Briefs

Spring vegetable, herb starts available at orchard

Spring vegetable and herb transplants that have been developed specifically to grow in our harsh desert environment will be sold at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Orchard in North Las Vegas Saturday and March 19. The transplant sales will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Local transplant grower Bruce Nielson in Sandy Valley has been growing vegetable and herb transplants for the orchard for two years. Buying local transplants ensures that they are available at the right time and are varieties suitable for our climate. It also helps reduce the carbon footprint.

Past spring vegetable and herb transplant sales have been conducted in conjunction with Cooperative Extension's Producer to Chef Program, which focuses on fostering the development of local producers of fruit and vegetables instead of shipping in our food from out-of-state .

The program is intended to encourage both backyard and small-scale food production in Southern Nevada.

For more information, contact horticulturist Bob Morris at Morrisr@unce.unr.edu or call the master gardener help line at 257-5555.

Conservation District to hold spring plant sales

The Conservation District of Southern Nevada has scheduled spring plant sales at Acacia Demonstration Gardens in Henderson on Saturdays March 26, April 9 and 23. The sales are scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon.

Plants, grown locally by students of College of Southern Nevada, are drought tolerant. They include a selection of Nevada natives, butterfly and hummingbird attractors, tortoise food plants, succulents, cactus garden dishes and herbs and vegetables, which is a new feature.

Also during the sales, CSN experts will offer plant talks to help residents make educated choices. Master gardeners from the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension program will be on hand to answer questions.

Only cash and checks will be accepted.

The sale will benefit conservation district programs and projects.

Acacia Demonstration Gardens is located at 50 Casa Del Fuego St.

For more information about the spring plant sales, including a list of available plants, visit www.cdsn.org.