep nutrition and competitive colonization. Resolve major insect challenges safely by ascertaining who, what and when. This overview of complementary sprays backed by biodiversity and soil health will set the stage for successfully growing tree fruit in New England.

Learn by doing in this hands-on shrub and tree planting/transplanting workshop led by arborist Ken Gooch. All aspects of successful planting will be demonstrated, and participants will assist in transplanting a multi-stem shrub and planting a small tree. Learn how to successfully transplant shrubs with techniques that create minimal disturbance and ensure a smooth transition to a new site. Consider the differences between bare-root, container-grown and balled-and-burlapped trees, and understand the importance of siting.