UMES horticulture expert creates experiments to help farmers across the shore

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – In Princess Anne, an associate professor at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore is experimenting techniques to help farmers in the area.

Dr. Naveen Kumar is looking for a way to help farmers be more productive, save money, and find ways to treat the environment better.

For his first project, he’s found a way to extend the growing season of a strawberry by nine months. It works by making low tunnels, protecting strawberries from frost and high temperatures. We’re told they are inexpensive and you can make them on your own through PCV pipes, plastic, and twine.

But he’s not stopping there.

Through raised beds and liquid fertilizer, pumpkins are now growing at the university at a rapid pace. Usually it can take 90 to 120 days to grow, but his grew in just 70 days.

Late planting was also a major factor for both experiments since many farmers have dealt with wet grounds due to excessive rain.

“These two projects will save money in terms of spraying pesticides because in the pumpkins in my case, I have only sprayed once, otherwise used to spray 7-8 times. In my strawberries, I haven’t sprayed anything so far everything is good,” Dr. Kumar tells us.

We’re told farmers have told him that they are going to try his method for the strawberries.

As for the pumpkins, they will have a pumpkin festival on Saturday from 10 AM – 2 PM at UMES.