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Vegetables : article

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.

A flood of support

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.

Aid for ailing plants

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.

April is National Gardening Month

COLUMBIA, Mo. – April is National Gardening Month and a good time to plant a garden, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. For those who lacked the motivation in the past to garden, consider these benefits:

Ashes to ashes

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.

Asparagus is a heart-healthy choice

BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. - Asparagus is one of those vegetables that people either love or hate. "If you haven't tried asparagus in a while, you may want to reconsider because asparagus is loaded with healthy nutrients," said a University of Missouri Extension nutrition and health education specialist.

Asparagus, the food of emperors, reigns supreme

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Nothing sings spring more than asparagus.

Asparagus: low in calories, high in nutrients and flavor

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.

Autumn is pumpkin time

COLUMBIA, Mo. – “This fall, millions of Americans will make an annual pilgrimage to a retail outlet to purchase a vegetable they, unfortunately, are unlikely to eat,” said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.

Beat the heat with horseradish

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.

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.

Beginning gardening

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Benefits of a well-drained soil

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.

Carefully select topsoil when doing fall yard work

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Not all topsoil is created equal.

Caterpillars horn in on tomato plants

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.

Choose the right bedding plants to start garden off right

Discover how to select the best bedding plants for a vibrant, healthy garden with expert tips on timing, placement, and care.

Clay soil: A mixed blessing, but easily corrected

KIRKSVILLE, Mo.

Combating common pests of cucumbers, melons and squash

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.

Companion planting: Positive partnerships that produce more

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.

Conditions are right now for cracking, splitting tomatoes

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.

Consider lawns and shrubs when de-icing walks and driveways

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.

Container gardening saves time, space and is easier on the back

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Container gardening: Thrillers, fillers and spillers

COLUMBIA, Mo.– If you’re yearning to grow flowers or vegetabl

Container gardens to supply your salads

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Cool-loving brassicas add colors, nutrition

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Cool-loving Chinese cabbage grows well in Missouri autumn

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.

Cool-loving Chinese cabbage grows well in Missouri autumns

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The warm, sunny days and cool nights of fall in Missouri provide ideal growing conditions for cool-season vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.

Cool-season vegetables are hot choice for fall garden

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.

Cover crops improve garden soil

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Crops face danger of BMSB damage

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.

Cucumbers: A cool slice of life

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Cultivando la Inclusividad

A Spanish-language gardening webinar led to increased resources for Spanish-speaking communities, expanding agricultural and environmental education globally.

Cultivating Inclusivity

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.

Deliver plant nutrients throughout the season with organic matter

BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — Increasingly, gardeners are interested in finding out how to grow vegetables without using synthetic fertilizers.

Don't let April snow showers dull May flowers

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.

Don't throw away those pumpkin seeds

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.

Don't trash the ashes

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The phrase “waste not, want not” goes back to a time when the essentials of life were difficult to obtain, but it continues to be good advice today, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.

Don't wait too long to plant cool-season vegetables

KIRKSVILLE, Mo.

Don’t guess on garden fertilizer

COLUMBIA, Mo.– Don’t add fertilizer to your garden unless you

Double your gardening pleasure with a cool-season garden

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Eager gardeners should be wary of last spring frost

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.

Early June peas

COLUMBIA, Mo. – No other vegetable is as closely associated with a month of the year as is garden pea, and few things match the gastronomic appeal of fresh peas from the garden.

Edamame: An easy crop to introduce to your vegetable garden

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Once available to U.S.

Eggplant: The power of purple

GALLATIN, Mo.

Establish a home orchard

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.

Extension program plants seeds of hope

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.

Fall gardening feeds body and spirit

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.

Fall is a good time to plant garlic

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Farmers market workshop set in Hillsboro

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…

FDA finalizes the preharvest water rule: What does it mean for produce growers?

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.

First MU Master Pollinator Steward classes begin in May

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The first series of University of Missouri Extension Master Pollinator Steward classes begins mid-May in Jefferson City.

From citrus to cows, SW Mo. family grows own food

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.

Garden 'n Grow grows business for small town

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 summer-long program would lead her to decades of employment and enjoyment.

Garden critters: 'Frenemies' in grow places

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Gardeners can save money, trouble with fall soil test

COLUMBIA, Mo. – If a little is good, a lot must be better.

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.

Gardens: Fast food for hungry critters

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Cute critters by day, gardeners’ worst enemies by night.Most gardeners know the frustration of having a beautiful garden decimated by wildlife, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.

Garlic: secret weapon of ancient Olympians

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…

Germination 101

Cut open a seed and you’ll see a miracle.

Get a jump on spring gardening

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Get into a two-week planting schedule

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.

Get ready for cool-season vegetables

KIRKSVILLE, Mo.

Go wild at nature's free salad bar

Discover the art of wildcrafting and enrich your diet with Missouri's edible spring greens like dandelions, lambsquarters, and watercress.

Go wild! Go green!

Discover the benefits of wildcrafting in Missouri, including plant identification tips and preparation methods for edible spring greens

Good Agricultural Practices training offered in St. Peters, Olathe

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.

Good soil makes for green thumb gardening

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Gourds: The Swiss army knife of the plant world

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…

Grant writing workshop set in Hannibal

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

Grow your own veggies to ease COVID-19 financial stress

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.

Growing seeds of hope for the hungry

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.

Growing sweet peppers

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

Halloween's Irish twist begins with 'Stingy Jack'

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…

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.

Healthy communities begin with healthy food

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.

Helping picky eaters 'grow' into healthy eaters

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.

Helping your soil be all it can be

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.

Herbs: A valuable and simple addition to the garden

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.

High tunnel construction tips

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.

High tunnel workshop offered in St. Peters

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.

High tunnels increase freshness and cash to producers

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.

Increasing fruit, vegetable production can help double value of Missouri ag

COLUMBIA, Mo.

It's all about the slime: Building living soil

COLUMBIA, Mo.

It's hard to beat beets for nutrition

COLUMBIA, Mo.

It's time to plant peas

COLUMBIA, Mo.

It's time to plant summer's noon ambrosia—sweet corn

It's time to protect plants from frost

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.

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.

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.

June 5 bus tour to visit KC-area farms growing produce in high tunnels

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.

Keep your eyes peeled for colorful St. Patrick's Day spuds

COLUMBIA, Mo. – It’s no blarney, potatoes are a staple for St. Patrick’s Day meals, along with corned beef, cabbage and soda bread.

Lasagna gardening: Layers and layers of goodness

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.

Lesser-known plants that deserve a place in the Midwest vegetable garden

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…

Let the gourd times roll

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Fall is the time to harvest, cure and store ornamental gourds, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.

Low temperatures leave plants in the cold

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.

Making pizza in the garden

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.

Managing your garden's soil moisture doesn't have to be difficult

BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. – Managing soil moisture is an important part of successful vegetable gardening in the Midwest, says a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist.

Many vegetables grow well in high tunnels

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.

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.

Master Gardener duo donates to local food pantries

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.

Master Gardener nurtures school garden that fuels love of food, community

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.

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