Home Gardening

Organic Vegetable Manual Adds to Slate of Quality Production Guides from Canadian Organic Growers (pdf)
Canadian Organic Growers (COG) has earned a reputation as a producer of practical, high quality production guides for North American organic producers. Crop Planning for Organic Vegetable Producers , the latest addition to their Practical Skills Handbook series, was developed with support from OFRF and is now available from COG and other resources.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
The 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones. For the first time, the map is available as an interactive GIS-based map, for which a broadband Internet connection is recommended, and as static images for those with slower Internet access. Users may also simply type in a ZIP Code and find the hardiness zone for that area. No posters of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map have been printed. But state, regional, and national images of the map can be downloaded and printed in a variety of sizes and resolutions.

Fruit Trees & Small Fruits (From UNL Extension) (MG) = Lancaster County Master Gardener Resource

• Cedar Apple Rust
• Flowering Trees: Cherry
• Growing Large Fruit on Fruit Trees is a Challenge
• Growing Raspberries
• Growing Strawberries
• Harvesting and Storing Apples (MG)
• Harvesting and Storing Apples and Pears
• Harvesting Small Fruits
• Nuts--Harvesting and Storing
• Pruning Grapevines
• Rejuvenating June-Bearing Strawberry Beds
• Selecting Fruit Trees for Eastern Nebraska
• Spring Care for Apple Trees
• Success with Raspberries

Vegetables, Garden Fruits and Herbs (From UNL Extension) (MG) = Lancaster County Master Gardener Resource

• Bitter Tasting Crops
• Choosing a Jack-o-Lantern Pumpkin
• Curbits & Cross-Pollination
• Gourds - Harvesting/Storing (MG)
• Growing Garlic
• Growing Herbs
• Growing Parsley (MG)
• Growing Peas
• Growing Plants from the Cabbage Family
• Harvesting & Storing Garden Produce
• Harvesting & Storing Herbs
• Harvesting Melons
• Harvest Vegetables at Their Peak for Best Quality
• Leeks: "The Gourmet's Onion"
• Native & Historic Crops
• Planting Seed Potatoes
• Potatoes: Harvesting/Storing
• Potatoes: Selecting Potatoes for the Home Garden
• Protecting Crops from Frost
• Spice Up Your Garden
• Storing Vegetables (MG)
• The Sensational Squash!
• Tomatoes & Pumpkins
• Tomatoes: Dehydrating
• Tomatoes - Sudden Wilt & Death

Control a Safe Environment

Pest Profiles by University of Minnesota Extension Vegetable and fruit crop pest profiles to help control the unwanted pests in your gardens.

UNL Extension: Pests Diseases, insects, weeds, wildlife-more information.

Insects, Spiders, Mice & More More information regarding insects, spiders, mice, etc. from Lancaster Extension.

BackYard Farmer Information for homeowners and industry professionals from UNL’s BackYard Farmer TV program, with topics related to gardening, trees and shrubs, turf and weeds, insects, wildlife, fruits and vegetables, and plant diseases.

Biology and Management of Aphids in Organic Cucurbit Production Systems. This article by Mary Barbercheck, Penn State University, provides an overview of the biology and life cycles, damage from, and management of the most common aphid pests in organic cucurbit crops.

Testing Laboratories

Ag Source-Harris The oldest and most experienced independent soil-testing laboratory, provides a full-range of turf-testing services.

• 300 Speedway Circle, Ste. 2, Lincoln, NE 68502
• Phone (402) 476-0300     Fax (402) 476-0302

Midwest Laboratories, Inc.  We are a privately owned, full service laboratory, offering you the finest; analytical, accurate, defensible data

• 13611 B St., Omaha, NE 68144
• Phone (402) 334-7770    Fax (402) 334-9121

Ward Laboratories, Inc.  An agriculture testing laboratory dedicated to serving farmers & ranchers.

• 4007 Cherry Avenue, PO Box 788, Kearney, NE 68848
• Phone (308) 234-2418 & (800) 877-7645  Fax (308) 234-1940

Servi-Tech Laboratories  Results You Can Trust

• 1602 Park West Drive, Hastings, NE 68901
• Phone (800) 557-7509

Raising Animals

Video: Calculating Paddock Size on Organic Dairy Pastures. This video, by Sarah Flack, Sarah Flack Consulting, and Amanda Gervais, University of Vermont Extension, demonstrates how to calculate paddock size and stocking rates for pastures an organic dairy farm.

Other Resources

Beekeeping & Apiculture by UNL More information on workshops, training seminars and associations.

Master Gardener Diagnostic Center Local Master Gardner news and applications.

UNL Extension Publications Index University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension publications offer research-based, peer-reviewed objective information in a wide range of topics.

University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension in Lancaster County is your online yard and garden educational resource. The information on this website is valid for residents of southeastern Nebraska. It may or may not apply in your area. If you live outside southeastern Nebraska, visit your local university extension office.
Find Your Extension Office.

High Tunnels & Cold Frames:
Tools to Extend the Growing Season

From Wednesday April 20th. This workshop is part of a Specialty Crop grant the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society received in partnership with the Nebraska Cooperative Development Center. "Increasing the Availability of Nebraska's Specialty Crops through High Tunnels" aims to increase the number of producers in Nebraska using these high tunnel technologies.

The objectives of this project are to: Increase awareness about high tunnels and how they can be used to extend specialty crop production in Nebraska. Increase the technical skill level among specialty crop farmers growing or starting to grow crops in high tunnels. The webinar series will kick off with UNL Assistant Professor of Practice Horticulture Greenhouse Production & Management Stacy Adams with an intro to High Tunnels including site selection and types of structures.

To view the webinar click this Link: High Tunnel Webinar Part 1

Choosing the Right High Tunnel:
Components and Design

From Wednesday May 18th. Presented by Stacy Adams, this was the 2nd in the Nebraska High Tunnel Webinar Series brought to you by the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society & UNL Nebraska Cooperative Development Center. This workshop is part of a Specialty Crop grant the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society received in partnership with the Nebraska Cooperative Development Center. “Increasing the Availability of Nebraska’s Specialty Crops through High Tunnels” aims to increase the number of producers in Nebraska using these high tunnel technologies.

The objectives of this project are to: Increase awareness about high tunnels and how they can be used to extend specialty crop production in Nebraska. Increase the technical skill level among specialty crop farmers growing or starting to grow crops in high tunnels. The second in the webinar series will be once again with UNL expert Stacy Adams with an in depth look at High Tunnels in Nebraska.

To view the webinar click this Link: High Tunnel Webinar Part 2