About the Newsletter

The Master Gardener Volunteers of Southern Nevada provides horticultural information on gardens, landscapes, plants and other related topics. This newsletter is one of many resources of information available to the public to help accomplish this mission.

Upcoming Special Events*

  • Class: Organic Gardening, Gardening in Small Places Series, July 17, 2021, 9-11:30 a.m. via Zoom ($10 fee), registration required.
  • Class: Fall and Winter Gardening, Growing under the Stars Series, August 11, 2021, 6-8 p m via Zoom (free), registration required.
  • Class: Herbs for Healthy Skin, Growing under the Stars Series, September 8, 2021, 2021, 6-8 p m, via Zoom (free), registration required
  • Class: Native and Desert-Adapted Plants, Gardening in Small Places Series, September 18, 2021, 8 a.m.-noon via Zoom ($10 fee), registration required.
  • Home Show Booth at the World Market Center, September 24-26, 2021. See Home Show for more details.

* See Horticulture (Gardening) Classes for more details. Zoom class information will be emailed several days before the event.

GARDENING INFORMATION AND HELP: Contact the Master Gardener (MG) Helpdesk via telephone Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. except holidays at 702-257-5556 or by email at (lvmastergardeners@unr.edu).

For Extension gardening publications go to (extension.unr.edu). Select Publications in the QUICKLINK drop down. Change the year to All Years  for a more complete listing of documents. Use keywords such as roses to narrow you search.

 

Research Center and Demonstration Orchard aka. ‘Research Center’ or ‘The Orchard’

Grape changing color as they mature.

Tempranillo grapes during verasion.

4600 Horse Drive, North Las Vegas NV 89131, Orchard Manager Louise Ruskamp, 702-786-4361 (lvmastergardeners@gmail.com)

The Research Center and Demonstration Orchard maintain test plots, orchards and vineyards. We provide information on fruit trees, grape vines, hops, herbs, and garden vegetables, as well as palms and native plants. We plant and collect data on these crops and then can pass the information onto the backyard farmer. We are open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon for walk-ins, curbside pickup or tours. Closed only on major holidays. Our many varieties of table and wine grapes are in the process of changing color, the transition from berry growth to berry ripening. This process is called veraison.

Produce & Herbs: Curbside or walk-in available for plants, seeds, produce and fresh herbs. Ask to receive the weekly emails detailing what is available. FYI: We are NOT a “you pick it” facility.

Mulch: Mulch is not currently available. We are hoping it will be available by early August.

Native Plants: While we have these available in all sizes, it may not be the best time to put them into the ground during the summer!

Produce: Now being harvested: peaches, plums, pluots, cucumbers, hot & sweet peppers, and eggplant. Please note that we can not guarantee to have these products available when you visit the Orchard due to supply and demand.

Visit us on Facebook

 

Youth Horticulture Education Programs (YHEP)/Junior MG Program

Tricia Braxton Perry (perryt@.unr.edu) 702-948-5975

Youth Horticulture Education Program staff and volunteers work together to discuss, design, and coordinate events for youth, families and educators.
Please visit us on Facebook  for more information and to show your support for the Junior MG. For more information about the Youth Horticulture Education Program, please contact Tricia.
The Youth Horticulture team offers field trips to the Botanical Gardens at Extension's Clark County office location. Today's tour was given to the Pearl Home School group. Ages of the youth group range from 3 to 14 years. Two of the home-schooled youth are Certified Junior Master Gardeners from the Youth Horticulture Apples Junior MG group from two years ago!
 

YHEP program and the Pearl Home School Group at Botanical Gardens.

Pearl Home School Group at Botanical Gardens at Extension’s Clark County Office location.

 

MG Home Show Booth

Visitors getting gardening information at our Home Show booth.

Master Gardener booth at the World Market Center Expo in June 2021.

Home Show at the Expo, Work Market Center, 435 South Grand Central Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89106, September 24-26, 2021

Master Gardeners will have a booth at the home show Friday through Sunday answering gardening questions and handing out publications and native wildflower seeds. We will be giving some 30-40 presentations or round table discussions on gardening topics. Presentations will last about 45 minutes with a brief question and answer period to follow. Round table discussions are informal with question and answer sessions lasting from one to two hours. People we be coming and going. Show hours will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Home Show will have a variety of vendors displaying and selling home, gardening, health, and beauty items and services. A schedule listing the dates, times and topics of presentations and round-table discussions will be provided later. Information on our booth at the show can also be obtained by calling our helpdesk at 702-557-5556, Mondays through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. except holidays.

 

Fried Green Tomato Recipe

 

By MG Delois Champ

I was born and raised in Alabama where everyone grows tomatoes and can’t wait on the first green tomatoes of the season. If you have ever tasted an Alabama grown tomato you have tasted heaven. Kind of like Dr. Angela’s New York grown apples. Nothing can compare to those homegrown memories.

Every Southern family has a fried green tomato recipe. Every recipe is different. Most are passed down for generations and never had specific ingredients nor measurements. You just watched your grandmother and mother fry green tomatoes. Here is my version of Southern Fried Green Tomatoes. This recipe has a light crust. The goal is to feature the tomato and not a heavy breading.

Fried green tomatoes cooking on a hot skillet.

Fried green tomatoes hot and ready to eat.

Ingredients:

  • Large green tomatoes (cherry tomatoes won’t work) Use mature green to just starting to ripen tomatoes.

  • Salt and pepper

  • Slice tomatoes ½ inch thick. Discard the ends.
  • Pour buttermilk into shallow bowl or plate.
  • Mix flour, cornmeal salt and pepper on another plate.
  • Pat sliced tomatoes with paper towel to dry.
  • Dip uncooked tomatoes into buttermilk and let excess drip off.
  • Dredge in flour/cornmeal mixture.

Directions:

  • Slice tomatoes ½ inch thick. Discard the ends.
  • Pour buttermilk into shallow bowl or plate.
  • Mix flour, cornmeal salt and pepper on another plate.
  • Pat sliced tomatoes with paper towel to dry.
  • Dip uncooked tomatoes into buttermilk and let excess drip off.
  • Dredge in flour/cornmeal mixture.

In a large skillet (cast iron is best), pour vegetable oil (enough so that there is 1/2 inch of oil in the pan) and heat over a medium heat. Place tomatoes into the frying pan in batches of 4 or 5, depending on the size of your tomatoes and skillet. Do not crowd the tomatoes, they should not touch. When the tomatoes are browned, flip and fry them on the other side. Drain them on paper towels or a brown paper bag. Lightly salt while still hot. Enjoy. Can be served as an appetizer, side dish, or as a snack. Many different types of garnishes or sauces can be used, but many southerners prefer none at all and a few use ranch dressing.

 

Gardening (Horticulture) Classes

Organic Gardening, Gardening in Small Places Series, July 17, 2021, 9-11:30 a.m. via Zoom ($10 fee).

If you are interested in learning about organic gardening then this class is for you. Join with Dr. Angela O’Callaghan and learn the principles of organic gardening and how they apply to the home gardener. Register at (Organic Gardening).

Fall and Winter Gardening, Growing under the Stars Series, August 11, 2021, 6-8 p.m. via Zoom (free).

Leafy greens, carrots, beets, radishes, broccoli and cauliflower are never sweeter or more delicious than when grown in the fall. Autumn can be the best time of year for your garden: more moderate temperatures, fewer insect issues and great tasting vegetables are just a few reasons to garden in the fall. Master Gardener Lori Evans will share her tips on how to prepare your garden for fall, what to plant and when to plant it for gardening success. Register at (Fall/Winter Gardening).

Herbs for Healthy Skin, Growing under the Stars Series, September 8, 2021, 6-8 p m, via Zoom (free).

Bet you already know that herbs and flowers can help nourish and heal your body from the inside out. You can use the herbs that you grow to soothe, tone and moisturize your skin. We will talk about some of the herbs that we grow in our Botanical Gardeners and provide some guidance on how you can use them to make infused oils, balms, creams, serums and other products. if you grow herbs, you might as well use them. Right? (Herbs for Healthy Skin).

Native and Desert-Adapted Plants, Gardening in Small Places Series, September 18, 2021, 8 a.m.-noon via Zoom ($10 fee).

How about using plants that will do well in our soil, will do well with our weather and with our water? You can have a lush landscape while saving energy, water and money! There are so many more native and desert-adapted plants that will do well in your yard, giving your landscape color and interest. Discover using these wonderful plants in your landscape. Register at (Native and Desert Adapted Plants).

Footnote1: For more information about these classes, please contact Elaine Fagin.  If expecting an email on a Zoom meeting, please check your spam and junk mail folders. Our notices are sent via Listserv emails which sometimes go to these folders. We are pleased to make reasonable accommodations for members of the public who are disabled and wish to participate in our programs. If special arrangements are necessary, please notify Elaine Fagin (efagin@unr.edu) or 702-257-5573 at least 3 days prior to the event.

 
Braxton Perry, T., Camp, D., Ruskamp, L., Sgamma, R. 2021, Desert Gardening in Southern Nevada (2021-07), Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, MG Newsletter, Edition 21-07
Printable    Version    (PDF)

Learn more about the author(s)

Tricia Braxton Perry
Tricia Braxton Perry
Lori Leas
Lori Leas
 

Also of Interest:

 
Nicole Hansen
Something Special is Coming From YHEP!
YHEP and Texas A&M University have something very special coming up. Stay Tuned!
 Hansen, N. 2020, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, YouTube Channel
Herbs for Many Uses
Useful Herbs for Arid Areas
 Babbs, C. 2000, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno IP-2000
lettuce seedlings
Northern Area (Reno) Planting Schedule
Find out when to plant vegetables with the Extension Master Gardener's planting guide for the Reno area!
 Brinkerhoff, K. 2023, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno
Master Gardeners learning with training activity
What do Master Gardeners do anyway?
The Master Gardener program has a little for everyone and serves Washoe County through the Cooperative Extension horticulture office in Reno.
 Fisher, J. 2017, Reno Gazette Journal
purslane
"The Good Weed Series: Purslane (Portulaca oleraceav), Desert Gardening in Southern Nevada, Blog Posts 21-01
The Master Gardener Volunteers of Southern Nevada provides horticultural information on gardens, landscapes, plants and other related topics. This blog post is one of many resources of information available to the public to help accomplish this mission.
 Deever, D. 2021, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno