Good Growing

Have you ever wondered what causes the reds, yellows, oranges, and maroons of autumn? There are lots of different plant pigments beyond the green color of chloroplast. In this episode horticulture educator Chris Enroth peers inside the processes of a leaf in the fall and how we get those spectacular autumn leaf displays.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2puA2uMoXEg

Skip to what you want to know:
00:18 Fall color lore
00:33 What we thought was happening in leaves to produce fall color.
01:06 What triggers fall color to begin?
01:19 Senescence 
01:32 Resorption

Have the weeds been popping up all over the place in your landscape? You’re in luck, fall is a great time to manage weeds. On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we discuss why fall is a good time to manage weeds, types of weeds, and different ways we can manage them. We also discuss some herbicide updates on Roundup and glyphosate as well as Dacthal.

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/R8N_ANQkUTw 

Skip to what you want to know:  

  00:30 – Welcome, Ken! Tomatoes and peppers everywhere...

This week on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris talk about hazelnuts. Chris remembers hazelnut shrubs growing in the woods from his childhood, we compare European and American hazelnut species, talk about pests, what you might find if you go looking to buy hazelnut plants, and more! 

Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/tWgbcfiYIKg

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00:32 Hey Ken! The messy consumption of chocolate hazelnut spread in our houses.
01:47 RIP Roger Cook
02:56 Correction from a previous episode on calcium in fertilizer
04:03 Our initial experiences w...

This week on the Good Growing Podcast: Join Ken and Chris as they delve into the fascinating world of cover crops! More and more home gardeners are discovering the benefits of using cover crops to enhance their gardens. Are you curious about how cover crops can transform your garden or landscape? Tune in to this week’s episode to uncover Ken and Chris’s top tips and insights on incorporating cover crops into your gardening routine.

Watch us on YouTube

Skip to what you want to know:

00:29 Hey Ken!
01:15   What is a cover...

There are a lot of garden remedies that have been used throughout the years, and some of them are still recommended today. Do they work? Should we still be using them? On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we discuss some of these old-time remedies like vinegar, pruning paint, dynamite, pesticide concoctions, and more. 

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/v64wU2PINS8 

Skip to what you want to know:  

  00:45 – Welcome, Ken! Pest control in the past.

  03:10 – Vinegar 

  06:22 – Pruning tars and paints

  08:12 – Epsom salt

  1...

In this episode, we dive into the latest challenges facing gardeners and landscapers. From toppling trees to the potential for itchy mites dropping from the sky, Ken and Chris have a list of things that might be bugging your garden and landscape!

Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/r3od_YL19_s

Skip to what you want to know:
00:38 Hey Ken!
01:57 Chris found a pretty bug! A dog-day cicada.
03:47 Updates from Ken and Chris' yards.
07:06 What is this green bug eating my flowers?
10:53 Issues with a pin oak tree...

It’s time for another Grow Along check-in. Each year we at Good Growing decide to try growing some new (to us) vegetables. This year we invited you to grow along with us. This video is for those who signed up to receive seed for our Grow Along. In this video, we check in and share how our Grow Along crops are progressing in our gardens, answer some of your questions, and share some of our plans for the produce we harvest.

We want to hear back from you! You should have gotten an email with a su...

Many of us skipped planting trees this spring to avoid damage from periodical cicadas. But now that we’re approaching fall, we have an opportunity to plant some trees. Our Gardenbite this week goes back to 2022 when we had a conversation with Emily Swihart about fall tree planting. We discussed what trees can be planted in the fall, things to consider when planting trees, how to plant and care for trees, and more!

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/G3hUNwf3lcI 

00:55 – We commonly hear fall is a good time to plan...

Have you been having problems in your garden this year? We certainly have! On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we discuss some of the most common problems we’ve been seeing in gardens so far this year, including problems with coneflowers, oak wilt, fire blight, and blossom end rot. Plus, where have all the Japanese beetles gone?

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7O96jjEbZ3o

Skip to what you want to know:  

  00:40 – Welcome, Ken! Garden updates and purple tomatoes!

  07:40 – Coneflower rosette mite damage vs aster yellows...

This week on the Good Growing podcast, Ken and Chris sift through a survey that asks homeowners about water-saving products that can be used during water restrictions. The duo go down the list of products suggested by the survey and discuss whether these items would truly help save water and benefit your plants during a severe drought. After debating the merits of the survey’s products, Ken and Chris provide some horticulturally sound water-saving tips for our Midwest yards and gardens.

Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/oO3BYDiOzww 

Skip to what you want to...

While we tend to focus on the positives of plants, not all plants work well in all gardens or for all gardens. Whether they are too aggressive, require too much time and maintenance, or we just don’t like them, there are a variety of reasons we may not want to grow certain plants. On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we discuss some of the plants we’ve grown in our gardens that we wouldn’t plant again and some that we would think twice about planting. It’s not all bad, though; we also discuss some plants we will al...

Our Gardenbite for this week goes back to 2021 where Ken and Katie answered all of Chris' sweet corn growing questions. Right now we are starting to see sweet corn getting ready to pick in Illinois. How do we know when sweet corn should be harvested? Plus, what about some common sweet corn pests that tend to show up in July like raccoons and corn earworms?

Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu
Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 

Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing
Subscribe to the we...

Each year we at Good Growing decide to try growing some new (to us) vegetables. This year we want to invite you to grow along with us. This video is for those who signed up to receive seed for our Grow Along. In this video Emily, Ken, and Chris check in and share how this year's crops are doing in their gardens and our plans for culturing these plants through the summer. 

We want to hear back from you! You should have gotten an email with a survey link if you received Grow Along seed from us. D...

Milkweeds have become a popular garden plant in the last several years. They are most commonly planted to help support monarch butterflies because milkweeds are the sole food source for monarch caterpillars. If you’ve ever gone out to check your milkweed plants for monarch caterpillars, you may have been surprised to find other insects living and feeding on your milkweed plants. After all, milkweeds are toxic to other animals. However, some insects have evolved to be able to feed on milkweed and, like monarch caterpillars, have become milkweed specialists.

 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cLvl96Ppq...

This week on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris answer early summer gardening questions. From landscapes and lawns to tomatoes and ticks, we share recent questions we have been getting into our local Extension offices. 

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CFPmxJvc_kk

Skip to what you want to know:
00:31 Hey Ken!
01:12 It's a hot one out there for only being June.
02:55 What is causing all the tips of my branches to fall off or hang in the tree?
06:52 Can you take the protective netting off your trees and s...

Have you ever gone on vacation only to come back to an out-of-control landscape or, even worse, dead plants? Check out this week’s Good Growing Podcast to learn about some steps we can take to get our landscapes ready for when we’re on vacation. 

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JiC1RavU3kk 

Skip to what you want to know:  

  00:30 – Welcome, Ken and Emily!

  01:45 – What kind of gardens do we have?

  04:30 – What should we be thinking about when planning our gardens and vacations?

 ...

This week on the Good Growing podcast we bring you a short gardenbite explaining what causes blossom end rot and why throwing eggshells in the planting hole at the beginning of the growing season might not be doing anything to help. Nick Frillman talks about calcium, tomatoes, and the best advice to prevent blossom end rot.

Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu
Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 

Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing
Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe

...

This week on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris chat with Erin Garrett about native grasses and how to use them in our landscapes. Erin is a Natural Resources, Energy, and Environment educator with University of Illinois Extension who is a wealth of knowledge on native grasses and all things native plants! We dive into how these grasses function in a prairie and how that translates to your yard. Plus suggestions for what native grasses might work best to transform your landscape!

Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/EaFf5zziNiQ

Skip to what...

Are you an adventurous eater or interested in eating insects? You’re in luck! Many places in Illinois are awash in periodical cicadas, and while we usually think of them as food for birds and small mammals, humans can eat them too. Check out this week’s Good Growing Podcast to learn how you can get in on the cicada-eating action. From Pesto Pizza to Cicada Sundaes, we’ve got you covered on how to collect, prepare, and enjoy periodical cicadas.

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/U_0K70ajACM 

Skip to w...

This week on the Good Growing podcast we learn about monarch butterfly science from a leading scientist in the field of monarch butterflies, Dr. Andy Davis from University of Georgia. We learn some hard truths and ask do the monarch butterflies really need to be saved? What roles should humans have in monarch butterfly protection? All this and more (like cicadas and Joro spiders) in this week’s Good Growing podcast. 

Plus check out Brodie Dunn’s newest podcast Voice of the Wild. Brodie plays us short clips of recorded wildlife sounds and talks about what we are h...

This week on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris look at some common lawncare questions. What can you do about growing grass in the shade? Does crabgrass preventer go down when the forsythia bloom? And more!

Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/ZM0sWiPKlTs

Skip to what you want to know:
0:50 Hey Ken! What's bocce ball?
1:54 Weather and garden updates
5:57 Good Growing Grow Along update. Seeds are on the way!
6:44 Time to talk about lawns
7:07 If you mow lower, does that mean you mow less often?
8:28 How...

Do you want to grow your own fruit but have limited space? Growing fruit in a container may be the solution for you! On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we welcome back Bruce Black to talk about how we can grow fruit in containers, what fruit works best in containers, and more. 

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Khh6gbA5-yM

Skip to what you want to know:  

  00:32 – Welcome, Ken! Update on Cicada Watch 2024.

  02:30 – Welcome, Bruce! Sauk Valley Community College partnership and Gardening in the Air

 ...

This week on the Good Growing Podcast Ken has to work hard to contain his excitement for the upcoming periodical cicada emergence. Meanwhile, Chris has been building defenses to protect his newly planted baby trees. What do you need to know about the upcoming emergence of periodical cicadas? While our established trees will be okay, Ken and Chris will talk about how to protect our smaller newly planted trees from cicada egg laying. Plus, everyone seems to highlight the potential damage to woody plants, but a periodical cicada emergence is truly a sight to behold. Ken tells us the...

Do you enjoy spending your evenings outdoors? On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we talk about how you can create a garden to be enjoyed at night. Learn about night-blooming plants that can be incorporated into a ‘night/moon’ garden, landscape lighting, insects that come out at night, and more! 

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xWbZlTZbgPI 

Skip to what you want to know:  

  00:28 – Welcome, Ken! Enjoying the unseasonably warm weather?

  03:15 – Gardening by the moon, does it work? 

  06:55 – What are some plants can be grown for ‘night’...

This week on the Good Growing Podcast we rewind back to when we sat down in person with Duane Friend to discuss pond management. For this Gardenbite episode, we look specifically at aerators in ponds, duckweed, and having taller vegetation around ponds and in the drainage channels leading into the pond. You can find the entire episode at the following link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt4E6uke72E 

Watch this on YouTube https://youtu.be/SFNec6M8J-w

Skip to what you want to know:
1:20 Aerators in ponds. Do they work? W...

Have you had problems with bagworms in your landscape? Bagworms are troublesome insects that can make evergreens and other plants rather unsightly. Learn about the lifecycle of bagworms and how we can manage them, including how planting flowers can help.

Want to see pictures? Check out the YouTube version: https://youtu.be/kZNKiu-x7rk 

USA National Phenological Network: https://www.usanpn.org/data/maps/forecasts/bagworm

Conservation biological control in urban landscapes: Manipulating parasitoids of bagworm (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) with flowering forbs: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1049964405000733 

...

This week on the Good Growing Podcast Ken and Chris talk about perennial vegetables that we can grow here in Illinois. Many of the preparation and care instructions match with each crop and we describe those during our first crop, asparagus! We also chat about rhubarb, artichoke, chives, and horseradish. Are there others? What perennial veggies do you grow?

Learn more about growing veggies at our website: https://extension.illinois.edu/gardening
Previous episode on growing horseradish: https://youtu.be/PXKp-MLkHAk 

Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/Q9PYXesCPXE

Skip to w...

Have you started your seeds yet? On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we talk about how you can start your own seeds. Learn about the benefits of starting your own seeds, where to start them, the equipment you’ll need, how we can reduce the amount of plastic we use to start seeds, troubleshooting, and more! 

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lNCwDYkdS50 

Skip to what you want to know:  

  00:28 – Welcome, Ken! Have we started our seeds?

  01:50 – What are people searching for on social media when it comes t...

This week on the Good Growing podcast we chat with horticulture educator Emily Swihart about garden trends to be on the lookout for in 2024. We talk about the rise in popularity of incorporating native plants, trying to make our landscapes more biodiverse, and also just plain fun horticulture trends like colors and using our gardens at night. 

Skip to what you want to know:
17:06 The trend of eco-optimism.
18:44 The trend of native plants.
20:40 The trend of densely planted landscape beds.
24:41 Chris attempts to start a trend.
25:25 The trend of improving our urban f...

Has the warm weather got you thinking about gardening, perhaps gardening for pollinators? Learn about how you can create a habitat for pollinators in your own landscape, from the types of plants, habitat for nesting and egg-laying, pest management, and more! 

Contact us! 

Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu

Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 

Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing

Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe

Any products or companies mentioned during...

This week we take a look at a clip from 2021 when the Good Growing team sat down with three horticulturists/landscape designers to learn about their favorite native plants. We asked each one to come up with their top three favorites. In this clip, retired Illinois Extension educator Martha Smith showcases her three favorite native plants that she has growing in her yard.

Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/58IDd070g-Q

Skip to what you want to know:
1:22 American fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) a.k.a White fringetree
4:50 Black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) a.k...

Do you like growing new things in the garden? Then come grow along with us! On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we roll out our newest project, the Good Growing Grow Along. We’ve selected six new plants/cultivars to grow in our gardens, and you can grow them along with us. We also discuss some new plants that have been in the news lately.

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/sUH6D73-fFg 

Skip to what you want to know:  

  00:30 – Welcome, Ken and Emily!

  01:45 – What’s new in...

This week is the second half of our conversation with Zack Grant about urban farming and dealing with contaminated soils. Zack details techniques that urban farmers and gardeners can use to avoid growing in contaminated soils. We also dive into the importance of soil testing and how to pick a soil lab and use the results to guide your amendment decisions. Throughout this process, Zack keeps bringing up the key point that often we can overdo it with amendments. He mentions how compost can become a major water polluter if used too ambitiously. 

Watch us on YouTube h...

This week on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris chat with local foods and small farms educator Zack Grant about urban farming and dealing with contaminated soils. Zack describes what it's like to grow in urban conditions and how we inevitably encounter soil contamination. Plus we dive into his research on soil lead contamination and what contamination levels look like across Cook County. 

Check us out on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ugAPOKIcr7w

Skip to what you want to know:
0:28 - Hey Ken! What type of soils are we dealing with at our h...

Have you been stuck indoors with children this winter? Are they driving you crazy? You’re in luck! On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Brittnay Haag joins us to talk about different garden and nature activities we can do with our kids, both indoors and out.

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vn8HDTxy8DM

Skip to what you want to know:  

  00:45 – Welcome, Ken, what’s the strange orange ball in the sky?

  02:50 – Welcome, Brittnay. What does Chris think of when he hear...

This week’s episode of the Good Growing Podcast features Ken and Chris in conversation with Brodie Dunn and Timo Wayman. The discussion revolves around a new research project on bee hotels that includes a citizen science component. Brodie and Timo share their insights on what they hope to discover through this scientific endeavor, and whether bee hotels are beneficial or detrimental to bees. Tune in to learn how you can contribute to this scientific cause and become a citizen scientist.

Skip to what you want to know:

0:28 Hey Ken! Bugs are cool now and wh...

Have you been longing to get outside and play in the dirt? Then vermicomposting may be for you! Learn about how to compost indoors with worms, from containers to use, how to prepare the growing media and food, how to harvest your worm compost, and more!

Contact us! 

Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu

Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 

Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing

Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe

 <...

This week’s episode of the Good Growing Podcast is all about snow and ice. Ken and Chris discuss how to deal with snow and ice on trees and shrubs, problems to avoid with rock salt, tips for using deicers, and much more. Tune in to the Good Growing Podcast to learn more about how to protect your plants from the winter weather. Thank you for listening!

Skip to what you want to know:

0:34 Hey Ken! Winter has finally arrived in Illinois. Are we ready for the upcoming cold snap?
1:51 How do we handle ic...

It’s that time of year - time to start thinking about pruning your deciduous trees and shrubs. While many of our landscape trees and shrubs don’t necessarily need yearly pruning, the same can’t be said for fruit trees. Learn about why we should prune fruit trees yearly, the different types of pruning cuts we use, and more! 

Contact us! 

Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu

Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 

Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing

Subscribe to...

In this Gardenbite, Chris explores the various ways to recycle your cut Christmas tree. Many Illinoisians have a Christmas tree disposal day where they can throw out a cut Christmas tree and the city will pick it up and turn it into woodchips. However, there are other ways to give your tree a second life. Chris discusses how to create a shelter for birds, turn the cut tree into food for wildlife, use cut evergreen branches as winter mulch to protect herbaceous perennials, and more!

Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu
Ken Johnson: kjohnso@i...

Join Ken and Chris on a journey around the world as they explore the fascinating history of quintessential holiday spices. In this episode of the Good Growing Podcast, you will learn about the origins of nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, peppermint, allspice, and ginger, and how they made their way to our spice cabinets. You will also discover what parts of the plants are harvested to produce these spices. And, if you’re a fan of the Spice Girls, you won’t want to miss Chris’s attempt to name them all!

Skip to what you want to know:
0:3...

Join us on a horticultural journey through the world of mistletoe. In this episode, we explore the fascinating history and cultural significance of this parasitic plant. From its unique biology to its horticultural applications, we cover everything you need to know about mistletoe. We also discuss the plant’s role in the ecosystem and where you can find it in Illinois and beyond. Tune in to discover why mistletoe is more than just a holiday decoration!

Skip to what you want to know:
0:29 Hey Ken
2:18 Digging into the legends behind mistletoe. Druids, Vikings, and other sy...

On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we’re taking a closer look at a holiday staple, the poinsettia. Join us as we discuss the myths and legends that surround the poinsettia, where they come from, how they’re grown, and more! 

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0jY1dNYQG5Y 

Skip to what you want to know:  

  00:30 – Welcome, Ken, and what kind of Christmas tree does Chris have?

  02:50 – How do you pronounce poinsettia?

  04:20 – Where do poinsettias come from? What are some other names it goes by?

 ...

In this episode, Ken and Chris explore a timely and concerning topic—the resurgence of bed bugs making headlines globally! Join us as we delve into the pressing issue of bed bugs seemingly spiraling out of control. Are these tiny pests staging a global takeover once again? Our special guest, entomologist Dr. Kacie Athey, joins the conversation to address our lingering questions about bed bugs. From tips on avoiding these unwelcome companions during your travels to guidance on handling a bed bug discovery in your home, we cover it all. Tune in to the latest episode of the Good Gr...

Thanksgiving is over, which means many of us will be going out to pick out our Christmas trees. On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we’re taking a trip back to 2020 when we talked with Robert Richardson with the Illinois Christmas Tree Association. Learn about the process of growing Christmas trees from when they go in the ground until you pick one out. 

Want to see or listen to the entire show? Watch this episode on YouTube or listen on our website.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/Z7D5ckMCEX8 

Good Growing...

This week the Good Growing podcast rewinds to when we chatted with local foods educator James Thueri all about turkeys. James talks about how the commercial producers get the turkey from egg to plate. Plus, James gives tips if for those interested in raising their own heritage breeds in their own backyard.

Listen to the entire podcast https://extension.illinois.edu/podcasts/good-growing/ep-46-talking-turkey-and-backyard-livestock-james-theuri

Skip to what you want to know: 
Skip to what you want to know: 
1:30 James warns against doing a rabbit program near Easter
2:59 Are most turkey growers ma...

On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we’re answering some of your fall gardening questions. Learn about overwintering mum and dahlias, white pines dropping needles, keeping feral cats out of gardens, and more! We also give an update on what’s going on with the leaves in our yards and how our gardens fared this year. 

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BXgo-nq9KNo 

Skip to what you want to know:  

  00:30 – Welcome, Ken, and what’s up with the weather?

  01:15 – Leaf report from our yards and what we are doi...

This week on the Good Growing podcast Chris and Ken chat with horticulture educator Sarah Vogel and horticulture program coordinator Jenny Lee promoting an upcoming series for tree care professionals called the Community Tree Care Series. During the online webinar participants will go from basics to more complex topics in tree care. It is a great opportunity for Illinois arborists needing CEUs or training staff who maintain trees. 

Register for the online Community Tree Care Series at https://go.illinois.edu/treecareseries

Skip to what you want to know:
0:28 - Hey Ken! Are we r...

We’re all dressed up for this week’s Good Growing podcast because it’s our Halloween Spooktacular! This year, we are joined by Dr. Chelsea Harbach to talk about some spooky plant diseases that have had some significant historical impacts. Learn about ergot, late blight, and coffee rust and how they’ve changed the course of history.

Watch us, and see our costumes on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oEzbf1LuLLg 

Skip to what you want to know:  

  00:15 – Welcome, Ken and Chelsea, and what are we dressed up as this year?

This week on the Good Growing Podcast Chris and Ken talk with Dr. Kacie Athey about the newest invasive insect found in Illinois, the spotted lanternfly. Even though it’s only currently in Cook County, this particular bug is likely to spread across the state and Midwest. Will spotted lanternfly devour everything in its path? Or will we barely notice its arrival? Find out this and more on this week’s podcast.

Find out what you want to know:
0:49 – Hey Ken. And Chris has trouble remembering what we’re talking about this week
3:29 – Welcome Dr Athey! 

On this week’s Good Growing podcast, we welcome Emily Swihart back to talk about water-conscious landscaping! Learn why planning our landscapes with water in mind is important and how we can incorporate water-conscious landscaping into our landscapes. 

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hfIY5e0axak 

Skip to what you want to know:  

  00:30 – Welcome, Ken and Emily, and are our landscapes ready for frost?

  06:30 – What is water-conscious landscaping? Is it just a fancy way of saying xeriscaping? 

  07:55 – Do we need to worry about saving water in I...

This week on the Good Growing Podcast, Chris and Ken talk with commercial ag educator Nathan Johanning all about pumpkins! Nathan has been researching pumpkins with University of Illinois Extension for years and is himself a pumpkin grower. This week we dive into what is a growing season like for a pumpkin farmer, what are some of their biggest pests, how to pick the perfect pumpkin, and much more!

Skip to what you want to know:
0:34 – Hey Ken! Have we gotten our pumpkins yet?
4:46 – Welcome Nathan! Learning Nathan’s background in growing pumpkins.
5:17 – How does the...

This week on the Good Growing Podcast, Chris and Ken chat with state climatologist, Dr. Trent Ford. During the episode, we chat about what’s up with the weather for 2023. Soils are dry across Illinois. Is there any relief in sight? Will El Nino play a role in our weather this winter? Will it be a cold and snowy winter? Trent will share the Climate Prediction Center’s outlook for the fall and winter.

Citizen Science Climate Data Collection Opportunities
Check out CocoRahs https://www.cocorahs.org/ 
Check out CMOR https://go.illinois.edu/cmor 
Con...

On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we welcome Emily Swihart back to talk about mulch! Learn about what mulch is, what it’s good for, what mulches we should avoid using, and why our mulch should be thick and chunky. We also dispel some common misconceptions about mulch.

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/sqw4Cwr7wjo 

Skip to what you want to know:  

  00:30 – Welcome, Ken and Emily, and Chris’ existential crisis

  02:45 – What is mulch, and what is it good for?

  04:50 – What are our favorite types...

Now that night temperatures are starting to cool,  it’s time to start thinking about bringing houseplants back indoors for the winter. On this week's Good Growing Podcast, Ken Johnson discusses some steps we can take to successfully transition our houseplants indoors, as well as some tips on their care over the winter. 

Want to read more about moving houseplants indoors and houseplant pests? Check out these blog articles:

This week on the Good Growing podcast Chris shares a Gardenbite of when retired horticulture educator Richard Hentschel visited the show in 2021 to talk about fall lawn care. During the show, Richard spoke about three things we could all do to reduce our lawn inputs. 

Want to see or listen to the entire show? Watch this episode on YouTube or listen on our website.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCWX2HzFpY8&t=151s 
Good Growing Podcast: https://extension.illinois.edu/podcasts/good-growing/ep-80-fall-lawn-care-tasks-and-tips-richard-hentschel-goodgrowing 

Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu<...

Fall is almost here! On this week's Good Growing Podcast, Ken talks about something we should add to our to-do list for this fall: conducting a soil test. 

Contact us! 

Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu

Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 

Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing

Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe

Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or compa...

On this week’s Good Growing podcast, we are answering more of your questions. We discuss the new invasive hornet that has been found in Georgia, coca mulch and worms in ponds, tree roots affecting building foundations, apple fruit rots, and more!

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fFmCDDUwXQ4

Skip to what you want to know:  

  00:05 – Welcome

  01:20 – New invasive wasp found in Georgia, the yellow-legged hornet

  07:47 – Be on the lookout for spotted lanternfly

  11:10 – White “worms” in a pond after using cocoa mulch. What are they, and ho...

On this week’s Good Growing podcast, we discuss fall-blooming plants. While we typically reach for mums, there are a lot of other plants we can use in our landscapes for an end-of-season flower show! 

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NYmaaXnh7JY 

Skip to what you want to know:  

  00:33 – Welcome, Ken and have we followed our advice and started our fall vegetable gardens?  

  02:20 – Benefits of fall blooming plants for pollinators

  05:05 – Goldenrods

      06:25 – Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’

      08:00 – Zigzag goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)

      09:02 – Stiff goldenrod...

It may be hot out there, but fall gardening has already started in Illinois. This week on the Good Growing Podcast Ken and Chris share how the summer veggies faired and then describe their plans for fall crops. Learn about what you can get started in August for harvest in October and even into the winter. Plus tips on gardening as the weather turns cold.

Watch us on YouTube! https://youtu.be/4l3AcXRNP8c 

0:39 Hey Ken!
1:10 – How has the summer garden faired this year? What we grew, what worked, and what didn’t.
Fi...

On this week’s Good Growing podcast, we discuss newly planted trees. How to pick them, take care of them, and get them ready for something we haven’t seen since 1803! 

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kFzOs7a3TCo 

Skip to what you want to know:  

  00:40 – Welcome, Ken, what are we seeing for the first time since 1803? 

  01:35 – It’s still dry out there, and it’s getting hot…It’s been a rough year for trees.

  05:32 – When should we be planting trees?

  07:00 – Things to consi...

This week on the Good Growing podcast we relive the recent derecho with horticulture educator Emily Swihart. Emily and Chris swap stories about their experiences with past and present derechos. But what does all this wind do to our trees? We talk about cleaning up our trees after severe windstorms and how to prepare our trees for future wind events.

Watch us on YouTube

0:36 Hey Ken!
2:05 Welcome Emily!
3:20 Recounting the Iowa derecho
8:01 What happened during the most recent July 2023 Illinois derecho
10:42 Tornadoes vs. derechos
14:07 Ken defines a derecho
https...

On this week’s Good Growing podcast, we’re answering some of your questions that have come into our offices this summer. We discuss poison hemlock, aphids, Japanese beetles, green June beetles, galls on oaks, and more!

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AGe43Ff0eL0

Skip to what you want to know:
  00:25 – Welcome, Ken, vacation and pet spider
  05:45 – Should I avoid eating vegetables growing near poison hemlock?
  10:35 – There are red insects all over my tomatoes and sunflowers. What are they, and why are there so many?
  17:55 – What pesticides can be used to prote...

After a few rounds of severe weather in Illinois, Chris chats about what to do with a storm-damaged tree and how to make your trees more resilient to future storms. Find a Certified Arborist https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist Find your local Illinois Extension office https://extension.illinois.edu/global/where-we-serve Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or...

This week on the Good Growing podcast Chris tackles a question about how to hire a lawn care service when facing a list of services to choose from. How does a homeowner decide what is best for their lawn? Does the lawn care service match with university recommendations? Find out on this week’s podcast! LawnTalk website https://web.extension.illinois.edu/lawntalk/index.cfm Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any pr...

On this week's Good Growing Podcast, Ken Johnson discusses fireflies. Learn about fireflies in Illinois, the threats to their populations, and how you can help conserve them in your own landscape. 

Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu 
Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 

Check out the Good Growing Blog: go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing 
Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe 

Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. 

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You can find...

This week for the Good Growing podcast we have a gardenbite episode that dives into the basics of how to water your landscape and garden plants. While some may have built-in irrigation systems, many gardeners must reach for the hose to hand-water when times get dry, and right now times are VERY dry in central Illinois. Chris shows how to water and gives some great tips to know if you are irrigating enough or should be applying more water! Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/kUwhrFc0kkM Stay up to date on drought conditions with the U.S. Drought...

On this week's Good Growing Podcast, Ken Johnson talks about what we can do for our spring blooming bulbs to ensure a colorful display again next year. Check out the Good Growing Blog: go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. -- You can find us on most podcast platforms. SoundCloud @user-555304573 iTunes podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good…ng/id1446630377 Stitcher www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing Tunein tunein.com/podcasts/Ga...

Do certain plants grow better together? While the research may be out for many claims of companion planting, some tried and true methods of vegetable garden plant combinations have worked for generations. Listen as local foods educator Nick Frillman gives some background on companion planting. Contact us! Nick Frillman: frillma2@illinois.edu Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: htps://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or...

On this week's Good Growing Podcast, Ken Johnson talks about growing asparagus, including what type you should grow, how to plant, weed control, and fertilizing and harvesting. Check out the Good Growing Blog: go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. -- You can find us on most podcast platforms. SoundCloud @user-555304573 iTunes podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good…ng/id1446630377 Stitcher www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing Tunein tunein.com/podcasts/Ga...

Most people know few insects by name. One of the more popular, at least this time of year, is the woolly bear or woolly worm caterpillar. This caterpillar is the larval form of the Isabella Tiger Moth (Pyrrharctia Isabella). A white to orange to yellow moth that frequents lights at night in the midsummer. But is the woolly bear caterpillar able to predict how cold this winter will be? Or is this hogwash? Extension educator Chris Enroth lays to rest the myth of the woolly bear caterpillar. Good Growing Blog https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing

Will compost tea save the world? Not according to current science. Science and the compost tea industry disagree on the effects of compost tea. Listen in as horticulture educator Chris Enroth saves you time, money, and electricity by keeping compost in the landscape. Leave the tea in the kitchen.

On this episode of the Good Growing Podcast, Extension educator Duane Friends pops by to chat about cover crops. Duane explains the importance of using cover crops, how they are a great tool for soil management, choosing cover crops, and more! Got questions? Contact Duane friend@illinois.edu Contact Chris cenroth@illinois.edu Check out Chris' blog post on cover crops https://web.extension.illinois.edu/hkmw/eb382/entry_13816/

On this episode of the Good Growing podcast, Chris shares his recent experience with a mouse in his house. He gives tips and tricks for dealing with these unwanted guests in the middle of winter. Check out Illinois Extension's website Living with Wildlife https://extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/

In part two of this two-part episode, Chris chats with University of Illinois Extension horticulture educators Andrew Holsinger and Ryan Pankau about storm damaged trees. Ryan shares his experiences as an arborist cleaning up after storms, how to make your trees more resilient to storms, and his recommended trees to plant that can resist wind damage. Plus, Ryan answers several of Chris and Andrew's questions. Check out Part One of this episode where we dive into what to do when we emerge from our shelters following a storm and how tips for hiring a certified arborist. https://bit.ly/2...

In part one of this two-part episode, Chris chats with University of Illinois Extension horticulture educators Andrew Holsinger and Ryan Pankau about storm damaged trees. Andrew tells about how nearby Taylorville, Illinois recently experienced a tornado. And Ryan gives us tips on what to look out for when we first emerge from our shelters and basements. Then Ryan gives tips on what to consider when hiring a certified arborist. Check out Part Two of this episode where we dive into how we make our trees more resilient to storm damage and what trees are good and bad when it...

On this episode of the newly branded Good Growing podcast, Chris talks with Andrew Holsinger about pruning fruit trees like apples and peaches. Andrew tells us when and how to prune, plus answers to your pruning questions. Check out Andrew's webinar on growing your own backyard tree fruit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yozx6OaTPxE

Chris chats with horticulture educator Kelly Allsup about beneficial insects. They talk about Kelly's start in horticulture and how that led her to insects. The two then dive into how to attract beneficial insects, what plants work best, and what is Kelly's favorite beneficial insect. Plus your insect questions.

I sit down and chat with Extension Energy & Environmental Stewardship Educator Duane Friend on interpreting soil test results and what are the important takeaways when reading a soil test. Also, we talk about how Duane got involved working in the field of natural resources and some research he's doing on cover crops. Link to soil test result we refer to during the podcast https://web.extension.illinois.edu/hkmw/downloads/75048.pdf Link to soil labs found throughout Illinois https://extension.illinois.edu/soiltest/ Watch my video on how to collect a soil sample https://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Join Chris as he welcomes University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Richard Hentschel to the podcast. Together they discuss Richard's background in the green industry and important fall lawn care topics. Plus your lawn care questions!