About the UCANR Master Gardeners of Fresno

Please welcome:

Environmental Horticulture Advisor for Tulare, Kings, Fresno, and Madera Counties

Haramrit Gill

Haramrit Gill is the newly appointed Environmental Horticulture Advisor for Tulare, Kings, Fresno, and Madera Counties. Hailing from Punjab, India, Haramrit's profound passion for agriculture developed organically. She earned her undergraduate degree in agriculture followed by a master’s degree in Horticulture at Punjab Agricultural University, where her research focused on micropropagation and haploid production in muskmelons.

In 2018, Haramrit relocated to the USA to pursue a PhD in Horticulture. Her early research investigated the impact of nitrogen on spinach root architecture before transitioning to the rose breeding and genetics lab. Here, her doctoral work concentrated on deciphering the genetic underpinnings of flower color transition traits, fragrance, and dwarfing in roses, with a particular focus on the intriguing phenomenon of flower color transformation from yellow to dark pink as blooms matured. Haramrit also contributed to projects aimed at enhancing heat tolerance and disease resistance in roses.

In her current capacity as an Environmental Horticulture Advisor, Haramrit's responsibilities revolve around identifying landscape plants that are heat-tolerant, disease-resistant, and fire-resistant. She harbors a strong interest in researching California native plants due to their sustainable attributes, which include superior adaptation, biodiversity enhancement, water efficiency, and soil health benefits. Please join us in welcoming Haramrit to UC ANR.

Master Gardener Volunteers

The University of California Cooperative Extension in Fresno County has an active group of nearly 200 Master Gardener Volunteers who support local educational programs in home horticulture by staffing an email helpline, providing public educational classes and presentations, coordinating a Plant a Row for the Hungry program, maintaining a one-acre food production and ornamental demonstration garden, conducting plant clinics, and providing other educational opportunities for adults and children.

Helpline: Ask a Master Gardener

Our gardening Helpline is working remotely.

Questions? Send an email to mgfresno@ucanr.edu

Including photos is helpful. We are looking forward to hearing from you!

Valley garden planting guides:

Vegetable Planting Guide

Home Vegetable Gardening

2025 Training Class for Master Gardener volunteers

Fresno Master Gardeners are about to start the 2025 training class to become a volunteer in the program. Training classes are offered in odd numbered years.

The application period for the 2025 class is now closed.

Applications for the 2027 class will be open the summer of 2026.

UCCE Guest Speakers for training course

Interested adult volunteers go through a 16-week training and certification course. In addition to class room instruction, they must devote 50 volunteer hours back to the program as First Year Master Gardeners, much of which consists of hands-on learning.

Hands on Learning

Training topics include plant botany, plant diseases, insects, weed science, home vegetable gardening, fruit trees and grapes, landscape trees, turf and diagnosing plant problems.

Contact us:

Office: UC Cooperative Extension
UC Center
550 E. Shaw Ave., Suite 210-B
Fresno, CA 93710

Gardening Helpline
e-mail only at this time
Email the Gardening Helpline

Master Gardener Coordinator Denise Cuendett
Please send your e-mail to: dhcuendett@ucanr.edu