Veteran Master Gardener Bob Cain will share tips for growing broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower and other brassicas on Thursday, June 9, at noon in the County Commissioners meeting room at the Clallam County Courthouse in Port Angeles.

This presentation is part of the “Green Thumb Garden Tips” brown bag series sponsored by the WSU Clallam County Master Gardeners. Lectures are free, and participants are welcome to bring lunch.

Cain will discuss the origin and diversity of the brassica plant family, how they are related to each other and how they have evolved to fulfill a number of our nutrition needs. He will also discuss in detail how to sow, grow and harvest many of the members of this group. The type of soils and nutrients they need and most of the diseases and pests which afflict this group will be covered in detail in this presentation.

A Master Gardener since 2009, Cain has grown brassicas in one form or another for most of his gardening life – 14 years in Scotland, 9 years in Ireland, 21 years in Colorado and 8 years in Washington. He has a particular interest in kale, growing 6-8 varieties each year, summer and winter, as well as Brussels sprouts, cabbage, radishes and large range of oriental mustards.
Cain writes a monthly article on plant disease for the Clallam County Master Gardener Newsletter and is a frequent contributor to local newspaper gardening columns. He is the 2009 Master Gardener Intern of the Year and 2011 Master Gardener of the Year. He served as the Garden Manager of the Woodcock Demonstration Garden for five years and is a past President of the Master Gardener Foundation of Clallam County.

The Master Gardener Brown Bag series continues on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. Presentations occur from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. For questions, call 565-2679.