Downy Mildew
The downy mildews are a group of fungal diseases that cause destruction of the leaves, stems, flowers and fruits of many plants, including grapes, cucumbers and roses. Learn symptoms and controls in this factsheet.
Vegetables
It’s easy to grow fresh, nutritious and tasty vegetables in your own yard, community garden plot, or even in containers on a deck or patio. The University of Wisconsin – Madison Division of Extension offers home vegetable gardeners a tremendous number of resources to learn how to grow vegetables, as well as how to prevent and control diseases and insects. Browsing our publications and fact sheets will help you be successful in achieving a bountiful harvest.
Featured Vegetable Articles
Supporting Native Bees: Our Essential Pollinators
This free publication describes the importance of bees in pollinating major food crops, how to attract and support native pollinators, and how to construct, place, and maintain nests.
Making and Using Compost in the Garden
Making your own compost is an easy, practical, and satisfying way to make use of yard waste and table scraps. With this publication, designed for the home gardener, you’ll be composting like a pro in no time!
If you’re unable to find the information you need, please submit your gardening question here:
Articles
Late Blight
Late blight is a destructive disease of tomatoes and potatoes that can quickly kill mature plants and make tomato fruits and potato tubers inedible. This factsheet covers symptoms and management.
Container Gardening
Live in an apartment or condo? You can still raise a garden’s worth of flowers or vegetables in pots and other containers by mastering the methods described in this publication.
Black Walnut Toxicity
Black walnut trees produce a toxic substance (called juglone) that prevents many plants from growing under or near them. Learn more about this compound and how to work around it in this factsheet.
Aster Yellows
Aster Yellows is a chronic, systemic disease that affects flowers in the aster family as well as some vegetables. Symptoms vary, and include unusual growth and colors. Learn more in this factsheet.
Damping Off
Damping off is a common and fatal disease of all types of plant seedlings, infecting them near the soil line causing them to collapse quickly. Learn how to avoid damping off here.
Trichopoda pennipes, Parasitoid of Squash Bug
There are all kinds of flies in the Midwest. One interesting species is a medium-sized black and orange tachinid fly that develops in a number of true bugs, including squash bug. Although not really common, you may have this in your garden and not even know it! To learn more about this parasitoid, read this article…
Using Manure in the Home Garden
Manures are a good source of organic matter that can also be used as a fertilizer. To learn more about using manure in the home garden, read this article…
Cucumber Beetles
In late summer and fall, cucumber beetles are common visitors to squash and cucumber flowers. They eat the petals, and sometimes the plant foliage. To learn more about these beetles, read this article…
Malabar spinach, Basella alba
While most leafy greens wither or go to seed in the heat of summer, hot weather is when Malabar spinach shines. To learn more about this interesting plant, read this article…
Scarlet Runner Bean, Phaseolus coccineus
If you’re looking for a multipurpose plant to cover a trellis or fence, provide some food, and have showy flowers, look no further than scarlet runner bean. Learn more about scarlet runner bean in this article…
The Basics of Micro Irrigation
Micro irrigation has numerous advantages in greenhouses, orchards, vineyards, fields, lawns, and gardens. Learn about components of micro irrigation systems and benefits and drawbacks these systems provide.
