Vegetables

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 growers realize their value on the smaller scale. What Are Cover Crops, and How Long Have They Been Used?Unlike traditional crops, a cover crop is...

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 swing. From ripe tomatoes and peppers to the many cucurbits in peak production right now, the early-season work to establish and care for these...

This time of year, when most vegetable gardens are teeming with fresh produce, it is hard to think about starting additional plants. However, right now is the perfect time to start a fall garden and continue your vegetable production until the first frosts of the year, or possibly beyond with...

It’s that time of year again. The time when spring weather is warming, we are all starting to get active in our gardens to plant things. However, lots of folks are wondering if the time is right yet. Last week’s warm weather generated quite a bit of gardening activity, and Illinois...

Based on our updated frost-free dates, most of the risk of spring frost has nearly passed, and it's time to start thinking about planting cold-sensitive vegetable crops.  Tomatoes are perhaps one of the most popular warm-loving plants in the home vegetable garden.  With their time in the...

The spring-like weather this past week has been phenomenal.  Although we may see a return to cooler weather since March is known to “come in like a lion”, it was certainly a sign of things to come.  I’m really looking forward to March’s exit as it “goes out like a lamb” and the 2022...

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, many of us are stocking up on all the ingredients for our favorite dishes so we can contribute to the family feast.  The Thanksgiving meal has traditionally been a celebration of the year’s harvest, making it a great time to focus on the bountiful...

As the vegetable growing season quickly approaches fall frosts when production screeches to a halt, there is actually one crop that can be planted now in anticipation of next year’s growing season.  Garlic (Allium sativum) is an easy-to-grow bulb crop that does best when planted now for a...