Vegetable gardening

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squash and beans
Grow a more productive garden with a little imagination and hardworking plant combinations
With the spring gardening season beginning, imaginations run wild with gardening possibilities. Some gardeners may ponder the complexities of an age-...
Vegetable Garden Planning
It’s that time of year again – time to start planning for the vegetable gardening season.  The explosion of enticing seed catalogs hitting my mailbox...
When should I start my seeds? packet of seeds on a table with small brown seeds coming out of the package next to orange plant labels.
When should I start my seeds?
Seed starting is a great way to scratch the gardening itch we often get during late winter. In addition to getting a head start on the growing season...
Are my seeds still good? Testing seed germination. White paper towel with small green seedlings emerging from black seeds
Are my seeds still good? Testing seed germination
Have you ever found a packet of seeds lying around and wondered if you could grow them? Every year when I get ready to start seeds, I inevitably find...
Flat green mottled leaves of snake plant against a brown background
Discover new ways to garden with ease at the 21st Annual Home, Lawn, and Garden Day
As dormant plants slowly extend bright green limbs from under a blanket of soil, garden enthusiasts thumb plant catalogs in eager anticipation of...
Round leaves of nasturtium are a mound of growth with red flowers peaking out
Fortify the spring vegetable garden with marigolds, sweet alyssum, and nasturtiums
In late spring, a gardener walks out to their vegetable garden ready to collect a harvest, only to discover shot holes through kale and bites taken...
2023: Year of the Broccoli hands holding head of green broccoli in foreground, field of broccoli in background
2023 is the year of the broccoli
With the turn of the new year, it seems to be a tradition to declare it the year of ‘fill in the blank.’ So far I’ve learned 2023 is the year of the...
Garden resolutions for the new year | 2023. Garden with purple, red, pink, and white blooming plants and a wheelbarrow, shovel, and hose.
Plan to make garden resolutions for the new year | 2023
As we approach the new year, we often find ourselves reflecting on the events of the last year. The new year also provides us an opportunity to start...

News Releases

Giving Gardens
With a few seeds and a little space, gardeners feed the community
(Livingston, McLean and Woodford Counties) – Healthy communities grow with community support. Let the harvest of your garden contribute to the health of your community this summer. Offering garden vegetables is a source of food that ensures a neighbor facing food insecurity has access to...
Four horticulture educators with award plaques with Dr. Nickols-Richardson
Evaluate and adjust: Four Seasons Gardening wins state evaluation award
URBANA, Ill. – A popular Extension gardening program was honored by University of Illinois Extension for its dedication to constant evaluation and adaptation of educational programming. The Four Seasons Gardening series addresses home and community garden issues that encourage residents to...
person holding seeds
Grow confidence when choosing seed packets for your garden
URBANA, Ill. – When planning a garden, seeds are an inexpensive investment when compared to buying plants. Gardeners have three basic seed selection choices: hybrid, open-pollinated, and heirloom seeds. What is the difference? Hybrid seeds, also called F1 hybrids, are developed by plant...

Videos

Preparing Vegetables for Exhibition

Extension specialist Jim Schmidt demonstrates how to properly prepare vegetables for exhibition. This overview includes how to choose and show various vegetables. 

 

Staff