WINNEBAGO COUNTY, IL- Calling all apple lovers, seasoned backyard growers, and first-time planters! Looking to spruce up your apple knowledge this Fall? Join us for an engaging exploration of apple growing in Northern Illinois with Local Foods Systems and Small Farms Educator Grant McCarty. Learn about the rich agricultural heritage of apple production and gain practical knowledge you can apply in your own growing space.
During Growing Great Apples, we'll discuss apple varieties suitable for Northern Illinois, seasonal management of common insects and diseases, and the fundamentals of establishing and maintaining fruit trees. You'll leave equipped to select appropriate varieties, develop seasonal management plans, make informed planting decisions, and successfully grow delicious apples in Northern Illinois. You might even go straight to nearby orchards, knowing exactly which ones you want to try out this season.
Growing Great Apples will be held from 2:00-3:30 PM on Friday, October 3rd at Talcott Free Library, 101 E Main St, Rockton, IL 61072. There is no charge for this program; however, pre-registration is requested. To register, visit https://extension.illinois.edu/jsw or call 815-986-4357 for more information. If you need reasonable accommodations to participate in this program, please contact the Winnebago County Extension Office at 815-986-4357.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.