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Commercial Vegetable Production

Blog Posts

weed seeds germinating in bare area of field
Read article: Weed Management Strategies for Vegetable Farms
Weed Management Strategies for Vegetable Farms
Weed Management is almost always a challenge on vegetable farms.  Even if you do have a manageable weed pest, management practices come at some...
cover crops with yellow and red blooms in a field
Read article: Cover Crop Update: The April explosion
Cover Crop Update: The April explosion
Cover crops are always on the move in April.  I said “explosion” because for many overwintering cover crops it is almost that.  Some can...
sweet corn seedling emerging in field through a brown mulch of dead cover crops
Read article: Southwestern Illinois(Waterloo) Update: Spring plantings off to a good start
Southwestern Illinois(Waterloo) Update: Spring plantings off to a good start
Out in the field, spring plantings have been off to a good start.  Cool season crops have been very happy.  I have early planted radishes...
people in a high tunnel with plants in rows
Read article: Dixon Springs update: Crops planted in high tunnels
Dixon Springs update: Crops planted in high tunnels
Crops are responding to warm spring temperatures and increased daylength. The crimson clover cover crop began flowering on March 29 and by April 3...

News Releases

Ginger rhizome
How to grow tropical ginger for at-home spice
URBANA, Ill. — Growing fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs in the backyard can seem like a lot of work, but at the end of the season, the bountiful, tasty harvest is worth it. The International Herb Association named ginger (Zingiber...
ginger plant laying on a bed of straw
The spice is right? Researchers explore growing ginger in Illinois
URBANA, Ill. Ask an Illinois farmer what specialty crop to grow to get the most bang for their buck and they will likely say tomatoes. Ask Chris Enroth, and his answer might surprise you – ginger. This tropical plant may seem out of place in a state known for growing row crops, but its...
Pumpkin Field Day poster
More than 80 pumpkin varieties to be featured at Field Day
URBANA, Ill. – Commercial pumpkin growers can enhance production practices at the upcoming University of Illinois Extension Pumpkin Field Day. The event begins at 10 a.m. Sept. 1 at Eckert’s Orchard near Belleville. Register by Aug. 29...