Blog Posts

A dense stand of buckwheat emerges in this vegetable gardening bed.  Earlier in the season this bed produced lettuce, carrots, raddish and kale.  The buckwheat was added as a fall cover crop to boost soil conditions prior to next spring's crop.
Read article: Cover crops in the garden
Cover crops in the garden
Cover crops have been used for ages in agricultural systems, but their use in a garden setting is on the rise as home and commercial vegetable...
Healthy pepper plants are lush and green but show no fruit yet.
Read article: Pepper production problems
Pepper production problems
At this point in the growing season, ripe produce is typically coming out of the vegetable garden daily since most warm-season crops are in full...
Fall is a great time to plant a vegetable garden, including herbs.
Read article: Fall Vegetable Gardens
Fall Vegetable Gardens
This time of year, when most vegetable gardens are teeming with fresh produce, it is hard to think about starting additional plants. However,...
person standing in strawberry garden in flood water
Read article: Flooded gardens: Safety, cleanup, and recovery
Flooded gardens: Safety, cleanup, and recovery
Rain, during summer months, is usually a welcome assist when caring for a vegetable garden. But when there is too much of a good thing, a flooded...

News Releases

Green grass with blue sky horizon chicken coup and chickens on grass
McHenry County Farm Stroll 2023
McHenry County Farm Stroll 2023 Offers Tours of 11 Family-Owned Small Farms and McHenry County College Student Farm Woodstock, Ill. – Come out for an autumn day in the country! On Sunday, Sept. 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., McHenry County will host its annual Farm Stroll, a free self-...
A grouping of award-winning pink and yellow-striped blooming petunia flowers.
Explore 2025 All-America Selection plant, flower award winners
URBANA, Ill. — Another Illinois winter comes closer to a close, depending on which region of the state you live in. Cold and snowy days may have drug on, but the promise of spring and garden catalogs ease the time before March planting. Whatever the plan is for 2025 gardens, leave room for those...
Fruit and Vegetable School
Fruit and Vegetable School connects local growers with industry experts
MT. VERNON, Ill. – Commercial fruit and vegetable growers face a lot of uncertainties. One thing is certain: University of Illinois Extension has the practical, current research to help you make those important production decisions. Get practical research-based information to make your specialty...

Videos

School and Community Gardens Learning Module

Bring the garden into the schoolyard with our online School and Community Gardens Self-Paced Learning Modules. A school garden can be many things, from a pollinator garden, to a sensory garden, or a bulb garden. Our online learning modules focus on vegetable gardening while we take you on a...

How to save your tomato seeds

Did you know you can save the seeds from your garden this year in order to plant them next year? This is an easy way to save some money and save seeds from plants that produced well. Illinois Extension Educator Chris Lueking has some tips on harvesting, drying, and storing your seed for next...

Staff

Elizabeth Wahle

Elizabeth Wahle

Extension Specialist, Agriculture and Agribusiness (Commercial Agriculture)