GOUVERNEUR -- “Victory in the Garden in 2016,” a three-part course designed to help vegetable gardeners, both beginning and experienced, minimize cost and effort, and maximize yield and satisfaction will be offered at Gouverneur High School.

The course will be taught by Paul Hetzler, horticulture and natural resources educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County, and be held from March 2, 9, and 16 from 6 until 8 p.m. at the school, 133 East Barney St.

The cost: $10 per session, or $25 for all three. To register or for more info, contact Mary Dixon, Gouverneur Middle/High School librarian, at 287-1900.

The courses are as follows:

March 2: The nitty and the gritty: Get the dirt on soil testing, plant nutrient requirements, site selection, garden layout and design, and starting seeds at home. And, it’s all relative(s)—learn about plant families and why they matter so much.

March 8: A disease-free garden is nothing to sneeze at: Changing weather patterns and new disease strains have are making it even harder to manage diseases in gardens. Learn about plant diseases as well as new strategies to combat them.

March 16: Looking for trouble, and reaping the benefits: Over the past 5 years, several new, and very significant, garden pests have arrived in the region. Learn how to identify and manage the new pests and the old ones, too. Learn how to deal with common plant nutrient problems, and how to best handle and store your precious produce.