The Joy of Home Gardens

Easy-to-grow plants anyone can nurture

Story by Katlyn Sanden

Spring is upon us once again. That means more time outdoors and, if you have a green thumb, experimenting in your garden.

Even if you don’t have a green thumb, Tad Tinker, owner of Seatonville Greenhouses, said there are many kinds of plants that do very well in the Illinois Valley.

“We are fortunate to have a great growing season for vegetables here in the valley,” Tinker said. “Some of my favorite and easy things to grow include asparagus, raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes of all shapes and sizes, sweet potatoes, onions, garlic, squash, pumpkins, peppers, and herbs. I could spend my entire summer in the garden. I would suggest the average gardener not be afraid to try new things. Grow what you enjoy and like to eat. Ask fel- low gardeners for suggestions and tips. There are many tricks to get the same results, so find what works for you.”

Seatonville Greenhouses, located in Seatonville, has been the Illinois Valley’s destination greenhouse for nearly 70 years as they strive to share healthy, well-rooted, quality plant material for home and garden. They have four working greenhouses offering a wide array of unusual perennials, annuals, hanging baskets, fruits, vegetables, trees, shrubs, decorative containers, and garden décor.

If you’re looking to add some color to your landscape, Tinker suggests mixing bulbs, blooming shrubs, perennials, and annuals to offer a full season of colors and textures.

See GARDEN page 16 squash peppers onions pumpkins garlic herbs