Phenology
Phenology is a branch of science that studies the life cycles of plants and animals with seasonal changes and weather. Learn more 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!
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Articles
Degree Days for Common Fruit & Vegetable Insect Pests
Common vegetable insects can be monitored using degree days or indicator plants. This factsheet provides degree day information for many common vegetable garden pests.
Spittlebugs
White blobs of bubbles on plants are created by the insects called spittlebugs, and their foam helps protect them. To find out more about these creatures, read this article…
Edema
Edema is a physiological disorder that affects houseplants, greenhouse plants, and other plants sheltered under plastic. Learn about these fluid-filled “blisters” on leaves in this factsheet.
Beginning Vegetable Garden Basics: Site Selection and Soil Preparation
Starting a vegetable garden may seem overwhelming to a first-time gardener, but it can be quite easy. This fact sheet focuses on how gardeners can select and prepare their garden site to ensure success.
Floating Row Cover
Floating row cover is a great addition to any vegetable garden, as it can be used for several different purposes and is easy to use. Learn more about these specially designed fabrics in this article.
Twospotted Spider Mite, Tetranychus urticae
The most common spider mite, the twospotted spider mite, is a general feeder that attacks a wide variety of plants. Learn about its biology and management in this article…
Root Rots in the Garden
Root rot is a general term that describes any disease where the causal organism attacks and leads to the deterioration of a plant’s root system. Learn about root roots and their management in this factsheet.
Seed Starting
Starting your garden from seeds might be easier than you think. Check out this article to get practical tips on starting your plants from seeds.
Pollinators
Christy Stewart, UW Horticulture and USDA-ARS Revised: 12/11/2012 Item number: XHT1213 Why are pollinators important? Approximately three quarters of the world’s major food crops require or benefit from animal pollination. This includes many fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, currants, plums, apples, sweet cherries, pears, watermelons, cantaloupes, cucumbers, squashes, and tomatoes. Pollinators also […]
Reducing Soil pH
Proper soil pH allows plants to efficiently take up nutrients. Learn how to reduce high soil pH in this factsheet.
Growing Vegetables at Home: Questions and Answers
Here are answers to the questions gardeners ask most often about growing vegetables. From asparagus to watercress, this guide covers over 50 vegetables plus other basic gardening topics.
