General Recommendations
Staff-Created List

Free gardening docs from Purdue

1 user likes this

Purdue offers tons of free information through their Education Store: https://mdc.itap.purdue.edu/ This is a list of some that I consider the most useful. Whether you're a master gardener (I got my certification in 2015) or beginner, Extension documents are **the** best places to start for the most up-to-date and geographically-specific garden info. If you can't find what you're looking for, it's recommended to look for Extension documents from states with similar climates (examples: Illinois, Ohio). Purdue often links directly to them, in fact. #IndyPLAdults

The Indianapolis Public Library

13 items

HO-32-W: Home Gardeners' Guide
View on purdue.edu
The Department of Horticulture's "Home Gardener's Guide" is a great place to start for Indiana gardening info. 11 pages and easy to digest.
Web resource
HO-200-W: Container and Raised Bed Gardening
View on purdue.edu
If you live inside of the I-465 loop and want to eat what you grow it's strongly advised to get a soil test and potentially be prepared to construct raised beds because of residual lead in the dirt (Dr. Gabriel Filippelli @ IUPUI is an expert). And…
Web resource
POL-1: Protecting Pollinators in Home Lawns and Landscapes
View on purdue.edu
Great introduction to pollinators for home gardeners.
Web resource
POL-7: Why Should We Care About Pollinators?
View on purdue.edu
If you like to eat, you should care about pollinators.
Web resource
POL-6: Recommended Indiana-Native Plants for Attracting Pollinators
View on purdue.edu
Fantastic document with recommendations for Indiana native plants.
Web resource
ID-464-W: Alternative Options for Invasive Landscape Plants
View on purdue.edu
An "invasive species" is defined as a species that is: non-native to the ecosystem under consideration; and, whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. In 2019 Indiana General Assembly…
Web resource
HO-124-1: Small Plot and Intensive Gardening
View on purdue.edu
If you garden in the city you might be like me and need to maximize your space and time. This is a wonderful document that is geared to those who think similarly. Mentions important concepts like succession planting.
Web resource
HO-14-W: Starting Seeds Indoors
View on purdue.edu
Many plants (like tomatoes, peppers, and head cabbage) grow best when started indoors. Get your seeds at the IndyPL Seed Libraries (https://www.indypl.org/services/seed-library) then get a head start on your gardening year. Be sure to also use the…
Web resource
HO-186-W: Indiana Vegetable Planting Calendar
View on purdue.edu
The "Indiana Vegetable Planting Calendar" is a detailed plant-by-plant listing of when to put it in your garden. SUPER useful for starting seeds indoors.
Web resource
ID-182: Managing Yard Wastes: Clippings and Compost
View on purdue.edu
Don't throw your grass clippings and vegetable scraps out. Turn it into valuable soil amendment instead. Composting is the EASIEST way to improve the often-poor soil that many of us in urban areas find ourselves with (especially with a high clay…
Web resource
FNR-433-W: Tree Installation
View on purdue.edu
Planting a tree is planting for the future...make sure that you follow best practices so that your tree will be around for the next generation to enjoy.
Web resource
HO-4-W: Pruning Ornamental Trees and Shrubs
View on purdue.edu
Pruning woody plants does not need to be intimidating. This guide shows you best practices.
Web resource
E-21-W: Managing Insects in the Home Vegetable Garden
View on purdue.edu
"How much" insect damage you're willing to endure is an individual decision for each gardener. With ornamentals, most damage is cosmetic only...but with edibles it can be the difference between having a crop or having nothing at all. Whatever you…
Web resource

You've viewed 13 of 13 items