Seed-starting workshops offered in Alaska communities

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service is holding several seed-starting workshops around the state in March and April.

Starting seeds early gives growers an opportunity to get a head start on Alaska’s short, intense growing season and a way to grow plant varieties that local greenhouses may not carry. 

Delta Junction

• March 7, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Delta Career Advancement Center, 1696 N. Clearwater Ave.

Master gardener May Buongiorne will lead a free hands-on seed starting class in Delta Junction, cosponsored by the UAF Cooperative Extension Service and Partners for Progress in Delta.

The class is part slide presentation and part hands-on, fingers-in-the-dirt instruction on how to start seeds. It will include handouts and recommend websites and books. Participants will take home what they plant. 

Space is limited. Students 16 years old and under are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult also registered in the class.

Registration is required. Contact Chris Lyon at info@deltacareeradvancementcenter.com or call 907-895-4605. 

Palmer

• March 18, 6-8 p.m. at the UAF Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center, 1509 S. Georgeson Drive, Palmer
• March 25, 6-8 p.m. at the Alaska Pacific University Spring Creek Farm Campus, 6404 N. Lossing Road, Palmer

This two-hour, hands-on workshop introduces seed starting for the Mat-Su climate using soil blocking. Participants will learn seed selection, planting schedules and how to care for soil blocker trays. The workshop will recommend seed varieties proven to perform well in Mat-Su Valley growing zones and demonstrate hands-on use of soil blockers and trays with clear dome lids. 

Please register each person individually using the online form or visit https://bit.ly/PalmerSeedStarting. Space is limited.

For more information, contact the Mat-Su Experiment Farm front desk at 907-745-3360.

Fairbanks

• March 25, April 15, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on the UAF Troth Yeddha’ Campus in the Arctic Health Research Building, room AHRB 1W05.

The Alaska Harvest Collaborative, part of the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station at the Fairbanks Experiment Farm, will hold two indoor seed-starting workshops, 5:30-7:30 p.m. on March 25 and April 15. 

Mallory Smith, who oversees the Alaska Harvest Collaborative program, will lead the workshops. She will share top tips and tricks for cultivating healthy, thriving seedlings. 

Topics will include:

• • Choosing seeds and varieties
  • A sowing schedule that maximizes plant potential
  • Selecting the ideal soil medium
  • A hands-on demo of soil block techniques
  • Tips on transplanting, watering and caring for seedlings

The cost is $40 for each workshop. Student discounts are available. Register at  https://bit.ly/AHCseedsMarch25 or https://bit.ly/AHCseedsApril15. Contact Smith at ak.harvest@alaska.edu for more information.

Anchorage

• April 7, Anchorage Museum Seed Lab, 111 W 6th Ave.

Details will be posted on the museum website, https://www.anchoragemuseum.org/visit/calendar/categories/seed-lab/.

Additional information: Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made five business days in advance to Alda Norris at amnorris2@alaska.edu or 907-474-7120. Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to individuals with limited English proficiency upon request to amnorris2@alaska.edu. 

This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

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