Growing your own produce brings many rewards, and the gardening game is already underway for many gardeners across Illinois!

Whether you're starting your own plants from seed or purchasing transplants, it's a good idea to plan your garden to maximize both space and the growing season. Extension has expert tips on planning, planting, growing, and managing a great garden.

Throughout 2023 and early 2024, Illinois Extension, in partnership with Huron Consulting Group, engaged in a comprehensive planning process to refine and refresh its core priorities, goals, and paths to success through internal and external stakeholder surveys, focus groups, and listening sessions statewide. The research yielded vital findings around Extension’s engagement, services, partnerships, and impact and identified shifting trends, demographics, and needs that will impact Illinois residents.