Online Research Guide Gardening in Illinois

Created By: Sarah Wolff

University of Illinois Extension Illinois

Vegetable Garden Guide

http://web.extension.illinois.edu/vegguide/

This website includes step-by-step instructions

on growing different kinds of vegetables,

dealing with garden pests, and much, much

more. The information provided comes from

the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne

extension program.

Illinois’ Best Plants

http://www.bestplants.org/toc.htm

This excellent website is run by the Chicago

Botanical Garden, and offers a searchable

database of plants, an alphabetical index of

plants, zone maps, and a list of resources.

The Morton Arboretum

http://www.mortonarb.org/

The Morton Arboretum’s website has tips on

plating different kinds of gardens. Of particular

use to the home gardener is the plant clinic

section, which includes: horticulture care, help

with diseases, and help with pests. The site also

includes a tree and plant finder

Chicago Botanic Gardens

http://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/

The Chicago Botanic Garden’s main website

includes gardening tips and techniques, a “smart

gardener” monthly checklist for different kinds of

plants, and a wealth of other information.

Chicago Sustainable Backyards Program

http://www.sustainablebackyards.org/

Information on how Chicago residents can get up

to a 50% refund on “trees, shrubs, native plants,

compost bins, and rain barrels.” The blog section

includes a learning section and highlights

community gardens. Program funded by the

Chicago Department of Transportation.

Green Net CHICAGO’s GreenPages

http://greennetchicago.org/wp-

content/uploads/2011/09/Greenpages_Sep2011_

update-1.pdf

This PDF includes an extensive list of resources

for urban and community gardens.

United States Department of Agriculture

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome

?navid=GARDENING

This website includes an interactive plant

hardiness zone map, and a large amount of

information on organic growing.

The Victory Garden: Edible Feast

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/victorygarden/

This companion website to the PBS television show offers a

growing guide, primers and projects, a section on tools,

recipes, and a place to download podcasts.

Rodale Institute

http://rodaleinstitute.org/

Rodale is a non-profit organization that conducts research on

organic agriculture. This website includes free instructional

webinars, an online Organic Transition Course, and

information about the latest research on topics such as

compost, soil health, and weed management.

Seed Savers Exchange

http://www.seedsavers.org/

A non-profit organization dedicated to heirloom fruits,

vegetables, and plants, Seed Savers sells seeds, and has a

gardening forum that includes gardening facts and advice.

The finest feature of this website is the extensive information

made available on seed saving.

If you have a garden and a library,

you have everything you need.

-Marcus Tullius Cicero