More than 1,400 gardening enthusiasts are expected for the event
CROSSVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is once again excited to present a fun and informative event that can help gardeners of all skill levels enjoy the fruits of their outdoor spaces.
The UT Gardens, Crossville, in collaboration with the Cumberland County Master Gardeners, will host the day-long event at Plateau AgResearch and Education Center. The event includes fifteen seminars and educational exhibits designed to help even the most inexperienced learn more about gardening. This free event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CDT, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. for those not pre-registered. You can avoid delays at the gate by registering early online at tiny.utk.edu/FGF2026 or by visiting the Cumberland County Master Gardeners website: ccmga.org. Online registration is encouraged but not required.
The 15 scheduled tent presentations include:
- Butterflies and How to Attract Them to Your Garden
- Bloom After Bloom: The Art of Seasonal Succession
- Herbs: Creative Culinary Companions
- Bog Gardening with Pitcher Plants
- Beekeeping: To Bee or Not To Bee
- Gardening with Conifers
- Home Hydroponics
- Garden Pest Control
- Social Media and Gardening Trends
- Tennessee Lawns and Their Alternatives
- Fruit Tree Pruning Concepts and Practices
- Managing Disease in Home Fruit and Vegetables
- TN Naturescapes: Crafting a Biodiverse Landscape
- Defects and Dysfunction in Trees: When to Call an Arborist
- Feeding the Veggies that Feed Us: Water and Nutrients in the Garden
In addition to the scheduled presentations, UT Extension will also host an Ask-the-Expert tent with plant experts, entomologists, and plant pathologists on hand to help visitors with their questions. Feel free to bring a sample sealed in a plastic bag for the experts to examine.
Visitors can also choose to see the center’s grounds on a tractor-drawn wagon tour or enjoy garden and craft vendors selling their wares at a trade show. Food vendors will be onsite as well. The Fall Gardeners’ Festival is free to attend, and food is available for purchase. The Plateau AgResearch and Education Center is located at 320 Experiment Station Road in Crossville, and you can contact the center at 931-484-0034 or email utgardenscrossville@utk.edu for information about accessibility. Visit online at plateau.tennessee.edu to learn more about the center’s work and other public events.
The UT Gardens, Crossville, one of three locations of the statewide State Botanical Garden of Tennessee, is located at the UT Plateau AgResearch and Education Center. Originally established in 2005 as the Plateau Discovery Gardens, this space has grown into a collaborative demonstration garden showcasing sustainable gardening practices. It is maintained by the Plateau AgResearch and Education Center, UT Extension Cumberland County, and Cumberland County Master Gardeners. Open year-round during daylight hours and free to the public, the gardens offer educational programs and hands-on classes throughout the year.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch, and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.