Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County will present the webinar “Home Fruit Production” as part of its continuing Drought to Deluge gardening series on Sept. 14. The webinar will feature Larry Stein, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension horticulturist based in Uvalde and associate head of Texas A&M’s Department of Horticultural Sciences.
The free live webinar will be on the Zoom platform. It will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude around noon.
To register, go to https://tx.ag/LandscapeFruit. The webinar has a limit of 100 attendees, but an unlimited number of people can register and see a recording of the program.
“Those who register but are not among the first 100 attendees or who miss the webinar for any reason will be able to view it later,” said Daphne Richards, AgriLife Extension horticulturist for Travis County and a frequent guest on the PBS Central Texas Gardener program. “After they register, participants will be provided a link for the live session or to view a recording of the program.”
Program focus and content
Stein will discuss how to plan for and manage fruit plants in their landscapes. He will discuss the types and varieties of fruit that grow successfully in Travis County, especially as it relates to the thin Edwards Plateau soils to the west and the heavy clay Blackland Prairies soils to the east. He will also explain how chill hours and irrigation impact fruit set, and which varieties are the most adapted to the region.
Stein’s research on production horticulture includes developing best management practices for pecans, fruit and vegetable crops. He has authored numerous AgriLife Extension publications and is co-author of the Texas Peach Handbook, published by A&M Press. He is also an editor of the Texas Pecan Handbook and assisted with the release of the new “Victoria red” table grape.
“Dr. Stein is one of our best resources for growing fruit in Texas, and we are excited to have him share best practices for fruit planning and management,” Richards said.
Richards said attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions prior to the webinar and receive answers during the live program as time allows.
“Questions not answered during the live webinar will be answered by email,” Richards said.
The webinar coincides with the publication of the book “From Drought to Deluge: The Resilient Central Texas Garden,” which can be purchased online from the Travis County Master Gardeners Association.
She said the book and 2021 educational series revolve around xeriscaping principles.
Other programs in the series address soils, irrigation, and lawns. These programs are presented by experts from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Texas A&M University and Travis County Master Gardeners. Past recordings are listed on the Our Favorite Gardening Resources for Austin and Travis County web page.
More information on seminars can be found by signing up for event notifications and subscribing to the blog. Also visit the AgriLife Extension’s Events Calendar.
