For 32 years, the Truck Crops Experiment Station in Copiah County, just south of Crystal Springs, has invited Mississippians to see test trials of plants suitable for central Mississippi gardens. Now, the Fall Flower and Garden Fest is one of the southeast’s largest home-gardening events.

The event, set for Friday and next Saturday, Oct. 22, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., is expected to draw 6,000 people this year.

Back in the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s, Crystal Springs was a major producer of tomatoes, cabbage, beans and peppers. The station started running trials in those early years to find varieties that would ship well and retain the best flavor for consumers along the East Coast and Upper Midwest, the big market for these Mississippi crops. Small farmers hauled in their produce by truck or wagon to the Crystal Springs packing houses where they were iced down and shipped out by rail. Hundreds of boxcar loads left out of Crystal Springs each week, and packing jobs were plentiful for anyone interested in working during the summer.

“The Fall Flower and Garden Fest has become something of a tradition for Mississippi State University,” said Rick Snyder, a vegetable specialist and event coordinator.

It began back in 1979 as the Agfest, but has grown from the early vegetable and fruit crop trials to an event which is more reflective of today’s consumer interests and needs. This year’s theme is Recycling: Make Mississippi Green.

Visitors may check out the trial gardens for bananas, ornamental grasses, specialty crops, vegetables and flowers, including All-American Selections and Mississippi Medallion Winners. They can visit the shade garden manned by Warren County Master Gardeners; purchase plants, gardening accessories and lunch items from vendors; and check out numerous other garden- related exhibits. They can bring a plant or two for the plant swap or bring in a half-cup of garden soil for a free pH test. Fifteen different seminars, as well as walking tours, are scheduled.

It’s an enjoyable event for the entire family that just gets bigger and better every year.

If you go

The Fall Flower and Garden Fest will be Friday and next Saturday, Oct. 22, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Truck Crops Experiment Station, 2024 Experiment Station Road in Copiah County, south of Crystal Springs. Admission is free.

What’s in store

Friday

• Seminar A (in the conference room) — 9:30-10: The Garden Grocery: Your Local Farmer’s Market (Paige Manning); 10:15-10:45: Heirloom Vegetables: Antiques or Novelties (Donna Beliech); 11-11:30: Canning Fresh from the Garden (Carolyn Conger); 11:45-12:15: Adding Value to Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (Anne Hood); 12:30-1:15: Take the Sting out of Fire Ants, (Blake Layton); 1:30-2:15: Preserving and Maintaining Trees (Drew Bates).

• Seminar B (in the big shop) — 9:30-10:15: My Favorite Woody Plants for the Winter (Jeff Wilson); 10:30-11:15: FUNdamentals of Garden Design (Brian Templeton); 11:30-12:15: Tropical Plants: Keep ’Em Coming (Nellie Neal); 12:30-1:15: Holiday Decorating Ideas From the Garden (Catherine Strange); 1:30-2:15: Not Your Grandma’s Cone Flowers (Gary Bachman).

• Seminar C (at the composting center) — 10:30-11: Managing Koi in Your Water Garden (Dawn Barn-ige); 11:15-11:45: Colorful Mulch and Row Cover for Vegetables (Ramon Arancibia); 12-12:30: Garden with a High Tunnel (Mengmeng Gu); 12:45-1:15: Make Your Own Rain Barrel (Donna Beliech).

Saturday

• Seminar A (in the conference room) — 9:30-10: Heirloom Vegetables: Antiques or Novelties (Donna Beliech); 10-15-10:45: Take the Sting out of Fire Ants (Blake Layton); 11-11:30: Healthy Cooking with Fresh Herbs (Ashley Fondren); 11:45-12:15: Canning Fresh From the Garden (Carolyn Conger); 12:30-1:00: Adding Value to Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (Anne Hood); 1:15-1:45: The Garden Grocery: Your Local Farmer’s Market (Paige Manning).

• Seminar B (in the big shop) — 10-10:45: My Favorite Woody Plants for the Winter (Jeff Wilson); 11-11:45: Tropical Plants: Keep ‘Em Coming (Nellie Neal); 12-12:45: FUNdamentals of Garden Design (Brian Templeton); 1-1:45: Preserving and Maintaining Trees (Drew Bates).

• Seminar C (at the composting center) — 10:30-11: Colorful Mulch and Row Cover for Vegetables (Ramon Arancibia); 11:15-11:45: Managing Koi in Your Water Garden (Dawn Barnige); 12-12:30: Gardening with a High Tunnel (Mengmeng Gu); 12:45-1:15: Make Your Own Rain Barrel (Donna Beliech).

Workshop

• Gardening Accessibility — Both days at AgriAbility tent

Walking tours (meet at Information Tent)

• Friday — 10, insects; 10:30, vegetables; 11, flowers; 11:30, tree identification; noon, plant diseases; 12:30, high tunnels.

• Saturday — 10, plant diseases; 10:30, vegetables; 11, flowers; 11:30, tree identification; noon, insect identification; 1, high tunnels.