As the days get longer and the temperatures start to warm, we often get the itch to start gardening. On the first warm day of the year, I often find...
Seed starting is a great way to scratch the gardening itch we often get during late winter. In addition to getting a head start on the growing season...
Have you ever found a packet of seeds lying around and wondered if you could grow them? Every year when I get ready to start seeds, I inevitably find...
Fortify the spring vegetable garden with marigolds, sweet alyssum, and nasturtiums
In late spring, a gardener walks out to their vegetable garden ready to collect a harvest, only to discover shot holes through kale and bites taken...
News Releases
With a few seeds and a little space, gardeners feed the community
(Livingston, McLean and Woodford Counties) – Healthy communities grow with community support. Let the harvest of your garden contribute to the health of your community this summer. Offering garden vegetables is a source of food that ensures a neighbor facing food insecurity has access to...
Fields of dreams: From 4-H to cut flower grower
NORTHERN ILLINOIS – When Local Foods Small Farms Educator Grant McCarty is looking for inspiration, he makes his way to Clara Joyce Flowers. There, farmer Drew Groezinger inevitably has something new going on.
There are high tunnels being...
Bugged by houseplant pests? Give carnivorous plants a try
URBANA, Ill. – During the chilly, dreary winter months, I enjoy my green houseplants that add a bright spot in my office and living space. So when I was visiting a new specialty plant shop this fall, I had to add a new plant friend, “Ping,” to my collection....
Plant top annuals of 2023 to create craveable container gardens
URBANA, Ill. – Experienced container gardeners likely know that successful containers have good drainage, appropriate sun exposure, and proper potting media. Get a jump on new annual arrivals each year, discover the best performers, and be the envy of your neighborhood this summer by building...
Grow confidence when choosing seed packets for your garden
URBANA, Ill. – When planning a garden, seeds are an inexpensive investment when compared to buying plants. Gardeners have three basic seed selection choices: hybrid, open-pollinated, and heirloom seeds. What is the difference?
Hybrid seeds, also called F1 hybrids, are developed by plant...
