Growing Groceries is an integrated series of classes, building on knowledge gained. Each class contains the minimum information needed to get started. Join us and learn to grow your own food!
The Growing Groceries Program educational series is ideal for the beginner to intermediate home gardener and is crafted for the general public and Master Gardeners. Classes will include gardening practices based on current science and appropriate for our Pacific Northwest environment. Class content is taught at the appropriate time of year to be immediately applied in the garden. Participants in the program will become more successful in their home gardening efforts and learn about sustainable and environmentally healthy practices.
The 2022 Growing Groceries classes will be recorded and available to registered participants for 2 weeks following the class date.
Class fees help the Master Gardener Foundation support the activities of the Master Gardener Program in King County. Advance registration is required for these classes. Registrations for these classes will posted here the first week of January. The fee for an individual class is $7.50 and the series subscription fee for all 11 Growing Groceries classes is $60 (a 25% discount off the total cost). A limited number of Financial Need Fee Waivers are available to allow access for an individual class at no cost. Complete and submit the Growing Groceries request form prior to registering for waiver consideration.
Nothing tastes better than tomatoes, peas, and beans fresh from your garden. Experiment with unusual vegetables and varieties not available in grocery stores or even at farmers markets. Discover strategies that will make you successful in the maritime climate of Western Washington.
2022 Growing Groceries Classes
New! Growing Groceries SERIES SUBSCRIPTION. Gardeners now have the option to purchase the complete series of 11 Growing Groceries classes for $60, a 25% discount off the total cost. Financial Need Fee Waivers may not be used for a series subscription.
Jan. 19, 2022 — Principles of Gardening in the Pacific Northwest with Master Gardener Jim Olson. This class includes topics on making the most of our short summers and mild winters, organizing your garden for seasonal planting, irrigation, fertilization, crop rotation for garden health and fertility, integrated pest management, plant selection, succession planting, planting dates, and more.
Feb. 9, 2022 — Soil Science Basics & Seed Starting with Master Gardeners Darien Payne, Suzie O’Byrne and Margaret McLeod. Soil Science Basics includes topics on how to improve and maintain soil fertility so you can grow nutritious produce and the importance and limitations of soil testing; and how to read a soil test. In the Seed Starting class you will learn when to plant seeds indoors or outdoors and how to raise, harden-off and plant transplants.
Mar. 2, 2022 — Early Spring Vegetables: Peas, Hardy Greens, Carrots, Radishes and More with Master Gardener Anne Neilson. This class will look at the hardier vegetables from several families that grow well in our wet and cool spring, including leafy greens, root vegetables, legumes and more.
Mar. 16, 2022 — Brassicas: Cabbage, Kale, Collards, Mustard, Arugula & More with Master Gardener Sue Kraemer. These cool weather vegetables are among the first planted each year. In this class you will learn about variety selection, cultural requirements, major diseases and pests, and more.
April 6, 2022 — Understanding Your Soil Test and Amending Your Soil with Master Gardener Gia Parsons. This class will be a deeper dive into soil: how to read a soil test and use your soil test to guide you in fertilizing and amending soil. This class is recommended for Intermediate to Advanced Gardeners.
April 20, 2022 — Tomato Family: Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant & Potatoes with Master Gardeners Marcia Dillon and Jean Jones. In this class you will learn how selecting the right cultivars and taking a few special measures can help you successfully harvest delicious varieties of these popular vegetables.
May 4, 2022 — Integrated Pest Management: Bugs, Beneficial Insects and Plants that Support Them with Master Gardener Brandon Bray. This IPM class will cover good pollinator and predatory insects, crop-damaging bad bugs, crop diseases and crop rotation.
May 18, 2022 — Summer and Winter Squash, Beans & Corn with Master Gardeners Emile Castle and Carol Johnson. In this class you will learn about heat-loving beans and corn and the Cucumber Family (Cucurbitaceae) which includes cucumbers, squash, pumpkins and melons.
June 1, 2022 — Global Vegetables with the Master Gardeners. In this new class learn about growing some of the delicious vegetables brought to our area by gardeners from all over the globe.
June 15, 2022 — Year-round Planting: Crop Rotations, Edibles & Cover Crops with Master Gardeners Joan Baldwin and Sharon O’Grady. In this class you will learn how to extend your growing season with fall and winter gardening, succession planting and how to use cover crops and crop rotation.
June 29, 2022 — What’s happening in the summer garden? with a Master Gardener Q&A Panel. Every growing season brings its own surprises. This class will be an interactive panel with Master Gardeners to explore successes, challenges, pests and more. Bring your garden questions with you!
WSU Extension Master Gardeners will speak from their own experience and WSU Extension publications about the art and science of growing your own food. You’ll learn about the challenges and advantages of the maritime climate in Western Washington, how to nurture your soil, and design your garden to enhance productivity. Classes on crop plants include variety selection, cultural requirements, container gardening, fertilizer needs, seed saving, major diseases and pests, and pest management techniques.