2011 Fall Horticulture Program Features Steve McCauley
On Saturday, September 24, 2011, Kaufman County Master Gardeners held their Fall Horticulture Program at Grace Fellowship Baptist Church. The main focus of the program was rainfall, but there was also information on growing every gardener’s favorite plant: tomatoes.
The featured speaker was WFAA-Channel 8’s meteorologist Steve McCauley. His topic, “Forcing Clouds to Drop Their Water,” was an overview of the current state of research into cloud seeding. McCauley also touched on the current drought, its effects and its probable duration.
Master Gardener and Rainwater Harvesting Specialist Brad Ackerman explained the benefits of rainwater harvesting and showed an example of how to make a DIY rain barrel. He also discussed adding pumps to distribute water from rain barrels.
Dallas County Master Gardener and horticulturist John Hunt explained how to grow “Tons of Tomatoes.” He discussed some of the most common problems encountered when growing tomatoes and how to diagnose and treat them. Hunt recommended the Tomato Problem Solver that can be found at Aggie Horticulture.
In addition to the educational presentations, there was a silent auction and a plant sale. The plant sale also included seeds of varieties of vegetables recommended for our area and a few specialized garden tools. Several vendor booths showcased.
