2027 MG Training class

January- April 2027 will be the next time we offer a training class to become a Master Gardener.

Applications will be open May 1,- July 31, 2026.

We will host 2  Informational Meet and Greet Classes this Spring:

HOW TO BECOME A MASTER GARDENER         
 Thinking about taking your love of gardening to the next level? Come meet Fresno Master Gardeners and find out more about our program. We offer extensive training and provide a variety of volunteer opportunities. Applications for the next training class will be available in May. We'd love to meet you and share our passion for gardening.
 Find out more:

Saturday March 14,2026
Betty RodrIguez Library    
3040 N Cedar  Fresno, CA 93703

Saturday, May 2, 10-11:30am
Woodward Park Library
944 E Perrin Fresno CA 93720

Madera County Master Gardeners train with Fresno County. For Madera residents interested in becoming a Master Gardener on April 11, the Three Sister Garden Day there will be a table set up for the 2027 Training class. Madera. Madera residents may also attend the Fresno dates above.

Do you love to garden?

Interested in Becoming a Master Gardener?

If you love gardening and enjoy sharing your knowledge with others, the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR), Fresno County, Master Gardener program might be for you.  

• Master Gardeners are volunteers that have been trained to educate the public on science-based sustainable gardening practices.
• We are a part of the University of California Cooperative Extension and provide a link between the University and our community.

• We are committed to educating the public on best practices in home horticulture, sustainable landscaping and pest management.

   

Application process 

Master Gardener Training Classes are offered on odd numbered years. Preparations have begun for the 2027 Training Classes.
 The application period will open  May 1, 2026 and run through July 31, 2026.

If you have any questions about the application process contact our helpline:

This year's applicants will be invited to Meet the Master Gardeners, a mandatory meeting at the Garden of the Sun.  Applicants will schedule interview appointments at that time. 
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and a resident of Fresno County.

Applicants must demonstrate:

• effective communication skills
• the ability to work with the public
• willingness & ability to fulfill volunteer hours.

If you are accepted into the UC Master Gardener 2027 training class you will be enrolled in weekly training classes beginning January 2027 and running through April that will include hands on training. There is a tuition fee of $250. Partial scholarships are available. For working with the public, the UC requires that trainees be fingerprinted and pass a background check.

New Master Gardeners are required to contribute 50 volunteer hours during the first year of service after completing their training. In subsequent years, Master Gardeners are required to contribute 25 hours of volunteer service and 12 hours of continuing education. Continuing education opportunities are provided through the program.

The Training Process

Prospective Master Gardeners complete a 16-week training course that includes hands-on training & pass a final exam.

Weekly classes are taught by University of California Cooperative Extension advisers, horticultural specialists, Master Gardeners and community experts. 

Trainees are expected to attend all classes and hand-on training sessions. Only one absence is permitted and it must be made up.

Topics will include plant science, soil and plant nutrition, water and fertilizer management, pest identification and management, vegetable  gardening, plant disease and diagnosis, and much more. Trainees will be assigned a Master Gardener mentor who will support and assist them throughout the training.

Any other questions about the UC Master Gardener Program of  Fresno County? Contact  us  via our helpline.

The Master Gardeners Program

The Master Gardener concept originated in 1972 in Washington State.
 With a growing interest in home gardening and an increase in the volume of research-based information available, a group of university extension advisers sought a better way to disseminate information to the public. Thus, the Master Gardener Program was born. Introduced in California in 1979, with pilot programs in Riverside and Sacramento counties, there are now over 40 Master Gardener Programs in California. 

If you have additional questions about the the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) Master Gardener program in Fresno County,contact the helpline .

Applications for the 2027 Master Gardener program will go live on website May 1, 2026- July 31, 2026.