Home Show includes lawn, fruit and tomato seminars

On Sunday, February 25 at 11:30 a.m., UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Linda Timothy will provide a seminar titled Let’s Talk Tomatoes. You will learn how to be successful in growing tomatoes in Northwest Florida.

This year’s Home Show, sponsored by the Building Industry Association of Okaloosa & Walton Counties (BIA), will include lawn, fruit and tomato seminars. The Home Show will be held February 24 and 25 at the Emerald Coast Convention Center on Okaloosa Island, located at 1250 Miracle Strip Parkway SE in Fort Walton Beach.

On Saturday, February 24 at 12:30 p.m., I will provide a seminar titled Getting Ready for Another Lawn Growing Season. During this presentation, I will share four of the most common mistakes that most homeowners make in managing their North Florida lawns. Correcting these mistakes can make the difference between long term success or failure with your Florida lawn.

Also on, February 24 at 2 p.m., UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Margaret Stewart will provide a seminar titled Growing Fruit in the Panhandle. This seminar will help you with correct fruit tree selection, including citrus for Northwest Florida. You will also learn about fruit tree care and pests, including citrus canker and greening disease.

On Sunday, February 25 at 11:30 a.m., UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Linda Timothy will provide a seminar titled Let’s Talk Tomatoes. You will learn how to be successful in growing tomatoes in Northwest Florida. Topics covered during this presentation will include heirloom VS hybrid tomato varieties, container VS in ground growing, tomato pests and hydroponic production.

Okaloosa County Master Gardeners will staff a booth to help answer gardening questions throughout the entire Home Show.

Tickets for the BIA Home Show are on sale now at all Eglin Federal Credit Union Branch locations for only $2 in advance. Tickets at the door are $5 per person with children 12 and under admitted free when accompanied by an adult.

The 2018 Home Show hours are Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday 11a.m.–4 p.m.

Visit www.biaow.org for more info on the 2018 Home Show.

Larry Williams is the Extension horticulture agent with the Okaloosa County Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida. Contact Larry at 689-5850 or email lwilliams@co.okaloosa.fl.us.