Good Growing

Latest Posts

What's an Invasive Plant & Alternative Options

February 11, 2015

How familiar are you with invasive plants? What exactly is an invasive plant? By definition according to the Illinois Invasive Species Council an invasive plant is "any species that is not native to that ecosystem, including its seeds, spores, or other biological material capable of propagating...

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Gateway Small Fruit and Vegetable Conference

February 5, 2015

This upcoming conference combines the Ill Small Fruit/Strawberry School with the Southern IL Vegetable School. The dates are Feb. 10-11 and will be held in O'Fallon, IL (across river from St. Louis). It's an excellent program that will offer many folks an opportunity to learn more management...

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Putting Small Acres to Work

February 3, 2015

If you've ever thought about trying a new enterprise on a few acres of ground, you need to consider attending an event that we hope will provide you with some excellent ideas to consider. Many folks are investigating opportunities for some extra income on a few acres while others are simply looking...

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Putting Small Acres to Work

January 23, 2015

Putting Small Acreage to Work will be held on Saturday, Feb. 14th at John Wood Community College, 1301 S. 48th in Quincy. If you're looking for ideas on how to utilize smaller acreages for income producing activities or for fun and leisure, then this program will provide you with a number of...

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20th Annual Western IL/ NE MO Notill/ Crop Management Conference

January 22, 2015

We've all heard about the next new herbicide technology that will help with control of glyphosate resistant waterhemp and marestail. Both Monsanto and Dow are introducing new products that contain phenoxy herbicides (2,4-D and dicamba) mixed with glyphosate to be applied to genetically modified...

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Aphids in High Tunnels

January 21, 2015

For those of you growing winter greens in a high tunnel, be wary of aphids infesting your leafy greens, especially spinach and lettuce. These carryover pests from the summer crops can build up populations fairly rapidly in the confines of a tunnel, in the absence of predators. Plus these past few...

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Shade Plants

January 14, 2015

Good Growing By: Kari Houle, University of Illinois Extension Adams/Brown/Hancock/Pike/Schuyler Counties One of my favorite types of gardens to plan and work in is my shade garden. For me, there are a couple of reasons that shade gardens are great. The variety of plants that are suitable to shady...

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Starting the Year Off Right

January 6, 2015

Is one of your New Years' resolutions to eat healthier? To perhaps grow some of your own food? Growing some of your own food is a fun and rewarding task that provides much more than a fresh tasting juicy tomato or some tender green beans. You'll also get outdoors in the sunshine, enjoy the...

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Good Growing

January 1, 2015

With a new year comes new changes. Mike Roegge, Small Farms & Local Foods Extension Educator, and myself (Kari Houle, Horticulture Extension Educator) would like to welcome you to our new blog Good Growing and hopefully you will continue to follow along with us as we provide you...

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