Garden Variety

Do melons grow well in Iowa? How long do they stay fresh? What do I need to know? All these questions answered, and more, in this bonus episode of Garden Variety.

What you need to know about picking, storing and processing your grape harvest

Every week, we get the best garden questions from our listeners. We've put together a few of our favorites in this bonus episode of Garden Variety from IPR News.

How experts select new plant varieties that will thrive

Late summer in Iowa has its own distinct soundtrack, provided by insects.

Advice on keeping your plants healthy in hot temps

How to identify signs of stress in the trees

Cucumbers and summer squash can thrive! Here's how

Japanese beetles are emerging once again and, as usual, they’re hungry. Here’s what you need to know about everyone’s least-favorite invasive species.

We often remember to water the plants in our landscape when it's dry, but don't neglect the trees in your yard.

Some people start gardens solely for fresh tomatoes, but disease can keep your plants from thriving. Here's how to avoid and address tomato diseases.

Experts answer your thorniest questions about growing roses.

What’s one of the best summer fruits to bite into? You’re right — melon. And it’s even better if it comes from your garden.

Many of the vegetables found in your favorite international cuisine can be grown in your home garden.

Ferns predate the dinosaurs — they’ve survived for hundreds of millions of years, and the odds are good that they can survive in your yard.

Commercial fruit crop specialist Randall Vos offers advice on protecting fruit from frost damage and disease.

Advice for avoiding ticks so you can keep enjoying the outdoors

Harvest is still months away, but apple trees all over the state are blooming. Here’s how to care for them.

On this Garden Variety bonus episode, Charity heads into the woods with master mushroom hunter Mark Vitosh.

How to choose and nurture trees.

We celebrate one of the shining jewels of springtime — tulips! — with horticulture specialists.

If you want healthy plants, you need healthy soil.

Turf grass is so last season. Host Charity Nebbe discusses environmentally friendly lawn alternatives with horticulture experts.

Host Charity Nebbe and ISU Extension horticulturist Aaron Steil talk about spring flowering shrubs.

Grass specialist Adam Thoms discusses spring lawn chores and how to know when it’s time to mow.

You may need mittens, but now is the best time to prune fruit trees.

Your garden may be resting under a new blanket of snow, but planting time for cool season crops is just around the corner.

Pruning advice (because we're not good with dating advice) for your trees and shrubs.

Pruning oak trees and talking oak disease

Roses are red, and African Violets can be many different colors. Listen for advice on taking great care of them.

According to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone maps Iowa is in Zone 5. Here's what that means and how that knowledge can help your garden.

Indoor plants can also attract unwanted visitors. An entomologist joins the show to tell us how to keep houseplants pest-free.

Aaron Steil and Cindy Hayne share ideas for all the gardeners on your shopping list.

A wildlife specialist discusses how gardeners, homeowners and landscapers can support bird populations throughout the year.

We're discussing late fall and winter forest stewardship — like IDing invasive species — and why winter is the best time to enjoy the woods.

While the cold has claimed outdoor plants for the season, holiday cactus is just getting ready to bloom.

An entomologist joins the show to tell us how insects survive the winter and how it’s possible for so many species to show up instantly the moment warm temperatures return.

Discussing decorative and delicious gourds with an ISU extension commercial vegetable and specialty crop specialist.

When the growing season ends and most plants have died back, ornamental grasses often still stand tall, providing color, texture and habitat in yards and gardens.

Time to take a drive across the state to enjoy the fall color.

ISU Extension turfgrass specialist Adam Thoms shares his fall lawn care to-do list.

It's time to plant daffodils for spring.

Pumpkin spice gets all the hype, but the first apples of fall deserve some love! Here are some tips for getting some great fruit to keep the doctor far away.

Yes, you can grow grapes in Iowa. And you should start planning now.

Fall pollen may wreak havoc on your allergies, but it's great for bees.

Talking about late season perennials that bring color and beauty to landscapes as the days grow shorter.

It's been a tough year for some of Iowa's trees. Conifer connoisseurs offer evergreen advice.

Plants that will survive — and even thrive — through the frost.

We're talking lawn care: seeding, re-seeding, core aeration and other late summer tasks.

A fruit crop specialist to discuss growing berries and some of the alternative berries that thrive in Iowa.