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Planting the Plains

Planting the Plains: Reacquainting with Soil

By Anthony Reardon

Published February 20, 2026 at 6:00 AM CST

It can really make sense to do some soil testing in your garden, to make sure you really know what you're growing in, and going about it in the right way. After all, dirt's not a "one-size-fits-all" proposition, and this week, we'll talk about what you can learn from the testing, and how it can keep you from actively damaging the ecosystem!

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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.

See stories by Anthony Reardon

HPPR Features

Planting the Plains: Get an Early Start with Seedlings

Anthony Reardon

It’s mid-February, and one of the best parts about gardening on the High Plains is that we’ll be doing it before too long! Once the ground starts to thaw, you can get some parts of your garden kicked into high gear by having seedlings ready to go as soon as you’re able to dig. Starting your seedlings indoors in late winter gives you a head start, and lets you start growing even earlier in the year, and we’ll talk more about other benefits in this week’s episode!
HPPR Features

Planting the Plains: Knowing Ice Melts

Anthony Reardon

Whenever we get a blast of that arctic air making things cold where we live, it occasionally brings snow and ice with it. But when it comes to clearing your driveway, most of us either shovel it, or get some assistance from salt or a chemical blend that'll melt that ice away. The only problem is that there's more than one type of chemical, and salt can be bad for your concrete as well as your plants. This week, we'll talk about how the various ice melt products are made, and which might be the best choice for you!
HPPR Features

Planting the Plains: Building a Resilient Garden

Anthony Reardon

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!
HPPR Features

Planting the Plains: Venturing Into Vegetables

Anthony Reardon

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

Anthony Reardon

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!