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Recognize and manage peach leaf curl in the home orchard

May 28, 2026

Over the past month, the tri-county Extension offices have received several calls and emails regarding peach leaf curl. Given the wet spring conditions, it is not surprising that this fungal disease is showing up in home orchards this year. However, early symptoms can easily be mistaken for frost...

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mealy bug infestation on a brussel sprout plant leaf

2024 Recap: Common pest concerns and how to control them in 2025

January 13, 2025

Over the Garden Fence

Did you have a pest issue in 2024 and did not know how to treat it? Insect pests can cause cosmetic challenges, disease concerns, and edibility issues in fruits and vegetables, which leads to product loss. Developing a pest management strategy for garden and farm systems is important to combat...

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man's hand next to purple broccolini floret

A resilient broccoli alternative: Broccolini

September 23, 2024

Over the Garden Fence

Hot summer days may be slowly coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean the growing season has to! Fall crops are a staple in the Midwest, which helps farmers and gardeners prolong the short growing season in Northern Illinois. Cool season crops like broccoli are commonly grown in the Spring and Fall...

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A resilient broccoli alternative: Broccolini

September 23, 2024

Over the Garden Fence

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Grow pineapple-flavored treats in your garden

May 20, 2024

Over the Garden Fence

As spring planting begins and we look forward to the harvests of our labors, one of the best summer treats are strawberries. Depending on cultivar planted, June-bearing provide a large crop of larger strawberries and everbearing strawberries produce smaller berries throughout the growing season....

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fingers holding a small, unripe, green strawberry and white blossom

Planting Summer’s Treat: Strawberries

May 23, 2022

Over the Garden Fence

Strawberries (Fragaria species) are one of summer’s best treats, and there is still time now in May to plant them. Choose the cultivar June-bearing strawberries provide one large crop of bigger berries and everbearing strawberries produce smaller berries throughout the growing season....

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Local Foods and Small Farms Blogs

Recognize and manage peach leaf curl in the home orchard

2024 Recap: Common pest concerns and how to control them in 2025

A resilient broccoli alternative: Broccolini

A resilient broccoli alternative: Broccolini

Grow pineapple-flavored treats in your garden

Planting Summer’s Treat: Strawberries