Hydroponics class available

Growing lettuce and greens year-round sounds great, but how much work would it be? If you are interested in learning more about hydroponics, a training class will be offered Tuesday, Aug. 2, at the Butler County Missouri University Extension, 614 Lindsay Ave., Suite 3, Poplar Bluff.

The class will be taught by Donna Aufdenberg, a field specialist in horticulture with MU Extension in Cape Girardeau County. She works in 18 counties including Butler.

“I am excited to offer this hydroponic training in Poplar Bluff,” Aufdenberg said. “It is a daylong training with an hour and a half break so you can go get lunch. Each participant will leave with a simple raft hydroponic system you can start growing in right away. The fee is $35 but it is a great way to start wading into the world of hydroponics and learn as you go.”

While registration officially ends July 29, Aufdenberg explained, the class is filling up faster than she had expected. Anyone interested should register soon.

The fee covers both sessions, while the class is geared toward teachers, it is open to the public and Master Gardens. The $35 fee covers both sessions.

“It’s actually one full day. The morning session is for beginners but if people want to stick around and take the advanced session, they can,” she said.

Growing food with the hydroponic system indoors or outdoors is possible, but “on this system, it will be more geared towards lettuce and greens. You cannot do the tomatoes, or peppers or anything like that in the raft system.”

Basically, the class will help people increase their knowledge of hydroponics and understand how to manage a crop growing in a nutrient solution, Aufdenberg said.

“A lot of people when they hear the word hydroponics, they think growing in water but it is actually a nutrient solution,” she said.

The class will cover what makes up the solution, crop management and managing the nutrient solution.

Growing plants year round in a home is possible if you have the plant growing lights such as plant LEDs or plant bulbs, Aufdenberg said.

Morning session from 9 a.m. - noon will include hydroponic basics about the simple hydroponic systems and what it requires to start growing plants indoors in a nutrient solution. Take home a simple raft system that will allow you to start growing simple greens.

The afternoon session from 1:30-4 p.m. will offer advanced hydroponics, which can range from simple to complex. The afternoon session will offer an opportunity to learn about nutrient solutions, managing pH & EC, and how to manage plants from seed to harvest.

Register online at: https://extension.missouri.edu/events/hydroponic-indoor-garden-workshop-in-popla....

Additional information may be obtained by calling 573-686-8064.