Get the tomatoes ready!
Our gardens have really taken a toll with this recent rain but there are still many gardens growing tomatoes and we are inviting everyone to our Hopkins County Tomato Festival hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office in Hopkins, the City of Sulphur Springs, the master wellness volunteers and Hopkins County Master Gardeners. This year, the Tomato Festival will be held June 27, 2015 at the Sulphur Springs City Hall...
Dandelions – Mario Villarino
One of the most important roles of extension education is to retrieve and share scientific knowledge recent or historical. My role as a county agent is to share with our community pertinent information in a timely manner. Because scientific knowledge created by extension services is not own by anyone, this information is considered unbiased and trustworthy, and since Extension does not benefit economically from selling...
Vegetable gardening: The mighty tomato by Dr. Mario Villarino
County Extension Agent for Ag and Natural Resources- Hopkins. Tomato is considering by many, the ultimate crop for the home garden. Personally, tomato are a fundamental part of our family diet. Having both French, Italian and Mexican influences growing up, I vividly remember my mother preparing a roma tomato with salt as a mid-day snack. Joe Masabni, Texas AgriLife Extension horticulturist indicated that tomatoes are the most popular...
2014 Year in Review
As we 2014 quickly comes to a conclusion, it is time for me to share with you the educational accomplishment of the Agricultural and Natural Resources plans during the year. For 2014, there were 3 outcome plans that I will share with you during the following weeks. 2014 Hopkins County Youth Science of Agriculture Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hopkins County, Texas...
Incorporating Indoor Plants Into Your Home can Enhance Your Living Space by Mario Villarino
January 18, 2025 – Incorporating indoor plants into your home can enhance your living space and provide various health benefits. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, plants can improve mental health by reducing stress levels, especially during the winter months. For those new to indoor gardening or seeking low-maintenance options, consider the following plants: • Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata): Thrives in...
October Gardening Tasks to Consider by Mario Villarino
September 26, 2023 – In Texas, October is a great time for gardening as the weather starts to cool down. Here are some gardening tasks to consider: Plant Fall Vegetables: You can plant cool-season vegetables like lettuce, spinach, broccoli, and carrots. They thrive in the milder temperatures. Prune and Trim: Trim back overgrown shrubs and perennials to prepare them for winter. Remove dead or diseased branches. Mulch: Apply mulch...
Ideal Time for Planting Cool Season Forages by Mario Villarino
September 9, 2023 – Late September-early October is the ideal time for planting cool season annual forages such as annual ryegrass, small grains (rye, wheat or oats) and/or cool season annual legumes. Anytime we are incorporating new forages into our production systems it is important to make sure to match the forage species to your location (soil type, average annual rainfall, intended use, etc). Three methods for establishing...
Eoline Arnold
Eoline Smith Arnold of Sulphur Springs passed away at the age of 104 on Sunday, April 30, 2023, nine days before her 105th birthday. Governor Gregg Abbott and Mayor John Sellers had recognized her as the oldest living resident of Hopkins County. She was born on May 9, 1918, in Hopkins County, Texas, the fourth daughter of Robert E. and Lora Adair Smith. Eoline, a life-long resident of East Texas, married Harold Arnold on June 7, 1938,...
Soil PH Levels By Mario Villarino
April 7, 2023 – Having trouble with your lawn or flower bed not producing the way you’d like? The problem may be with your soil, which has to provide all the elements plants need for normal growth. A soil test can tell you whether your soil is making those elements available to your plants, and now is the time to have your soil analyzed. It takes 3-6 months to neutralize the soil after a lime application. The most crucial...
Soil Test By Mario Villarino
March 29, 2023- With the First Day of Spring and the most recent warm weather and sunny days we start thinking about our warm season pastures and hay meadows. A few things to keep in mind as our warm season forages begin to break dormancy: Soil Test! Soil Test! Soil Test! If you have not done so for this year, please consider obtaining a soil test now. There is not much that can be done regarding the high cost of fertilizer, but...
