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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Registration is open for the University of Missouri Extension Master Gardener online spring 2026 course. The 15-week class runs Jan. 2-April 27.
The online core training course is designed to provide in-depth horticultural knowledge, says MU Extension Master Gardener state coordinator Debi Kelly. The course includes presentations and weekly discussion forums.
To become an Extension Master Gardener, participants must complete the training and volunteer at least 30 hours in the first year and 20 hours per year afterward through MU Extension.
Gardening is an activity with many rewards, Kelly says. “One of those rewards is the satisfaction of sharing your plant knowledge with others.” The Extension Master Gardener program provides in-depth horticultural training to individuals who then help others learn about gardening and the environment, she says.
“The program’s motto, ‘helping others learn to grow,’ emphasizes service to others as the program’s main objective,” Kelly says.
Participants will learn about the mission of the Extension Master Gardener program and gain a working knowledge of the fundamentals of gardening and its 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 Extension Master Gardener certification. After core training, participants complete a minimum of 30 hours of volunteer service. Local coordinators help online trainees find volunteer opportunities to meet the service requirement.
Since its inception in 2013, more than 4,800 people have gone through MU Extension online 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, says Kelly.
Details and registration. Deadline to register is Jan. 2, 2026. For more information, contact Kelly at kellyd@missouri.edu.