MSU News Service

Growing vegetables in the Rockies is challenging for many reasons, but Montana horticulturists Bob Gough and Cheryl Moore-Gough have written a new book that explains how to do it.

The "Guide to Rocky Mountain Vegetable Gardening" is the couple's fifth book in five years, the latest edition in the Cool Springs Press vegetable gardening series and the only vegetable guide designed specifically for the tough zones of the Rocky Mountain states, said Gough, a professor of horticulture and associate dean for academic programs in the College of Agriculture at Montana State University.

The 320-page book advises beginning to intermediate gardeners how to plant and harvest more than 40 types of vegetables in the region that includes Montana, Colorado, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming. Gardeners may already know that rhubarb and asparagus grow well in many areas of the Rocky Mountain region, but some areas can also grow watermelon and okra, Gough said.

"For years, folks asked us to write a book specifically on vegetable gardening in the Rockies," Gough said. "The general gardening books available do not address our problems in this region, and now, with more folks gardening here and more folks concerned about food quality and food costs, there is greater need for such a book."

The book starts with instructions on how to develop a deep, well-balanced, fertile soil. It tackles everything from starting seeds to dealing with pests. It advises gardeners how to plan their gardens to fit the available space and how to start gardens from seed. Charts explain when to plant and when to harvest cool and warm season vegetables. The book explains how to extend the growing season with hotbeds, poly-tunnels, coldframes, cloches and remay coverings.

The book also gives indepth explanations of produce storage, crop rotation and the extremely difficult task (in the Rockies) of composting, Gough said. It gives non-biased recommendations for organic and traditional gardeners. It provides practical solutions to regional challenges that include short growing seasons, intense sunlight, drought, high wind, hail and soils that range from saline to alkaline.

"Overall, the highly variable conditions of the region make it most challenging," Gough said.

The book is due to be released Feb. 1, but stores are ordering it now, Gough said. It is available at local book stores, http://www.amazon.com/  and http://coolspringspress.com/

Gough is known throughout Montana as "Dr. Bob." He has written 17 gardening books and more than 500 Extension publications. Moore-Gough is the retired Montana Master Gardener instructor and coordinator and state horticulturist with MSU Extension. She has co-authored four gardening books and co-hosts the Northern Garden Tips radio show with Gough. She is a frequent contributor to newspapers and gardening magazines. She is currently an assistant adjunct professor of vegetable production at MSU.

 

 

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 Please click here for a copy of the January-February 4-H newsletter.

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MSU News Service

Are you at least 62, as of Dec. 31, 2009? Then you should check whether you qualify for Montana's elderly homeowner/renter tax credit for 2009 (Form 2EC).

If you can answer "yes" to the following questions, then you may be eligible for the credit.

1.      Did you reach age 62 by Dec. 31, 2009?

2.      Did you reside in Montana for nine months or more during 2009?

3.      Did you occupy a Montana residence as an owner or renter for 6 months or more during 2009?

4.      Was your gross household income less than $45,000 in 2009? (If youhave questions about your gross household income, instructions are included on Form 2EC.)

If you qualify, Montana allows a credit for a portion of your property taxes or rent paid, based on your income. You can use the credit against your state income tax liability, if you owe taxes when you file your Montana income tax return. You can also claim the credit even if you have no income tax filing responsibility by filing Form 2EC without a Montana income tax return. Only one claim is allowed per household.

Complete Form 2EC to determine eligibility. The form is available at your local Department of Revenue office. Local libraries, post offices, and tax preparers also may carry the form. Online, you can go to revenue.mt.gov to fill in a self calculating form, or print one out if you prefer. To find the forms at revenue.mt.gov, click on the Elderly Homeowner/Renter Credit link in the Quick Clicks section. From there, you'll find links to a printable form, a fill-in form, and an e-file option.

If you are not required to file Montana Form 2 or Form 2M, you can file your Form 2EC through the Department of Revenue's website, at no cost. For more information on your direct filing options, visit revenue.mt.gov.

Many Montanans may not have been aware of the tax credit in prior years.

There's good news if you think you may have been eligible, but didn't claim the credit. You have five years from the original due date of Form 2EC to claim the credit.

For help completing Form 2EC, call toll-free 1-866-859-2254 or (406) 444-2830 (hearing impaired). If you are calling from the Helena area, call 444-6900.

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The Montana State University Urban Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program is offering a workshop for landscape professionals including golf course superintendants, arborists, home lawn care specialists, garden center/nursery managers and county extension agents.  The workshop, "How to Manage Pests of Turf and Trees: IPM for the Urban Landscape", will take place in Bozeman at the Magnuson Grand Hotel on March 18-19, 2010. 

The Thursday session will focus on turf pests and management.  The Friday sessions will focus on woody ornamentals, pesticide use and IPM tools for the landscape professional.

Featured speaker will be Dr. Whitney Cranshaw, professor of entomology at Colorado State University and author of "Insects and Diseases of Woody Plants" and "Pests of the West".  Attendees will be able to earn Pesticide Applicator CEUs and Urban IPM credits.

Registration for the workshop closes March 10.

For program information, registration and updates, visit the Urban IPM website at:

http://www.msuextension.org/urbanipm/training.html  or contact Linnea Skoglund, Urban IPM Coordinator at 406-994-5150 or diagnostics@montana.edu.

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By Andrea Sarchet
Madison-Jefferson County Extension Agent

As a follow-up to last week's article about changes to the Extension Master Gardener Program (please contact the Extension office if you would like a copy), I need your help to determine if there is enough local interest in this program to offer this class.

Even if you are not interested in becoming an official "Master Gardener", I would like to know if you would like some formal instruction on the basics of gardening and horticulture. Below is a brief overview of the program as well as a description of the Level 1 course. This course would likely be offered in Whitehall or Boulder and could begin as early as March. The course would likely run one evening per week for eight consecutive weeks. All details are preliminary; please give me your feedback regarding your choice for the best day of the week, time of day and location. The cost for this course is $115, with $50 being refunded after fulfilling a 20-hour volunteer commitment. The class fee covers a textbook, "The Montana Master Gardener Handbook", facility fees and other handouts provided throughout the course.

How does the program work?
Cooperative Extension staff, State Extension Specialists, and local gardening professionals teach a series of classes to train volunteers in research-based home horticulture practices. Beginning in 2010, there will be three levels to the Master Gardener Program. The eight-week Level 1 Extension Master Gardener course will teach basic yard and garden installation and maintenance. Level 2 is an advanced Master Gardener course for those that have prior gardening knowledge and/or experience. The Level 3 master Gardener course will be intensive three day training on the Montana State University campus available the summer of 2011.

Classroom participation enhances your educational experience as students are encouraged to network and share their own experiences, thereby also learning from each other. There is a fee to offset program operating expenses. Upon completion of your training, you will receive a certificate and be asked to volunteer community service time through the Montana State University Extension Service.

Level 1 Master Gardener:
This eight-week course (16 hours) will be taught by the local Extension agents, plant professionals, volunteers or via Adobe Connect and the Internet. During the beginning of the Level 1 Master Gardener course you will receive the Montana Master Gardener Handbook and other informative handouts pertaining to the class. In the Level 1 Master Gardener course you will learn:
• Introduction to Montana State University Extension and the Master Gardener Program
• Soils and fertility (N-P-K-Fe)
• Plant growth and development Part 1
• Growing food from your yard and garden
• Flowers
• Trees, shrubs, vines and pruning
• Lawns and irrigation
• Yard and garden maintenance/composting
• Intro to integrated pest management (IPM)
Following the completion of the Level 1 Master Gardener course, you will be required to pass an open-book exam and fulfill your volunteer commitment of 20 hours of volunteer commitment. The cost, time and location will be determined by the county Extension agent or Master Gardener coordinator.
Please contact Andrea Sarchet at 287-3282 or asarchet@montana.edu with any questions or feedback about this program.

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