Gardening ideas & tips for the average gardener.
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From The Ground Up

Fruit Update - May 28, 2026

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Apples Article: Tracking apple maggot populations and considerations for organic management Article: Training young free-standing apple trees Grapes Deer damage and management Downy mildew: Identifying oil spots and...

Managing tricky vegetable pests: Cucumber beetle

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Cucumber beetles show up in Minnesota every year. This article provides a brief overview of cucumber beetles along with recommended management strategies you can use after your cucurbits are planted. Cucumber beetles: an overview...

Plants that can deter insects and wildlife

Few things can upset an otherwise beautiful and relaxing day spent in an outdoor living space more quickly than insects and pests. Whether it's mosquitoes trying to bite homeowners and their guests, flies looking to land on food, or wildlife leaving trails of excrement throughout a yard, these...

When houseplants go outside

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu After spring cleanup and repotting, many houseplants move outdoors after Memorial Day. The challenge, of course, is that most houseplants prefer indirect light, something we can control indoors but not on a sunny patio. A plant that...

Vegetable Update - May 20, 2026

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu It’s a classic Minnesota spring with wild swings between hot and dry to cold and wet. Field work has been delayed on many farms after some parts of the state saw almost 2 inches of rain in 48 hours. A few parts of the state also had frost...

Fruit Update - May 20, 2026

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Apples Growth and pest management updates Apple fruit diameters 6–11 mm, increased vegetative shoot growth What makes for good conditions with post-bloom thinning? Apple scab updates from the NEWA station at the HRC Article:...

Weed Control in Pumpkins and Winter Squash

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu With their long season and spreading growth habit, pumpkins often present a weed control challenge. Here are some important factors and considerations when working to manage weeds in pumpkins and winter squash. Waterhemp in a...

Vegetable Update - May 14 2026

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu It is dry, great for field work, but a little unnerving. Portions of the state are abnormally dry and a few spots have tipped over into moderate drought, but we are avoiding the drought a lot of the country is in. NOAA’s last release...

May garden checklist

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Tune into our WCCO Radio “Smart Gardens” show on Saturdays, 8-9 a.m., for answers to your lawn and garden questions. Dial in AM 830 on your radio or ask your smart speaker. Or listen to Smart Gardens podcastswhenever you have the time. ...

Fruit Update - May 14, 2026

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Apples Growth stage and pest management update: Petal fall Article: Considerations for fruit thinning for normal and cold damage years Fruit thinning at petal fall Article: European red mite (ERM; occasional pest) + Beneficial...