Planting the Plains: Insect Degree Days

By Anthony Reardon

Published February 7, 2025 at 8:00 AM CST

Degree days are a way to measure how much heat an insect has accumulated over time. They're used to predict when an insect will develop, hatch, or reach peak adult emergence.

But how do you calculate these numbers, and how do you apply them? We'll talk about how to use this information to minimize the pests in your garden, in this week's episode!

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Planting the Plains Planting the Plains

Anthony Reardon

Anthony Reardon is the Horticulture – Small Farms Extension Agent for Johnson County, Kansas.

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Planting the Plains: Building a Resilient Garden

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No matter what you're planning to grow, it's safe to say that a resilient garden is probably near the top of most peoples' list. Learning more about what plants are likely to grow well in your area, and getting your soil tested, will go a long way in identifying plants that can tolerate your local growing conditions, and what sort of remediation work might be needed to help create the ideal soil for your chosen plants. We'll talk more about how to make your garden resilient in this week's episode!
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Planting the Plains: Venturing Into Vegetables

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While there IS an art to planting a vegetable garden, don't feel bad for not feeling like an artist if you're new to it. In fact, a little experimentation and failure are to be expected, since that's how you learn what works, and what doesn't.
HPPR Features

Planting the Plains: Low-strain Vegetable Gardening

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Growing vegetables in your garden should be a joy, not a pain, but sometimes it helps to take a step back and think about how much you may be straining to maintain your plants. You can save yourself from this strain (and possible injury over time) by considering ways to make your plant caring easier, and less wear-and-tear on the gardener, which we'll discuss in this week's episode!
HPPR Features

Planting the Plains: Understanding Microclimates

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Getting a feel for microclimates can really open up your options in some ways...it might lead you to plant one or more crops earlier than others, or to help determine where in your garden to place certain items that require more or less hydration if your plot is uneven. Learn more in this week's episode, and see if it might have applications in your own garden!
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Planting the Plains: Fire-Resistant Landscaping

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Landscaping can really add to the appearance of your home. But here on the High Plains, it can also pay to be practical to factor in the risk of wildfires when designing your yard.