University of Missouri South Farm faculty and staff are hoping to help make your thumb a little greener this summer. Eleven researchers and extension specialists will be on hand to help you grow bigger vegetables, attract more pollinators, beautify your ornamental gardens, eradicate more weeds from your lawn, and more from 7:30 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Aug. 27 at the first Home Garden Showcase.

“This is for beginners all the way up to seasoned gardeners,” said Associate Professor of Plant Science and Technology Xiong Xi. “They are all going to learn something new.”

Presentations will include information on vegetable gardening, grapes, weed control with and without herbicides, sunflowers, mitigating plant disease, pollinator gardens, flowers and other ornamental plants, soil sampling, and more.

Additional activities include hands-on projects for kids and a tomato and tomatillo tasting. On your way to the event, find the tallest weed in your yard, pull it and bring it along to enter the tallest weed contest.

Admission is $5 for adults (free for kids 12 years and under) and includes complimentary coffee, tea and donuts.

Online registration is encouraged but not required to attend. Register online at mizzou.us/homegarden2022.

South Farm is located at 3600 New Haven Road, and is one of 14 properties that comprise MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ Central Missouri Research, Extension and Education Center (REEC). The Central Missouri REEC covers approximately 7,200 acres in the central part of the state. South Farm accounts for 1,452 of those acres and includes the Beef Research and Teaching Farm, the Swine Farm, and a feed mill. For more information, visit moaes.missouri.edu.