URBANA, Ill. – Dig in with confidence this spring with Growing Great Vegetables, a five-week webinar series that will cover how to grow a vegetable garden from seed to harvest. Whether growers have several acres or a patio with a few containers, now is the time to start planning for a successful garden.

Log on for the weekly online workshops starting February 28. Each session will explore a new topic and give participants the opportunity to engage with University Illinois Extension horticulture experts and receive emails with even more research-based tips and factsheets.

Sessions will be 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays from February 28 to March 28. Each class covers a different topic and will consist of a live 50-minute presentation followed by a Q&A. Extension horticulture educators Jennifer Fishburn, Chris Enroth, Ken Johnson, Ryan Pankau, and Sarah Vogel will lead this series.

• February 28, Where will you Garden? Build a garden using whatever space you have. Learn about traditional garden plots, raised beds, salad tables, container gardening, growing vertically, and more.
• March 7, Seed and Plant Choices: Planning, design, and layout are key elements to successful gardening. Learn about hardiness zones, frost and freeze dates, how to order plants or seeds from a garden catalog or locally, reading and selecting seed packets, and starting plants from seed. We'll also cover soil testing and amendments, fertilizer, manures, mulch, watering, and weeding
• March 14, Cool Season Vegetables: Cool-season crops can be grown in spring or fall, each with its own characteristics and potential issues. Learn about growing and harvesting cool-season vegetables including how to manage common insect pests.
• March 21, Warm Season Vegetables: Warm season crops grow during the hottest part of the year. This session will cover how to make vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes, squash, and more flourish while keeping pests at bay.
• March 28, Insects and Diseases: New and experienced growers alike are challenged by pests, diseases, and disorders of vegetable plants. Learn about insects, diseases, and wildlife pests and how to prevent and handle them.

Register for the series by February 26 at go.illinois.edu/GrowingGreatVegetables. The cost is $10. Sessions will be recorded and made available to registered participants if they are unable to attend live. For more information, contact Ken Johnson at kjohnso@illinois.edu.

University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Ken Johnson at kjohnso@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting access needs.

SOURCE: Chris Enroth, Illinois Extension Horticulture educator

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