Yard and Garden News

Whether planted for the root crop or the tender greens, this fast-growing vegetable adds color and nutrients to the dinner plate. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulturists offer tips on getting the most out of planting beets.

Donating produce from a vegetable garden to a local food pantry can help give those without access to fresh foods the opportunity to add them into their meals.

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Master Gardener program will hold its core training sessions this fall for individuals interested in becoming Master Gardener volunteers. After the training, Master Gardeners volunteer in their community.

ISU Extension and Outreach is offering workshops on fruit tree management focused primarily on tree pruning and branch training March 20-22. Participants will learn best practices and techniques for pruning and training fruit-bearing trees for peak performance.

Proprer timing and gentle care will pay off as homeowners complete a few lawn chores this spring.

Because of their value to high tunnel producers, tomatoes are often grown every year, despite the increased risk for plant disease outbreaks caused by a monoculture system.

Herbaceous perennials are commonly divided for three reasons: to control size, to rejuvenate plants and to propagate a prized perennial. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulturists offer tips on dividing perennials.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulturists offer tips on growing cabbage in the home garden.

Propagating houseplants is usually an easy leaf cutting procedure. However some houseplants require techniques such as air layering and cane cuttings to successfully start new plants.

Several species of fruits can be grown successfully in Iowa for home use or commercial sales. However, because of our winter temperatures and local soil conditions, not all fruits or fruit cultivars are adapted to all areas of the state. Find out which ones are best suited for Iowa.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is offering fruit tree grafting workshops on March 28, March 29, April 6 and April 7. Participants will hear a presentation on why and how to graft fruit trees by commercial horticulture specialist, Patrick O’Malley and take part in a hands-on apple tree grafting demonstration.

Three workshops will be held to help growers, industry representatives, local food coordinators, extension staff and county horticulturists learn to manage common challenges in high tunnels while also discussing new advances in high tunnel production.

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Master Gardener program has announced 26 recipients of its Growing Together mini-grant program. The projects will receive more than $90,000 in grant money through SNAP-Education.

Iowa gardeners can have an early breath of spring by forcing branches of spring flowering trees and shrubs into bloom. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulturists offer tips on forcing blooms indoors.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host a three-hour class for anyone interested in being certified to sell morel mushrooms legally within the state of Iowa. The workshop will be held on three consecutive Saturdays in April on the Iowa State University campus.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulturists offer tips on growing and pruning raspberries.

Growing healthier, happier and more equitable communities is at the heart of the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Master Gardener program. Master Gardeners spent 2017 working to reach these goals through a variety of projects.

Now is the time to begin thinking about getting tuberous begonias out of storage and ready for spring planting. Here are some tips from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulturists on dates and procedures for starting them indoors.

Some milkweed species are attractive additions to home landscapes, and monarch butterflies like them too. Here are some tips from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulturists on selecting and establishing milkweed.

The ISU Extension and Outreach Master Gardener program will host three Growing Season webcasts this winter, covering the topics of starting vegetable seeds and growing transplants, managing volunteers, and building food security partnerships.