The annual EBCI Garden Contest dates have been set. Competition judging for adults will occur on June 20-22 and youth and community vegetable gardens will be judged the following week on June 26-28. Vegetable gardens are the only type of garden that will be eligible for the competition this year.
Judging will be done by NC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners and other volunteers from the surrounding area. Judges visit the gardens and score the following criteria: general appearance, planning for season-long food production, evidence of exceptional gardening practices such as soil preparation, plant selection, pest control and season-extending techniques. Judges also note the creativity that is evident in the vegetable garden such as unique plants or other features.
Winners will be announced at the EBCI Cooperative Extension’s Community Awards Program in September. Call 554-6939 by Friday, June 15 at 12noon to sign-up for the adult vegetable garden category. The deadline to sign-up for the youth and community vegetable garden competition is Friday, June 22 at 12noon.
– Sarah McClellan-Welch, EBCI Agriculture Agent
