Life’s a garden, dig it. The Louisville Free Public Library’s (LFPL) new year-long gardening program, A Year in Your Garden, is ready to help Louisvillians get growing with the Jefferson County Master Gardener Association.
From plotting a garden bed to using milk jugs to start seeds in the winter, the new series is offering six different classes across 10+ LFPL branches — and we promise, they’re not borophyll. They’re totally radish.
Check out these upcoming classes through April:
Plan your vegetable garden
Take pencil to graph paper and plot your fall-harvest garden. Don’t forget to bring a list of your favorite veggies + dimensions of your growing area to be reviewed by experts.
- Tuesday, Jan. 23, 6 p.m. | Bon Air
- Wednesday, Feb. 7, 6 p.m. | Main Library
Milk jug germination
Bring one or two empty (and clean) gallon milk jugs, a utility knife, and a roll of duct tape to this hands-on class that will teach you an outdoor form of seeding starting.
- Saturday, Jan. 20, 2 p.m. | St. Matthews
- Saturday, Jan. 27, 2 p.m. | South Central Regional
- Saturday, Feb. 10, 2 p.m. | Jeffersontown
- Wednesday, Feb. 21, 6 p.m. | Crescent Hill
- Monday, Feb. 26, 6 p.m. | Shawnee
Starting tomatoes, peppers, and annual flowers
Tomato, tomahto — let’s call the whole thing on. Master gardeners will show you how to get these plants growing in seed trays before the planting season using starting mix, heat mats, and grow lights.
- Saturday, Feb. 17, 10:30 a.m. | Western
- Saturday, Feb. 24, 2 p.m. | Southwest Regional
- Wednesday, Feb. 28, 6 p.m. | Newburg
Selecting native plants for your flower garden
Invite insects and pollinators into your yard with native plants, like purple coneflowers and spotted geraniums. Both have purple blooms by the way, if you’re looking to create a LOUtoday-themed flower bed.
- Saturday, March 9, 2 p.m. | St. Matthews
- Saturday, March 16, 10:30 a.m. | Western
- Saturday, March 30, 2 p.m. | South Central Regional
- Thursday, April 11, 6 p.m. | Crescent Hill
- Saturday, April 20, 2 p.m. | Jeffersontown
Best practices for compost building
From bins to boxes, you’ll get an overview of compost systems and decide which one is right for you + learn what to add to the pile and what to leave out.
- Wednesday, March 13, 6 p.m. | Iroquois
- Saturday, March 23, 2 p.m. | Jeffersontown
- Thursday, March 28, 6 p.m. | Main Library
- Wednesday, April 17, 6 p.m. | Newburg
Direct seed sowing for Spring
Find out what veggie seeds can be planted directly into the soil after the last spring frost, which is typically around the first week of May. Bonus: Bring extra seeds to swap with other gardeners.
- Tuesday, March 19, 6 p.m. | Northeast Regional
- Wednesday, March 27, 6 p.m. | Bon Air
- Monday, April 8, 6:30 p.m. | Fairdale
- Monday, April 15, 6 p.m. | Shawnee
- Saturday, April 27, 2 p.m. | Southwest Regional
Dig up more resources + events
We’re rooting for your new spring garden, but if you want a little extra help, here’s some additional resources to get you growing.
- Find out when to plant with Louisville Grows’ planting calendar.
- Purchase wholesale-priced compost bins and accessories from Metro Public Works.
- Get inspired at the Louisville Home, Garden + Remodeling Show Friday, Feb. 2-Sunday, Feb., 4 or at the Paristown Garden Show on Saturday, April 6.
- Don’t have space to garden at home? Get growing at one of Louisville’s community gardens.
