It’s that time of year again – time to start planning for the vegetable gardening season. The explosion of enticing seed catalogs hitting my mailbox...
With the turn of the new year, it seems to be a tradition to declare it the year of ‘fill in the blank.’ So far I’ve learned 2023 is the year of the...
Plants have played a major role in human development for as long as people have inhabited the earth. Human interaction with plants has been and...
News Releases
What’s in a name? The roots of fruit and vegetable names are long and intertwined
URBANA, Ill. – While Ireland is known for potatoes and Italy for its tomato-based sauces, many iconic fruits and vegetables have a tangled global history that has led to what ends up in your garden or on your plate. If someone says aubergine and you say eggplant, or maybe chickpeas and garbanzo...
Say goodbye to your tomato troubles with free master gardener event
MONTICELLO, Ill. – You have planted tomatoes and they are ready to pick. As you reach in to grab the beautiful ripe fruit you notice a strange looking green worm with black dots. Unfortunately, it appears you have a case of tomato hornworms. Those are just one of the troubles you may encounter...
Plant seeds for success with beginner vegetable gardening workshop
URBANA, Ill. – Whether you have a multi-row backyard vegetable plot or a patio with room for a few containers, now is the time to start planning for a successful gardening season. Over the past several years, there has been a surge of gardeners taking up the trowel for the first time to try...
Falling into the Autumn Vegetable Garden
Join Grant McCarty, Local Foods and Small Farms Educator on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at 12 p.m. for this virtual program. You must pre-register by September 21 to receive the Zoom link to join the program. The program is being offered free of charge but donations to help offset the cost of...