BEAUMONT – Gardeners can learn techniques and tips for producing vegetables and fruits during the annual field day at the Mississippi State University Beaumont Horticulture Unit on July 12.

The Vegetable Field Day is open to professional growers and others interested in growing their own food.

Experts with the MSU Extension Service, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and Auburn University will discuss a variety of topics, from pest management for small producers to the best grape varieties for the South.

Registration is free and begins at 8 a.m. on site. The program will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end with a tour of the demonstration garden at 11 a.m.

Topics include white-tailed deer control, stevia propagation, integrated pest management strategies for small producers, perennial vegetables, hops update, grapes for the South and edible landscapes.

Information on the People’s Garden Initiative and the Mississippi Tea Project also will be presented. The People’s Garden Initiative is a national campaign begun by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to encourage the development of community and school gardens. The Mississippi Tea Project is a partnership of MSU researchers, The Great Mississippi Tea Company, and the U.S. League of Tea Growers to build educational and research programs to support the development of the U.S. tea industry.

The Beaumont Horticultural Unit is located at 478 Highway 15 in Beaumont.

For more information, contact Christine Coker at ccoker@ra.msstate.edu or 228-546-1013.