Callie, petunia's upstart cousin, bursts with floral fireworks
Calibrachoa, a colorful cousin of petunias, offers abundant blooms for containers and baskets, thriving in sun and rewarding care.
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
Create a patriotic garden using red, white, and blue flowers with the 60-30-10 design rule for color balance and visual appeal.
![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
Do not plant unsolicited seeds. They may carry pests, diseases, or invasive species. Report or safely return unknown seeds.
Happy 70th birthday to Missouri's state tree
Celebrate 70 years of Missouri’s flowering dogwood, known for its stunning spring blooms and cultural history.
Clematis, Queen of the Vines
Clematis vines offer vibrant blooms and support pollinators. Native and hybrid varieties thrive in Missouri gardens. Proper care ensures seasonal beauty.
The 'soy of gardening' includes edamame
Learn how to grow and harvest edamame in your garden for fresh, nutritious, high-protein beans.
Easter lilies toxic to cats
Easter lilies and similar flowers are highly toxic to cats. Even small amounts can cause kidney failure. Keep these plants away from felines to ensure their safety.
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
Plant hardy, nutritious cabbage and kale in March for fresh, colorful greens that thrive in cool weather.
Kick-start the gardening season by turning it inside out
Start your gardening season early by sowing vegetable and flower seeds indoors so they’ll be ready to transplant when spring arrives.
Harvest all season long with succession sowing
Plan garden sowing in waves—plant seeds at intervals, rotate sites, vary varieties—to enjoy fresh, staggered harvests all season.
St. Patrick's Day: Time to rock your shamrock knowledge
Discover the history and botany behind shamrocks and clovers — and learn how to spot a four-leaf clover this St. Patrick’s Day.
Plant now for seeds of success
Plant seeds indoors now for a head start on a successful garden. Follow simple steps to grow healthy plants and enjoy a vibrant harvest.
Overcome poor soil, lack of space with straw bale gardening
Grow vegetables, fruits, and flowers in limited space with straw bale gardening, even on poor soil.
2025 is the Year of the Pea
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Gardeners looking for hap-pea-ness can look no further than the pea. The National Garden Bureau has declared 2025 the Year of the Pea. Few vegetables match the culinary delight of peas fresh from the garden, said David Trinklein, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist. “You might say it is a VIPea in the spring garden,” said Trinklein. When given an early start, growing peas is easy peasy.
Turn milk jugs into mini-greenhouses
Transform clean milk jugs into mini-greenhouses to start seeds and jump-start your garden.
This Valentine's Day, be a love bug
Show Missouri insects some love this Valentine's Day by supporting pollinators and reducing pesticide use.
Colorful flowers, sweet treats and relationship tips for Valentine’s Day
Explore flower-gift ideas, homemade preservative tips, pollinator appreciation, strawberry love lore, pet safety, and romance advice.
The language of flowers blossoms on Valentine's Day
Discover how flowers convey emotions and messages, making Valentine's Day bouquets speak beyond words.
Prune fruit trees in midwinter
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The best time to prune fruit trees in Missouri is midwinter, according to University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist Debi Kelly. “There are many reasons to prune fruit trees, and you want to do it before bud break in the spring,” said Kelly, who held a workshop on pruning Jan. 25 at MU Jefferson Farm and Garden in Columbia.
Flowering bulbs brighten spring gardens
Spring bulbs add early color with minimal care. Plant, water, and enjoy daffodils, tulips, crocus, and more in your garden.
Give Valentine's Day flowers some TLC
Learn how to extend the life of Valentine's Day flowers with a simple homemade preservative and expert tips to keep them fresh longer.
Gardening boosts your immune system
Discover how gardening can strengthen your immune system, reduce stress, and promote overall well-being through nature and physical activity.