San Juan County Master Gardeners have started their plant problem diagnostic clinic. The clinic meets twice monthly on the first and third Thursday, April through September and supports the Master Gardener Farmers’ Market booths on Orcas and San Juan Islands and Lopez Island table at Sunset Builders Supply.

They encourage county residents and visitors to submit plants with poor vigor, signs of disease or insect damage. They also identify plants and insects of concern or interest.

The recommended method of submitting plants is to collect them as close to the Saturday Farmers’ Market or clinic date as possible.  The plant sample should include leaves, stems, flowers and fruit if possible.

The more diseased plant sample they receive the greater the chance they can make an accurate diagnosis.  In order to preserve the sample, place it in a zip-close bag with a slightly damp paper towel and refrigerate it. It is very important that you complete the plant submission form found online at http://sanjuan.wsu.edu or at your island Master Gardener booth.

San Juan Island clients may take the sample to the WSU extension at 221 Weber Way, Friday Harbor. Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator Connie Domenech will help you.  Her office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Orcas and Shaw clients can call Domenech at 370-7663 or take the sample to the Master Gardeners’ booth at the Orcas Farmers’ Market starting in May.  Lopez clients may call Domenech or take the sample to the Master Gardeners booth at Sunset Builders.  The booth dates will be announced soon.

If you think your problem is so extensive you may need Master Gardeners to make a site visit, call the extension office to arrange this. Commercial client problems will be addressed by the extension officer in Friday Harbor but can be collected by local Master Gardeners.