Publications
The ISU Extension Store offers a number of publications for purchase or in a free downloadable PDF document. Publications related to flowers, lawn care, vegetables, trees and more can be found below to help you navigate to the information you need. The drop down menu will guide you to several categories containing publications, all relating to horticulture. If you have additional questions on a certain plant or problem call the Hortline at 515-294-3108 or browse our Frequently Asked Questions!
Find more information here about watermelon, muskmelon, and honeydew melons. Read about melon cultivars, planting, fertilizing, yield, irrigation, pollination, potential problems, and harvest and storage.
Plant breeders over the past decade have significantly improved sweet corn quality. Read about sweet corn types, cultivars, planting, pollination, fertilization, care, and harvest and storage plus information about growing “baby corn.”
Plant breeders over the past decade have significantly improved sweet corn quality. Read about sweet corn types, cultivars, planting, pollination, fertilization, care, and harvest and storage plus information about growing âbaby corn.â
The potato is one of the most important vegetable crops in the world. Publication discusses potato cultivars and their uses, planting, care, potential problems, and short and long-tern harvest and storage.
The potato is one of the most important vegetable crops in the world. Publication discusses potato cultivars and their uses, planting, care, potential problems, and short and long-tern harvest and storage.
Onions are easy to grow and often yield well. Learn details about cultivars, planting, maintenance, harvest, and storage.
Onions are easy to grow and often yield well. Learn details about cultivars, planting, maintenance, harvest, and storage.
Learn about different pepper cultivars, planting, potential problems, harvesting and storage, and pepper hotness in your home garden.
Learn about different pepper cultivars, planting, potential problems, harvesting and storage, and pepper hotness in your home garden.
Before investing resources into growing and selling fresh produce, use this publication to first help evaluate personal skills, market conditions, financial resources, and overall project feasibility.
More than 90 color photos showing 43 cultivars to match the correct tree to your specific site and personal needs. Choose from the cultivars to enjoy an avalanche of colorful, fragrant flowers each spring and a handsome, healthy tree throughout the year.
Several species of fruits can be grown successfully in Iowa. Consider hardiness and pollination when selecting varieties for home use and commercial production that are best adapted to Iowa growing conditions.
Moderate thatch formation is a normal development in lawns; however, problems can occur when the thatch layer is excessive. Learn about thatch's beneficial and detrimental aspects, causes of thatch, and related insects and diseases.
Those responsible for athletic field turf management will find 10 useful tips on how to operate more effectively and efficiently.
Home gardeners can successfully grow grapes in Iowa. Whether you are growing a backyard garden or beginning your own vineyard, basic requirements include a good planting site, hardy varieties (cultivars), and proper culture.
Also recommended Grape publications are:
RG 0502 - Pruning Grapevines
PM 1375 - Midwest Commercial Small Fruit and Grape Spray Guide
Home raspberry growers will find expert advice for cultivar selection, site selection, planting, and training and trellising plants. Also included are pruning guidelines for summer-bearing and fall-bearing red raspberries and pruning guidelines for black and purple raspberries. Also find tips for managing weeds, fertilizing, and harvesting.
This fact sheet provides target ranges of elements for growing most greenhouse and nursery crops, growth concerns, and interpretation of test results and suggestions for correcting irrigation problems.
Homeowners can enjoy healthy, attractive lawns without the use of chemical pesticides. Included are lawn care practices can help establish a healthy, dense lawn that is able to fend off most pest attacks.
Introduction to growing and using this popular perennialâincluding plant characteristics, propagation tips, and possible insect or disease problems.
Take this booklet, which includes the current recommendations of the Iowa Urban and Community Forest Council and Iowa State University, along as you plan, plant, and care for trees that will become tomorrow's community forest.
Color photos help you make the right diagnosis for nine diseases. Causal agents, typical host species, symptoms, and disease spread are discussed. Also learn proper maintenance and chemical controls to keep your evergreens healthy.
Following specific phosphorus management practices for turfgrass can help reduce potential pollution in surface water and groundwater.
Enjoy flowers all year long in dried arrangements, on wreaths, or in potpourri. Learn which plants are suitable for drying and find out about havesting and preservation techniques. Includes many color photos.
Select the best ground cover for your yard. Discover what type of plants work best in your area. Special features include 92 color pictures, 43 plant descriptions, and other tips.
Use bulb forcing to bring the bright colors and fragrant aromas of daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, crocuses, and other spring flowering bulbs indoors with you during winter. Find tips for choosing bulbs, planting, chilling, and after bloom care.
Basic information about types of peonies and how to grow themâincluding tips on planting, fertilizing, and seasonal care.
Pesticides must be applied at the labeled rate to achieve consistent results. Taking the time to properly calibrate the sprayer can improve the performance of the product, diminish the possibility of injury, and reduce pest control costs.
Learn about the symptoms and management of common problems for garden and greenhouse tomatoes.
Proper balance of thatch requires a combination of management practices including preventing thatch buildup by reducing plant growth, improving microbial decomposition, and mechanical removal of thatch when necessary.
The characteristics of the tree, its environment, the cultural practices used, and the weather all affect a tree's ability to begin and continue to bear fruit. This publication discusses the keys to avoiding poor fruit set.
Storing apples at home is convenient and, if done properly, can be economical. Home-grown fruit that may otherwise go to waste can be stored for several months. Publication includes tips on harvesting and storing home-grown apples.
Following proper procedures and planting high quality seed are the keys to successfully establishing a lawn. More details here.
This management calendar is a guide for maintaining turfgrass and diagnosing turfgrass problems in central Iowa. Includes eleven different management areas and tips to adjust calendar for southern or northern Iowa.
Use this publication to make lawn fertilization decisions based on soil and turfgrass needs, as well as fertilizer content and type. Also find the benefits of fertilizer, application procedures, and necessary precautions in this fact sheet.
Turfgrass renovation improves an area by seeding into the existing sod. It is a selective tillage process that falls short of completely reestablishing the turf. Included are step-by-step instructions on renovating turf areas for three situations.
The production of fruit on most plants, trees, and shrubs results from pollination of the blossoms. This publication explores tree fruit pollinations including methods of pollination, blooming times, and a chart to determine which apple cultivars are suitable pollinators.
Asparagus, one of the most popular spring vegetables, is a hardy perennial that produces edible spears earlier than any other garden vegetable. Learn about site selection, soil preparation, cultivars, weed control, planting, insect pests, harvesting, and after harvest care.
Maintain a weed-free lawn and learn about herbicides and how to use them.
Prior to use, it is always wise to check and see if the chemicals mentioned within are allowed in your area.
Learn how to start annual flowers and vegetables at home, to enjoy them earlier in the growing season. This publication tells you how to select seeds; choose potting mixes, containers, and seed; and later move seedlings to the garden.
Includes information regarding: container construction, size, and capacity; crop selection and planting density; summer care (location, watering, fertilization, tomato tips). Lists suggestions for 12 container garden vegetables (more than 40 cultivars) including: carrots, cucumber, pepper, spinach, and tomatoes.
Includes information regarding: container construction, size, and capacity; crop selection and planting density; summer care (location, watering, fertilization, tomato tips). Lists suggestions for 12 container garden vegetables (more than 40 cultivars) including: carrots, cucumber, pepper, spinach, and tomatoes.
This publication outlines recommendations and techniques for growing quality vegetables in a limited space, including planning, site selection, summer care, and space saving techniques. Lists suggestions for 16 garden vegetables (more than 50 varietals) including: cucumber, green beans, pepper, pole beans, spinach, tomatoes, summer and winter squash, and others.
This publication outlines recommendations and techniques for growing quality vegetables in a limited space, including planning, site selection, summer care, and space saving techniques. Lists suggestions for 16 garden vegetables (more than 50 varietals) including: cucumber, green beans, pepper, pole beans, spinach, tomatoes, summer and winter squash, and others.
Hardy vegetable crops draw upon water and nutrients in the soil in order to quickly establish their root systems and sustain rapid growth. This publication illustrates conserving water using soil mulch, hand watering, and sprinklers, and provides detailed pictures and instructions for installing a trickle irrigation system.
Manage your garden soil more effectively. Learn about tillage, integrating organic matter, soil testing and pH, fertilizer application and more.
Provides basic how-to information, including seedbed preparation, seed selection and sowing, and using transplants. Chart gives planting guidelines for 37 vegetables.
The amount of sunlight, soil type, and other factors are primary considerations when selecting a garden site. Get the details on planning your garden.
The amount of sunlight, soil type, and other factors are primary considerations when selecting a garden site. Get the details on planning your garden.
This illustrative publication will help you prune and train a variety of fruit trees. The level of pruning is determined by the kind, cultivar, and age of fruit trees.
Harvesting vegetables at the right stage of maturity results in nutritious, high quality products. Consumers can capture the peak flavors of asparagus, Brussels sprouts, melons, garlic, rhubarb, squash, tomatoes, sweet corn, and many other vegetables. This publication provides detailed information for storing more than 30 types of garden vegetables, including recommended storage temperatures, relative humidity, storage life for fresh vegetables, suggested methods for extended preservation, and types of storage facilities.