Cass County IA Master Gardeners

05/07/2026

Griswold FFA chapter has a few sale dates remaining this spring! Don't forget to swing in and check them out!

05/07/2026

We're excited to have Atlantic FFA joining us with their beautiful annual flowers and vegetables at our plant sale on Saturday!

04/29/2026

Thanks to the awesome group of CAM FFA members who helped Cass County conservation and Master gardeners plant native trees at the cass county outdoor classroom by Massena today!!

04/17/2026

Is seed starting on your list of "to-dos" this weekend?? Check out these resources to help you get your seedlings off to the best start! 🌱

If you haven’t already done so, sow tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants indoors now. They should be ready to transplant into the garden toward the end of May.

Other favorites, like cucumber and summer squash, are a bit more flexible. Start them indoors now for transplanting in mid-May, or wait and direct sow them in the garden at that time.

Be sure to provide seedlings with plenty of light, check soil moisture often, and only water when the soil is dry to the touch. The ideal transplants are short and stocky, and they need to be hardened off before planting in the garden.

See information for other vegetables in the Vegetable Planting and Harvesting Times chart: https://go.iastate.edu/9H6DEC

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach ISU Extension and Outreach - Agriculture and Natural Resources

04/09/2026

Happy Extension and Outreach week! We're proud to be a part of the impact Extension Master Gardeners are having across the state!!

04/08/2026

When you're doing your spring clean up, don't make the dreaded mulch volcano mistake! Keep those tree trunks healthy and mulch the roots, not the trunk- leave it some room to breathe. Mulch donuts for the win... 🍩

No more mulch volcanoes - they are harming trees!

Mulch piled high against tree trunks is called a "mulch volcano." This can lead to issues like bark decay and root rot, promote disease and insects, and can eventually lead to early decline.

Feather 2-4 inches of mulch, such as wood chips or shredded bark, around trees. Do not place mulch against the tree's trunk. Feather it up to, but not covering the root flare. Ideally, the mulch is only shallowly covering the soil at least 6 inches away from the tree trunk.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach ISU Extension and Outreach - Agriculture and Natural Resources

01/23/2026

Time to cozy up with a pencil and paper to get your 2026 garden plans under way! 📝🌱

01/15/2026

Save the date! Make plans to join the Cass County Master Gardeners for a fun and engaging morning at our 2026 Spring Garden Seminar. We'll spend the morning learning about different aspects of garden design to bring your outdoor space to life! The morning will close with a hands-on activity to make and take a garden puddler for pollinators. Registration will open in late January. Additional details on speakers will be added to this page as the event gets closer! You can also follow our event page to get updates when details are added or registration opens.

12/16/2025

Looking to grow your gardening skills in the new year? Sign up for the Home Gardening Webinars from Iowa Master Gardeners and do some online learning from the comfort of home this January-March! Check out the article for topics and links to sign up. No cost and open to anyone interested in learning more about gardening!

Registration is now open for the 2026 Home Gardening Webinar Series!
Join us from January 8 through March 12 for a variety of gardening webinars that will help you grow your knowledge and skills.

Want to learn more? Check out the full press release: https://go.iastate.edu/US3GCM

Register to join us on Zoom or Facebook events. We look forward to learning with you in 2026!

Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Iowa State University Department of Horticulture ISU Extension and Outreach - Agriculture and Natural Resources Iowa State Extension Yard and Garden AnswerLine

10/20/2025

Some chilly 🥶 weather in the forecast for this week! 🌬️ Check out this info from Iowa State Extension Yard and Garden on what to harvest (and not) in the vegetable garden as the first frost approaches! 🗓️ ✅ 🥬 🍅🥕 🫑

Vegetables like tomatoes, squash, and peppers need to be harvested before the first frost because freezing temperatures will kill the plants. However, other veggies like kale, carrots, and Brussels sprouts often develop a better flavor after a frost.

Learn which vegetables to harvest before freezing temperatures and which can be harvested after in this article: https://go.iastate.edu/KJYNDJ

See the frost date in your area here: https://go.iastate.edu/UYJJUV

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach ISU Extension and Outreach - Agriculture and Natural Resources