Introduction to Gardening Course!

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Learn what healthy soil is made of, how pH and nutrients affect plant growth, and how to improve the clay-heavy soils common in Northern Illinois.

Build a simple understanding of how roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruit work together so you can better understand how plants grow and thrive.

Discover how to identify common pests, diseases, environmental stress, and nutrient problems so you can diagnose issues and respond with confidence.

Get practical guidance on choosing, planting, feeding, pruning, and protecting roses that can succeed in Zone 5b and the Rockford area

Explore the basics of growing tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and beans, including planting, feeding, watering, and pest protection through summer. 

Learn how to grow crops like peas, lettuce, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, and carrots by timing them well and protecting them from early-season challenges. 

Follow a season-by-season guide for what to plant and when, with practical timing tailored specifically to gardeners in the Rockford area.