Fertile soil lures gardeners

By Judy Baldwin

Maybe it’s our agricultural heritage, but gardening flourishes in Iowa, even among city folks as community gardens and garden clubs sprout in pockets of Iowa’s urban landscapes.

The Iowa State Extension office at Iowa State University has resources about gardening in Iowa. On their website you’ll find tips for all types of gardening – vegetable, floral and organic. If you’re really ambitious, you can become a master gardener through an Extension office education program.

Gardening problem got you stumped? Ask the ISU experts or post your question on a discussion board for Iowa gardeners.

Worried that a plant you like won’t grow in Iowa? Check out the USDA Hardiness zone map. The map divides the country into zones. Most of Iowa is in Zone 5. When you’re buying seeds or plants for your garden, look for a tag to see if it’s suitable for growing in your zone of the state.

If you’d rather stop and smell someone else’s roses, there are many public gardens to visit including Reiman Gardens in Ames, the gardens at the Brucemore mansion in Cedar Rapids, Vander Veer Botanical Park in Davenport, Dubuque’s Arboretum & Botanical Gardens and the Des Moines Botanical Center.

Gardening groups

Central Iowa Water Garden Association

National Gardening Association

Iowa Prairie Association

Federated Garden Clubs of Iowa

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