Vegetables : article
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.
ST. PETERS, Mo. – From flood-ravaged fields to productive gardens, University of Missouri Extension Master Gardeners in St. Charles County show how volunteers help communities flourish.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – If you have the sniffles or a bad infection, a visit to your doctor can usually put things right. Plants can get sick too and the University of Missouri Plant Diagnostic Clinic is where you can turn for help.
Gardening reduces food costs, boosts physical health, improves well-being and benefits the environment, while connecting people through learning and community.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Ashes produced by wood-burning fireplaces or stoves are an excellent example of the idiom “don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater,” says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
A nutrient-packed vegetable rich in folate, vitamins A, B, C and iron, asparagus may support heart health, ease digestion, and act as a mild sedative.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Nothing sings spring more than asparagus.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Nothing says spring like fresh asparagus.
The flowering perennial is an interesting and low-calorie, high-nutrient spring vegetable, says University of Missouri Extension nutrition specialist Susan Mills-Gray.
Discover the rich history and modern uses of pumpkins, from early American diets to today's fall decorations. Learn about their nutritional benefits and culinary uses.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – There is scientific evidence suggesting that eating something spicy on a hot summer day will make you feel cooler, says University of Missouri horticulturist David Trinklein.
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.
COLUMBIA, Mo.
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — An ideal soil is half solid and half pore space by volume, and that pore space should be equal parts air and water. Gardening practices greatly influence pore space in cultivated soils.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Not all topsoil is created equal.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Several types of caterpillars damage tomato plants in Missouri, but the tomato hornworm and the tobacco hornworm usually get the most attention because of the prominent horn on the last segment of their bodies.
Discover how to select the best bedding plants for a vibrant, healthy garden with expert tips on timing, placement, and care.
KIRKSVILLE, Mo.
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. - Cucurbitaceae is one of the most cultivated plant families in the world. From this family come watermelon, cantaloupe, casaba, honeydew, muskmelon, cucumber, summer and winter squash, and pumpkins, to name a few.
CARROLLTON, Mo. – Some things just go together like biscuits and gravy or peanut butter and jelly.
Likewise, plants have companions that produce best when planted side by side, says Kathi Mecham, a University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist in Carroll County.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Gardeners might notice that their tomatoes are cracking or splitting now.“This is a common problem when there are widely varying soil moisture conditions, especially during the hot, dry days of late summer,” says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Salt does more than melt the ice on your sidewalks and driveways.It can harm your lawn and shrubs, says University of Missouri Extension turf management specialist Brad Fresenburg.Too much salt can leave dead strips along sidewalks and driveways. It can kill shrubs and flowers.
COLUMBIA, Mo.– If you’re yearning to grow flowers or vegetabl
COLUMBIA, Mo.
COLUMBIA, Mo.
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The warm, sunny days and cool nights that come with a typical Missouri fall provide ideal conditions for growing cool-loving vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, said a University of Missouri horticulturist.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The recent shift to milder temperatures is a pleasant reminder that it is time for gardeners to plant cool-season vegetables, said University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist David Trinklein.
COLUMBIA, Mo.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A flurry of calls and emails from homeowners about the brown marmorated stink bug to University of Missouri Extension specialists sounds a warning of what is to come in in the next two years.
COLUMBIA, Mo.
A Spanish-language gardening webinar led to increased resources for Spanish-speaking communities, expanding agricultural and environmental education globally.
POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. – By population, the United States is the second-largest Spanish-speaking country in the world, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Counting both bilingual and native speakers of Spanish, the U.S. has more people who can speak Spanish than Spain itself.
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — Increasingly, gardeners are interested in finding out how to grow vegetables without using synthetic fertilizers.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – April’s cold start in Missouri reminds gardeners that planting date is a matter of risk versus reward, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
BUTLER, Mo. – One of the best rewards during pumpkin carving season are the seeds. They can be roasted, boiled, dehydrated and even microwaved. They make a healthy snack or a tasty addition to salads, soups, sautéed vegetables and baked goods.
Free wood ashes boost calcium, phosphorus and potassium, helping raise garden soil pH safely—avoid ashes from cardboard, trash, coal or treated wood.
KIRKSVILLE, Mo.
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Don’t add fertilizer to your garden unless you
COLUMBIA, Mo.
COLUMBIA, Mo. –Gardeners eager to plant their first annuals and vegetables should be wary of a last spring frost.“I tell people, if you plant early, plant only what you don’t mind losing,” said Mary Kroening, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist.
Discover why garden peas are sweetest when harvested young in early June—planted early to retain sugar before weather warms.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Once available to U.S.
GALLATIN, Mo.
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. - High fuel costs and other economic burdens have spurred increased interest in vegetable gardening. Interest in home fruit production is also increasing, said a University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist.
HARRISONVILLE, Mo. – Two years ago, Marcy Weber had lost custody of her children and was homeless, unemployed and in trouble with the law because of a drinking and drug problem that began at age 10.
COLUMBIA, Mo. — August and early September offer a reprieve from the scorching heat of summer and an opportunity to put vegetables on the dinner table well into fall.
COLUMBIA, Mo.
HILLSBORO, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension offers a one-day workshop for those thinking about selling produce and other goods at farmers markets.
The Feb. 3 workshop covers food safety, sampling, funding, customer service and opportunities for discussion with other vendors, said MU…
Earlier this year, the FDA issued a final rule related to the preharvest agricultural water requirements for covered produce stipulated in the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The first series of University of Missouri Extension Master Pollinator Steward classes begins mid-May in Jefferson City.
STARK CITY, Mo. – In the dead of Missouri winter, members of a southwestern Missouri family pluck lemons, oranges and grapefruits from trees in their greenhouse.
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – More than 20 years ago, 8-year-old Casey Jefferson Coy enrolled in the Garden ’n Grow program in Kirksville at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Adair County. Little did she know that the summerlong program would lead her to decades of employment and enjoyment.
COLUMBIA, Mo.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – If a little is good, a lot must be better.
Discover how gardening can strengthen your immune system, reduce stress, and promote overall well-being through nature and physical activity.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – As the world enjoys the 2024 Olympic Games this summer, the use of performance-enhancing substances will be under close scrutiny. University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist David Trinklein notes that garlic was given to the original Olympic athletes in ancient Greece…
Cut open a seed and you’ll see a miracle.
COLUMBIA, Mo.
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — Too many gardeners go all in when it comes to planting a vegetable garden by planting the entire garden at once, says a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist.
KIRKSVILLE, Mo.
Discover the art of wildcrafting and enrich your diet with Missouri's edible spring greens like dandelions, lambsquarters, and watercress.
Discover the benefits of wildcrafting in Missouri, including plant identification tips and preparation methods for edible spring greens
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fruit and vegetable growers can learn about produce safety and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification at workshops in early 2018.
GAP certification training will be held Jan. 18 and Feb. 16 in Olathe, Kan., and Jan. 26 in St. Peters, Mo.
COLUMBIA, Mo.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Our ancestors couldn’t go to the hardware store or shopping mall to buy utensils and other household essentials. Instead, they improvised with items found in nature. The dried fruit of several members of the cucumber family proved useful for many purposes, said University of…
HANNIBAL, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension will hold a Specialty Crop Block Grant workshop 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12, in Hannibal
COLUMBIA, Mo. – In response to the tremendous interest in home food production, University of Missouri Extension now offers a free online course in basic vegetable gardening.
MEXICO, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension Master Gardeners and Grow Well Missouri partner to plant seeds of hope in food pantry clients at Mexico’s Help Center.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The colorful sweet pepper is the Christmas ornament of the vegetable garden, bearing fruit that ranges from red, orange, yellow and white to purple and chocolate black.
Growing
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Americans are projected to spend more than $800 million on Halloween pumpkins this year, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. The U.S. pumpkin industry can thank Irish immigrants and a mythical character named “Stingy Jack” for Americans’ rush to buy…
Plan garden sowing in waves—plant seeds at intervals, rotate sites, vary varieties—to enjoy fresh, staggered harvests all season.
PARIS, Mo. – Healthy communities grow in bountiful gardens.A partnership between University of Missouri Extension and groups in the Mark Twain Lake area is teaching people in Monroe County to grow and use fresh produce.
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Picky eaters can turn every meal into a battle of wills. If it’s too green, too crunchy, too soft, too orange or just any vegetable, they will not eat it.
Enhance your garden's health by improving soil structure with organic matter like compost, manure, and peat moss for better plant growth and water retention.
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. – Homegrown herbs may earn their keep better than any other crop in the garden, says a University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Producers should take care to choose an appropriate site for a high tunnel, according to University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist David Trinklein. He spoke to agriculture educators recently at MU’s Bradford Research and Extension Center.
ST. PETERS, Mo. – A high tunnel workshop will be held 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at the University of Missouri Extension Center in St. Charles County, 260 Brown Road, St. Peters.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – “We are in a food production revolution,” University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist David Trinklein told agriculture educators recently at MU’s Bradford Research and Extension Center.
COLUMBIA, Mo.
COLUMBIA, Mo.
COLUMBIA, Mo.
Homegrown sweet corn needs hot sun, warm soil and timely planting. Learn planting depth, spacing, pollination, watering and harvesting tips.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension’s Frost/Freeze Probabilities Guide tells us that frost is likely coming within two weeks in the northernmost part of the state.
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.
Learn about Missouri's Turnip Day tradition, its historical roots, and tips for planting turnips in late July for a fall harvest.
OLATHE, Kan. – Until recently, Midwest farmers who grow fresh fruits and vegetables were limited to a relatively short growing season. However, increasing use of high tunnels, also called hoop houses, means farmers can extend their growing season.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – It’s no blarney, potatoes are a staple for St. Patrick’s Day meals, along with corned beef, cabbage and soda bread.
JACKSON, Mo. – As traditional gardening season takes a bow, lasagna gardening makes a grand entrance.
Lasagna gardening is no-till, no-dig gardening that uses materials typically thrown away such as kitchen and yard waste, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Donna Aufdenberg.
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo.–There are a lot of vegetables out there for home gardeners in the Midwest to try beyond the standard offerings at the garden center, says a University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist.Marlin Bates suggests gardeners look into some of the lesser-known members of the…
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Fall is the time to harvest, cure and store ornamental gourds, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Winter-hardy perennial flowers likely will survive April’s historic low temperatures across Missouri, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
Their tender annual counterparts, however, may not be so lucky.
ALBANY, Mo. – University of Missouri’s Hundley-Whaley Extension and Education Center will soon help gardeners learn how to grow their own pizza toppings, says MU Extension field horticulturist Gwen Funk.
The idea comes from thinking outside of the pizza box, and it delivers taste and fun, Funk says.
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. – Managing soil moisture is an important part of successful vegetable gardening in the Midwest, says a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist.
COLUMBIA, Mo. While tomatoes are the most popular choice for high tunnel production, many other vegetables, fruits and flowers flourish in the controlled environment of high tunnels, said University of Missouri Extension regional horticulture specialist James Quinn.
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.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Those who have planted gardens feel that they have “done something for the good of the whole world,” wrote American author Charles Dudley Warner in 1871.
Includes sidebar, “Tips for gardening with children.”
ST. LOUIS – A Master Gardener nurtures little minds and mouths at Sacred Heart Villa, a preschool in St. Louis.
HILLSBORO, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension in Jefferson County will hold Master Gardener classes Monday evenings at Jefferson College’s Hillsboro campus.
Weekly classes will be 6:30-9:30 p.m., Feb. 26 to May 7, said MU Extension horticulturist Debi Kelly.
MEXICO, Mo. – A national tomato growers supply company honors a Missouri Advanced Master Gardener this spring by selling tomato seeds she saved for decades.