Fruits of the Backyard Field Day set for June 14
May 17, 2022

UT AgResearch and UT Extension host the 15th annual event

“Canopy Care for Quality Harvest in Blackberries” is one of the focal presentations of the 2022 Fruits of the Backyard Field Day. Photo by Natalie Bumgarner, courtesy UTIA

SPRING HILL, TN -- Homegrown blackberries and blueberries pair perfectly for summertime in Tennessee, and the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture would like to help bring them to your backyard. This year marks the 15th annual Fruits of the Backyard Field Day where attendees can receive valuable information, products and techniques that will help backyard fruits and other plants flourish.

“This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in growing food, in particular fruits, at home,” said Kevin Thompson, research center director at the Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center. “Not only will we have educational presentations and breakout sessions, but we’ll also be offering free soil testing so you can see if your soil is ready for growing in your backyard.”

David Lockwood, UT Extension fruit and nut specialist, and Natalie Bumgarner, UT Extension consumer horticulture specialist, will be presenting in special sessions focused on blackberry and blueberry care during the half-day event. Additionally, Bumgarner and other specialists will host breakout sessions designed for attendees to further explore the science behind the growing.

Fruit production won’t be the only focus of the field day, which also offers insight into vegetable production, lawn maintenance, pest control and growing tree nuts.

“The field day program has been developed to help you make your backyard a more productive and enjoyable place to spend time with family and friends,” said Thompson. “We look forward to hosting neighbors and friends alike.”

The date for Fruits of the Backyard is June 14, 2022, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. CDT. Anyone, from home growers to commercial producers, is welcome to attend the free event, which will take place at the Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center located at 1000 Main Entrance Drive in Spring Hill.

For more information on the field day, including directions, visit middletn.tennessee.edu or call 931-486-2129. For a full calendar of the 2022 Field Days, visit agresearch.tennessee.edu.

Through its land-grant mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. utia.tennessee.edu.