Plants or Crops

All Plants or Crops Content

Tulips blooming near the entrance to McCrory Gardens.

McCrory Gardens Trial Report

Learn about annual and perennial flowers that are well-suited for South Dakota gardens based on eastern South Dakota research trials.

Salts accumulate on the soil surface of a field with salinity issues.

Soil Salinity, Sodicity, and Alkalinity in South Dakota Soils

Salinity and sodicity are issues that negatively affect crop production and soil health in South Dakota.

Left: Holiday greenery arranged in a porch pot. Right: Homemade Christmas wreath hanging on a door.

Create Your Own Holiday Greenery This Season!

If you’re already itching to get back into the garden, holiday-themed pots and wreaths can add a fresh touch to the season and bring a little natural cheer to the holidays!

Left: Christmas trees growing at a German farm. Right: Poinsettia plant on display at a Mexican Christmas market.

Cultural History of the Christmas Tree and Poinsettia (Cuetlaxochitl)

Christmas trees and poinsettias are the two plants that symbolize the Christmas season, but why do these plants hold that place that? And where did the association with Christmas originate?

A plot of land from the side, with plant roots growing down into the soil

SDSU Extension 2025 Crop Hour webinar series starts in January

November 18, 2024

Crop Hour provides producers and industry professionals with information to navigate the
challenges and opportunities of farming in South Dakota. People can participate live via Zoom or watch the recorded presentations on YouTube.

Gardener holding a tub of used coffee grounds in a garden.

Spent Coffee Grounds: Fertilizer or Not?

Should you put used coffee grounds in your compost pile? How about on your garden, or in your raised bed?

Tar spot lesions on dried corn leaves.

South Dakota Tar Spot Update: November 8, 2024

In late October, tar spot was identified on dried field corn being sold for decoration at a big box store in eastern South Dakota. This fungal disease can be identified by the black lesions that are on both sides of the leaf.

Corn leafhopper resting on a corn leaf.

Corn Stunt in South Dakota

In late September, a sample received from Deuel County was confirmed positive for corn stunt, a disease spread through corn leafhopper feeding. This diagnosis is the furthest north corn stunt has ever been confirmed and reported in the United States.

A close-up shot of big round bales of hay

Learn about forage rye, livestock feed at Northern Plains Forage Association annual meeting

November 06, 2024

South Dakota State University Extension encourages producers to attend the Northern Plains Forage Association annual meeting and seminars, which will feature forage-related education and research.

Gardener inspecting soil and harvesting mature asparagus spears in a garden.

Asparagus: How to Grow It

One of the joys of spring is fresh asparagus. With a little attention, this perennial vegetable can flourish in your garden. Learn some expert tips for planting, growing, and harvesting it in this resource!