Mississippi home gardeners will participate in vegetable research this year. The Mississippi State University Extension Service has received applications from Mississippi Master Gardeners, home gardeners and garden club members from which 80 participants statewide have been selected for its 2022 Home Vegetable Variety Trial. Trial plants will include different varieties of cucumbers, peppers, squash, tomatoes and other vegetables, involving two varieties of six crops each to compare during the growing season. Selected participants will grow the varieties, record and return to MSU requested data on taste, germination rate, highest yield, disease resistance and when then they produced. They will receive enough seed of each variety for 10 row feet of garden space, plot labels, an evaluation form and instructions for collecting data and planting and growing.
“Extension specialists can research new plant varieties at current facilities, but including citizens increases its ability to test varieties across the state,” said Reid Nevins, MSU Extension agent in Lowndes County. “Having home gardeners throughout the state participate helps Extension learn which varieties perform best. This can provide valuable data to determine which varieties are more adapted, more productive and most preferred by Mississippi gardeners.”
Participants were selected evenly throughout the state. Seeds and other materials will be mailed to the applicant’s county Extension office by late this month for pickup.
MSU is an equal opportunity institution. For disability accommodation, please contact Nevins at ran18@msstate.edu or 662-328-2111.
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