Too much moisture can hinder root development
COLUMBIA, Mo. – It might sound bizarre, but all the rain many parts of Missouri got this year has primed plants, trees and shrubs for the possibility of drought damage. Roots are the lifeline of a plant, taking up water and nutrients from the soil and moving them into the leaves, where they can interact with sunlight to produce energy for the plant. A robust root system is the foundation of a healthy, vigorous plant.
MU Extension gardens cultivate connections
Community gardens help grow connections and tackle food insecurity. That’s why MU Extension is committed to supporting communities across Missouri as they plant seeds of connection — one garden at a time.
July 25 is Turnip Day in Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. – There is an old Missouri saying, “On the 25th of July, sow your turnips, wet or dry.” This local proverb vaulted into the national spotlight during the presidency of Missouri native Harry S. Truman, said University of Missouri Extension state specialist David Trinklein.
Daisies bring sunshine and blooms year after year
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Anyone who has driven through the country in late June or July probably has likely noticed an abundance of white daisies along roadsides and in fields. Commonly is called oxeye or field daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), this plant is sometimes used in flower gardens and is one of the easiest of all perennial flowers to grow, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
Time to head out and sow some Chinese cabbage
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The sunny, warm days and cool nights of a typical Missouri autumn are ideal for cool-season vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Now is a good time to sow Chinese cabbage seeds so plants will be ready to establish in the garden in late summer.
Survey of St. Louis gardeners shapes MU Extension programs
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – St. Louis area residents can help shape gardening programs offered by University of Missouri Extension in St. Louis. MU Extension horticulturist Eliza Pessereau says MU Extension is encouraging gardeners to complete a Gardening Needs Assessment to learn what topics are of interest.
Use caution when hiring tree care professionals
VERSAILLES, Mo. – When hiring a tree care professional, use caution and stick to reputable companies, says Joni Harper, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in natural resources.
The great okra divide
There are many gray areas in life. That’s not the case with people’s opinions about okra. People either love it or loathe it. Okra lovers point toward its unique flavor and many uses. Okra haters can’t see how anyone can eat something so slimy.
When your garden becomes a drive-thru for wildlife
Most gardeners know the frustration of having a beautiful garden decimated by wildlife. Just like people, deer and other critters are drawn to food that is tasty and convenient. A garden is wildlife’s equivalent of a fast food drive-thru.
Sweeten the Fourth with juicy watermelon
Nothing says Fourth of July like a juicy, red slice of watermelon. July is observed as National Watermelon Month. University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist Matthew Huchteman says there are a few simple steps to check watermelons for ripeness and flavor.
Peppers: Easter eggs of the garden
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Bearing fruit ranging in color from red, orange and yellow to purple, white and chocolate-black, sweet peppers are the Easter eggs of the vegetable garden, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
Jefferson Farm & Garden provides bedding plants to nonprofits statewide
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension’s Jefferson Farm and Garden in Columbia has raised about 5,000 spring bedding plants so far this year and supplied them to hundreds of gardens throughout the state.
![Calibrachoa Superbells Dreamsicle. Photo by Krzysztof Ziarnek [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2025/20250430-callie-1.jpg?itok=uJbCTQGu)
Callie, petunia's upstart cousin, bursts with floral fireworks
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Most flowering annuals in gardens around the U.S. have stood the test of time, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. For example, geraniums were planted in Europe in the 17th century and have been an American favorite for more than 200 years. Petunia, as we know it today, appeared in gardens in the 1800s.
Volunteer Master Gardeners help others learn to grow
Volunteer Master Gardeners share gardening knowledge through workshops and projects, creating more than $5 million in annual economic value.
Red, white and blue for the green thumb
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Plan now to use basic design principals to create a patriotic garden this summer, says University of Missouri Extension field horticulturist Gwen Funk. “Designing your outdoor living space comes with many opportunities for creativity,” says Funk. “One might be thinking about themed garden beds, pots and hanging baskets,” she adds. “Using a red, white and blue color scheme around your patio or deck could add a festive…
![Beets are nutritious and easy to grow.Photo by Evan Amos [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2025/20250415-beets-1.jpg?itok=J5SBJi8C)
Beets: Well-rooted in nutrition
Few vegetables elicit less excitement from the average gardener than beets. Once relegated to pickling or making borscht, beet is enjoying greater respect due to its reported health benefits.
Don't plant seeds you didn't order
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension horticulturists ask the public not to plant unsolicited seeds received in the mail. MU Extension horticulturist Kelly McGowan says she has had recent reports from Springfield-area residents who have been mailed seeds they did not order.
Happy 70th birthday to Missouri's state tree
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The flowering dogwood tree celebrates its 70th birthday as the Missouri state tree in 2025. There is no better place to celebrate than Missouri’s Ozark woodlands from mid-April to early May when the dogwood is in bloom, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
Clematis, Queen of the Vines
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – You can look high and low, but you likely won’t find a climbing vine that compares to the clematis, known as the “Queen of the Vines,” says Gwen Funk, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in horticulture. Part of the buttercup family, clematis comprises several species and numerous cultivars. Color, bloom time, habitat and even growth habit vary among species. There are varieties to fit into most…
The 'soy of gardening' includes edamame
COLUMBIA, Mo. – You may have seen edamame in grocery stores or on salad bars and not known what it is, says Todd Higgins, University of Missouri Extension specialist in horticulture. Edamame is a type of soybean grown for direct consumption by people. Edamame (pronounced eh-duh-mah-may) translates from Japanese as “beans on a branch” since they are often sold with the pod still attached to the stem.
Easter lilies toxic to cats
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A favorite spring flower, the Easter lily, should be kept away from cats. If ingested, it could kill them. The perennial plant’s white, trumpet-like flowers might not sound the warning that all parts of it are highly toxic to felines.
Extension horticulturist named Conservationist of the Year
Todd Higgins was honored as 2025 Conservationist of the Year for promoting soil health and conservation practices across northwest Missouri.
March is the time to plant hardy, heady, healthy cabbage and kale
COLUMBIA, Mo. – March is the ideal month to plant two of the hardiest and most nutritious vegetables a home gardener can grow easily: cabbage and kale, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Both are attractive in the garden, with colors ranging from pale green through dark blue to deep reddish purple. Flavors range from mild to strong, and both lend themselves to dishes both raw and cooked.
Kick-start the gardening season by turning it inside out
COLUMBIA, Mo. – It is hard to think about gardening when the weather is cool. “However, now is the perfect time to start seeds of certain garden plants indoors so they will be ready for transplant when warmer weather arrives,” said University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist David Trinklein. By kick-starting the growing season, you will have flowers and produce earlier, said Trinklein.
Harvest all season long with succession sowing
ST. LOUIS – With a little bit of planning, gardeners can enjoy small amounts of fresh produce throughout the season by succession sowing, says University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist Eliza Pessereau. Succession sowing, sometimes called relay planting, means planting seeds of a particular crop at regular intervals so that the plants mature at different times.