Register for 2027 MU Extension Master Gardener course in Columbia

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Registration is open for the in-person University of Missouri Extension Master Gardener spring 2027 course. The 15-week class in Columbia is 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 20-April 21, 2027.

The in-person core training course is designed to provide in-depth horticultural knowledge, says MU Extension Master Gardener state coordinator Debi Kelly. Instructors include MU Extension field specialists in horticulture as well as MU Extension state specialists.

Gardening is an activity with many rewards, Kelly says. “One of those rewards is the satisfaction of sharing your plant knowledge with others. The program’s motto, ‘helping others learn to grow,’ emphasizes service to others as the program’s main objective.”

Participants will learn about the mission of the Extension Master Gardener program and gain a working knowledge of gardening fundamentals and terminology, she says. The course provides a foundation in plant structure and function, soils and plant nutrition, plant propagation, fruits and vegetables, herbaceous and woody plants, insects, plant diseases, landscape design, lawns and safe pesticides use.

Core training is the first step toward certification as an Extension Master Gardener. After core training, participants complete a minimum of 30 hours of volunteer service. Local coordinators help trainees find volunteer opportunities to meet the volunteer service requirement.

Since the program’s inception in 1983, more than 7,000 people statewide have participated in MU Extension Master Gardener training. Extension Master Gardener programs are offered in every U.S. state and most Canadian provinces.

Participants will receive a copy of the Missouri Master Gardener Core Manual as part of the registration fee, Kelly says.

Register by Jan. 19, 2027. For more information, contact Debi Kelly at kellyd@missouri.edu.