When learning about gardening, there are many ways to get knowledge and information. One can attend seminars or lectures hosted by gardening facilities or places such as botanical gardens. The same is true with the internet; there are a multitude of websites that host facts and discussions on all sorts of topics related to gardening. Three websites when looking to learn about gardening are:
1. Cornell University: Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic
2. North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension
3. The Garden Professors podcast
The first website, “Cornell University: Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic” is a blog/online forum with articles on its site as well as a chat room where users can ask the staff questions. The articles on this site are very up to date with information on insects and plant diseases, as well as range of plants that may be affected.
The second website, North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension, contains an abundance of resources for the gardener, ranging by county for ease of use. Much like the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic, this website has an online forum for asking questions but also has compiled lists of plants that are both safe to eat/grow and poisonous to touch or consume.
The final website, The Garden Professors podcast, is much more than just a gardening podcast; when digging deeper into the podcasts, there is a plethora of information on the website about how to garden and what to do when things do not grow right. The site has numerous links for finding local help, advice from experts, and much more. There are also written articles which give basic knowledge of various gardening topics such as composting or pollinators.
In summation, the three websites listed above all have a different focus for a gardener who wants to learn more about gardening. The Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic homepage focuses on the fact that they will diagnose plants/insects for free, whereas North Carolina State University has an abundance of resources in one location. Lastly, there is The Garden Professors which provides information on not only many topics but has a detailed podcast as well as written articles. The greatest advice for those looking to learn about gardening is that there are multiple ways to get the information and none of them will be incorrect if done correctly.