Good Growing

Are they invasive? Not legally in the state of Illinois. (Yet!) But we are seeing Callery pear and burning bush escape from our yards into natural areas across the state. Today Ken and Chris talk about these two plants, give some background, and then what we can plant instead of these baddies! Watch us and see some pictures of the plants we mention on YouTube https://youtu.be/NcI0Q11AD0o Check out this article from Arnold Arboretum on the history and spread of Callery pear tree https://arboretum.harvard.edu/stories/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-ornamental-callery-pear-tree/ Skip to what you want to know: 0:30 Hey Ken! Here comes the first freeze of 2022 2:22 The difference between invasive and aggressive and are plants really bad? 4:00 Kicking things off with the naughty Callery pear (aka Bradford pear or ornamental pear) and all the reasons you should kill yours! 5:45 A history of Callery pear, how it got here, and how it spread everywhere 17:54 Callery pear alternatives 18:20 Flowering dogwood 19:17 Serviceberry 19:49 Redbud 21:42 White fringetree 22:30 Hawthorns 23:31 Wild plum and crabapples 26:08 White fringetree and EAB 27:09 The second BAD plant for this week - Burning Bush 30:10 Chris' burning bush conundrum 32:30 First time Chris realized burning bush was a problem 34:09 Alternatives to burning bush 34:30 American hazelnut 36:01 Arrowwood Viburnum 'Chicago Lustre' 36:45 Doublefile viburnum 'Opening Day' (may be invasive in your area) 38:04 Buttonbush 39:17 Mophead hydrangea (arborescens) 40:10 Pannicle hydrangea (paniculate) 40:47 Oakleaf hydrangea (quercifolia) 41:25 Ninebark 42:15 Fothergilla 43:10 Virginia sweetspire 43:53 Highbush blueberry 46:33 Answering a comment on photos from last week 47:51 Farewells and thank yous 48:47 Coming up next week! Management of Invasive Plants and Pests of Illinois: https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/management_of_invasive_plants_and_pests_of_illinois.pdf 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.

On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we talk about some problematic plants in the landscape, wintercreeper and Japanese barberry, They have been widely planted, but in many places, they have escaped cultivation and are now causing problems in natural areas. Learn more about these troublesome plants and some alternative plants we can plant instead! Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-06EunFV3Gk 00:27 – Ready for colder weather and moving plants indoors 01:32 – Keeping cats out of potted plants 03:12 – Can plants be good or bad? 04:26 – What does invasive mean? 08:00 – “Bad plant” #1 – Wintercreeper 10:36 – Managing wintercreeper 13:18 – Wintercreeper alternatives 14:12 – Wild ginger 14:55 – Barren strawberry 15:40 – Ferns 16:14 – Sedges 16:47 – A few more groundcovers 17:42 – Vining alternatives, Virginia creeper and passionflower*c 20:07 – Mayapple (groundcover) and other spring ephemerals 22:44 – “Bad plant” #2 – Japanese barberry 26:14 – Managing barberry 28:55 – Barberry alternatives 29:07 – Hydrangeas, Little Quick Fire 29:44 – Boxwood 30:39 – Winterberry holly, Berry Poppins 32:35 – Inkberry holly 33:42 – Aronia, Low Scape mound chokeberry 35:34 – Fothergilla 36:42 – Ninebark 38:15 – Knock out rose 39:05 – Red and yellow twig dogwood 40:32 – Wrap-up, thank you, what’s up next week, and good-bye! Management of Invasive Plants and Pests of Illinois: https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/management_of_invasive_plants_and_pests_of_illinois.pdf 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 https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573 iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/ Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/ Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902 Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD

On this week's Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris chat with Illinois Extension small farms and local foods educator Grant McCarty. First, we dive into the odd crops we grew this year and then Grant talks about his latest research project on growing strawberries...for the FALL! In October, no greenhouse is needed to get a freshly picked strawberry in Illinois when you use day-neutral types. You may have a new crop to add to the garden after this. Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/agZmsW7ZH60 Skip to what you want to know 0:31 Hey Ken! 2:16 Welcome back Grant! 2:42 What unique crops did Grant grow this year? 5:44 A discussion on dahlias 11:38 Ken's rice and cotton crops 15:06 Chris' jarrahdale pumpkins, African eggplant, and Victorian lemon 19:22 A perplexed gardener. Strawberries are in bloom at different times of the year. Are there different types of strawberries? 24:10 Learning about Grant's research on fall strawberries (day-neutral types). What are the possibilities with a fall strawberry crop? 31:09 Since these are grown as annuals how much more will it cost than a perennial June-bearing strawberry? 33:10 Do these different types of strawberries taste different? 35:05 Preparation of fall strawberries is the same as June-bearing? 36:09 How do fall strawberries handle pest pressure? 38:48 If they are grown as annuals, what happens if you try to grow these as perennials? 41:31 Photos taking us through an entire growing season of fall strawberries 49:09 Growing strawberries hydroponically and in caterpillar tunnels 51:27 Does weed management vary between day-neutral and June-bearing strawberries? 54:13 Thank you and goodbye! 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 companies. -- You can find us on most podcast platforms. SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573 iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/ Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/ Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902 Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD

As we approach fall, chrysanthemums, aka mums, start appearing in nurseries and garden centers. They are a staple in many landscapes and can provide some much-needed color to our landscapes when many other garden plants are starting to decline. However, many people struggle to get mums to survive through the winter. So, what can be done to help mums survive in our landscapes?

This week on Good Growing we take an excerpt from our webinar on gardening myths to see if these are the best practices or not! In this video horticulture educator, Chris Enroth gives the scoop on the long-term effects on your garden when using landscape fabric. Watch the entire webinar on landscaping myths https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL2-Xs_Ji1c 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 companies. -- Want to listen to the podcast? You can find us on most podcast platforms. SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573 iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/ Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/ Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902 Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD

Trees are one of the biggest investments we have in our landscapes. On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we talk with University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Emily Swihart about tree planting and care. We discuss how to plant and care for trees, some good trees for fall color, getting trees ready for winter, and more! See our smiling faces and some pictures over on YouTube: https://youtu.be/b4RWZi_7OsA 00:20 – Welcome Ken and artichoke flowers 01:50 – Why is Chris so itchy? 02:45 – Welcome Emily 05:59 – We commonly hear fall is a good time to plant trees. Is this true? Why or why not? 08:32 – Watering trees in fall 09:51 – What are some things we need to consider when planting trees? 12:48 – Importance of trees to wildlife 14:40 – What are some good trees for fall color other than maples? 15:58 – Oaks 16:50 – Black tupelo 17:22 – River birch 18:05 – Ginkgo 20:12 – Flowering dogwood, redbud 21:01 – Bald cypress, sweetgum 22:08 – What do we mean by a tree is planted too deep? 24:20 – Should we amend the planting hole? Digging the planting hole. 27:11 – Should burlap and wire cages be removed from ball and burlap trees? 30:24 – Should newly planted trees be staked? 35:41 – After planting care 37:45 – Soft landings 38:52 – What should we be doing now (late summer and fall) for our trees and shrubs? 41:58 – Emily, what is your favorite tree and why? 43:54 – Under the Canopy brochure/poster 44:47 – Wrap-up, thank you, what’s coming up, and goodbye! 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 https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573 iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/ Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/ Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902 Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD

This week on the Good Growing podcast we chat with Brodie Dunn about the recent listing of the monarch butterfly as an endangered species by the IUCN. What does that mean for us in Illinois where monarchs spend their summers? We dive into the most recent scientific publications to determine how the monarch population is doing according to Community Science data. Plus, practices to help monarch butterflies. Is it all helpful? Or could some of it be detrimental? All this, plus information on a group of community science initiatives coordinated by Brodie called I-Pollinate. Learn how you can get involved in saving our pollinators. Brodie Dunn is a visiting outreach associate specializing in pollinators and beneficial insects. Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/dmqQlyPY1TA Skip to what you want to know: 0:16 Hi Ken! 1:40 Welcome Brodie! 3:30 Why do monarchs captivate us? What is unique about their lifecycle? 5:50 What are the specific needs of monarch butterflies? What is missing to cause such alarm? 7:26 What are some of the driving factors of habitat loss causing the decline of monarch butterflies? 8:38 What about factors like disease and car strikes? are they causing widespread population decline? 11:29 The IUCN has declared the monarch butterfly an endangered species. What does this mean? 14:23 What would happen if the monarch butterfly was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act? 16:55 Just a few before the IUCN announcement another paper made headlines that the monarch butterfly was thriving. Why such conflicting information? Let's set the record straight! 21:00 Are monarch butterflies okay? 24:28 Scientists are discouraging indoor rearing of monarchs. Why? 31:54 What are some things we can do to help monarchs if rearing them indoors is not recommended? 33:43 Does helping monarchs help other pollinators? What is the best first step for helping all pollinators? 36:39 Community Science helps to inform scientists studying pollinators. How you can help using the I-Pollinate program. 42:20 Thank you, farewells, and coming up next week I-Pollinate Program https://ipollinate.illinois.edu/ "Monarch butterflies are thriving study" - actually named "Opposing global change drivers counterbalance trends in breeding North American monarch butterflies" https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.16282 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 https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573 iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/ Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/ Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902 Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD

We’re heading towards fall, which means it’s time for our third wave of blooming plants. On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we talk about some of our favorite late summer and fall looming plants. We also discuss some of our favorite grasses, which can also provide some color to our landscapes in the fall and more! See our smiling faces and plant pictures over on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PufaMV7DFJk 2:08 – Black-eyed Susan 3:38 – Disease-resistant black-eyed Susan cultivar 4:35 – Purple coneflower 5:02 – Aster yellows 7:00 – Coneflower cultivars? 9:02 – Ironweed 11:31 – Rattlesnake master 13:25 – Dry weather we’re having 14:52 – False sunflower 17:01 – Annual sunflowers 18:05 – Mexican sunflower/Tithonia 20:40 – More on sunflowers 22:51 – Goldenrods 23:15 – Do goldenrods cause hay fever? 24:08 – Goldenrod qualms 26:04 – Types of goldenrod 26:30 – Wrinkled leaf goldenrod 27:09 – Zigzag goldenrod 29:18 – Showy goldenrod 31:00 – Obedient plant 32:56 – Asters 34:58 – Grasses 35:16 – Little bluestem 37:17 – Northern sea oats 38:45 – Sideoats grama 39:44 – Switchgrass 40:42 – Prairie dropseed 41:47 – Big blue stem 42:38 – Insect overwintering 43:46 – Wrap-up, thank you, what’s up next week, and good-bye! 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 https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573 iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/ Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/ Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902 Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD

It may be hard to believe, but as we enjoy fresh tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, and other vegetables from our garden this summer, it's also time to start planting our fall vegetable gardens. Many vegetables that we grow in the spring can also be planted in late summer or early fall. 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.

On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we talk about horseradish with commercial agriculture educator Elizabeth Wahle. We discuss where it’s grown commercially, how to grow it at home, our favorite ways to use horseradish, and more! Watch our smiling faces on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PXKp-MLkHAk 00:28 – Where has Ken been? 03:10 – Welcome Elizabeth 4:45 – What is horseradish? An herb, spice, vegetable? 5:36 – Where is horseradish grown commercially 6:40 – Why is Illinois the largest producer? 7:50 – Can we grow it at home? What are the growing requirements? 11:06 – If we want to grow horseradish, what should we look for? 14:50 – Are there any pests we should be aware of? 16:00 – Any diseases? 17:35 – Is weed control important? 18:43 – Is it true that horseradish is hard to get rid of? 20:45 – Can horseradish be grown in containers? 22:20 – When do you know when to harvest? 23:36 – How would you store indoors? 25:20 – If you leave horseradish in the ground and don’t harvest it, does the root keep getting bigger? 26:20 – Do we need to worry about flowering and seed production? 27:52 – Is this the same species as broccoli, turnip, Brussels sprouts, etc.? 28:30 - What characteristics are breeders looking for? 30:47 – How do you use horseradish? 35:00 – 2022 Illinois Pumpkin Field Day 36:15 – Thank you’s, what’s coming up, and goodbye Pumpkin Field Day - https://extension.illinois.edu/events/2022-09-01-pumpkin-field-day-2022 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 https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573 iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/ Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/ Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902 Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD

Ack! What happened to the tomato plant!? Have you ever walked out to the garden to find out a hungry hungry caterpillar has stripped the leaves off your tomato plant? These are known as tomato hornworms. And in this week's Gardenbite, Ken Johnson describes the hornworm, a super neat way to find them, and how to control them. These are also pollinators, so if you prefer to give them a home Ken also has got you covered! 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.

Summertime is insect time! As our days warm up so do our insect populations. While most are beneficial, we have a small number of pest insects that plague us every year in the garden and landscape! This week Ken and Chris chat about the most common ones we face every summer. Or watch our smiling faces on YouTube! https://youtu.be/zOH1s9IW2mw Skip to what you want to know: 0:21 - Hi Ken! Wait where’s Katie? 2:06 - Japanese beetles…again 7:04 - Protecting shade trees from Japanese beetles 10:20 - Is this a Japanese beetle? The green June beetle. 11:46 - Squash bugs are awful! 15:36 – Insecticide sprays and timing with cucurbits 18:27 - What’s that pretty moth? Check out Ken’s article on squash vine borer at https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2022-07-15-managing-squash-vine-borer-garden 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 companies. -- You can find us on most podcast platforms. SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573 iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/ Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/ Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902 Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD

We're heading into the heart of harvest season! Illinois Extension horticulture educator Ken Johnson talks about how and when to harvest vegetables, so they are at their peak. Read the blog post: https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2020-07-15-harvesting-garden-vegetables 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.

As we enter the thick of the summer growing season, you may be noticing some pests and diseases problems. Listen in as we revisit Ken Johnson's article on Scouting in the Garden https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2019-06-24-scouting-garden to effectively identify any pests or diseases you might be experiencing.

On this week’s Good Growing podcast we are celebrating National Pollinator Week! We give helpful tips for helping out pollinators plus our favorite pollinator plants. Plus, tons of resources if you’re looking to include pollinator habitat in your landscape. Watch us YouTube https://youtu.be/YhxRfaGN2PU 0:26 - Hi Katie! 0:36 - Those Darn Racoons 2:25 - Hi Ken! 4:11 - What are pollinators? 8:10 - Tips for helping pollinators 8:51 - Reduce pesticide use and minimize pollinator exposure if spraying 12:18 - Create nesting habitat 15:26 - Protect existing habitat 17:16 - Plant more flowers 18:59 - Utilize different blossom shapes 21:51 - Advice for designing a pollinator garden 27:51 - Favorite plants 28:08 - Ken: Purple coneflower, butterfly milkweed, rattlesnake master, blanket flower, sunflowers, grey-headed coneflower, obedient plant 29:46 - Katie: Beebalm (Monarda), lantana, beardtongue 31:34 - Chris: Zinnia, parsley, Autumn Joy sedum, giant alliums 34:40 - Resources for those wanting more - Pollinator Pockets https://extension.illinois.edu/cfiv/pollinator-pockets - Illinois Extension Pollinator Website – coming soon! - Pollinator partnership https://www.pollinator.org/ - Xerces society https://www.xerces.org/ - Monarch Waystation Project https://monarchwatch.org/waystations/ - Indiana/Illinois Sea Grant Pollinator Garden brochures https://iiseagrant.org/resources/publications-products/results/?_sft_creator=c-eliana-brown - Become an Illinois Master Naturalist https://extension.illinois.edu/mn - iPollinate https://ipollinate.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 companies.

It's getting hot! On this week's Good Growing podcast, we discuss gardening when the weather gets hot and tips to get you and your garden through the hot weather. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jjUi2MSfgF8 Skip to what you want to know: 02:30 - Strawberry moon 03:20 - How are your strawberries doing? 06:10 - Staying safe while gardening in the heat 09:45 - Watering when it's hot 12:40 - Cool-season plants and the heat 14:00 - How will hot weather affect tomatoes? 15:25 - How will hot weather affect sweet corn? 18:35 - Our plans to get our gardens through the hot weather 21:20 - Thank yous, what's coming up next week, and goodbye 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 companies.

On this week's gardenbite, Katie shares a blog post written by Ken Johnson about the Spotted lanternfly. The Spotted lanternfly is an invasive species with the potential to become a serious pest in the United States. Listen in to learn how it could become an issue and how to identify this pest.

On this week's Good Growing podcast we chat with small farms and local foods educator Nick Frillman about getting our tomatoes and pepper off on the right foot (root?) this growing season. We chat about best practices for getting these very popular garden veggies growing. Plus dealing with the common hurdles of blossom end rot and cracking of the tomato skin. As a bonus, Nick asks us about our favorite tomato and pepper varieties at the end of the show. Time to take some notes for next year! Skip to what you want to know: 00:48 - Weekend plans and woodchips 04:09 - Hello Nick! 05:02 - Do you have the right spot for tomatoes and peppers? Site considerations. 09:50 - Preventing and dealing with leggy tomatoes 14:12 - Do we need to fertilize tomatoes and peppers? 21:12 - What is the best weed control? 28:16 - Indeterminate tomatoes strike back! Dealing with unruly tomato vines 35:02 - The best explanation of blossom end rot and how to stop it! 38:50 - My tomato skin split! Why? 42:58 - Nick asks Good Growing - What is our favorite way to control weeds? 49:15 - Talking pepper varieties. What is our favorite? 57:25 - What are our favorite tomato varieties? 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 companies. --

On this week’s Good Growing podcast, we discuss some of your questions on managing weeds! Learn about managing quackgrass, bamboo, violets, and more. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/sFdJu4MCa4s Skip to what you want to know: 01:45 - Managing quackgrass in lawns 04:45 - How can I manage bamboo? 07:45 - How can I manage violets in my lawn? 09:30 - Herbicide damage complaint process 11:15 - Wrap-up, thank you's, and goodbye! Illinois Department of Agriculture Pesticide Uses and Misuses page: https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/agr/Pesticides/Pages/Pesticides-Uses-Misuses.aspx 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 companies.

This week's Good Growing looks back on a past blog post by University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Chris Enroth about jumping worms. Jumping worms is an invasive species that we are currently hearing about in the news. Listen in to learn how to identify jumping worms and what to do if you find some.

This week Good Growing looks back to our interview with Dr. John Vanek all about snakes. In this clip, John talks about ways to make our yards more snake friendly and what are some good ones to have in the garden. See our smiling faces at https://youtu.be/v6hl9FZSXdw Want to learn more about snakes and maybe how to discourage them from being in your yard or deal with a snake in the house? Check out our full interview with Dr. Vanek at https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573/ep-67-talking-snakes-with-dr-vanek 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 companies.

This week Illinois Extension horticulture educator Ken Johnson talks about some things we can do to avoid being bitten by buffalo gnats, mosquitoes, and ticks. 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.

On this week’s podcast, we chat with University of Illinois Extension Marketing and Communications manager Judy Bingman. Judy shares with us all things Illinois Extension including the history, goals, and future. She also shares some personal information about what motives her. Listen in to hear more. 3:09 Welcome Judy! 13:05 How did Extension get started? 14:46 Has the goal of Illinois Extension changed from when it was first conceived to today? 18:00 How did the pandemic change the way extension worked, and were we successful? 30:15 Is there a vision for how we go into the future of Extension? 33:43 What motivates you to work so hard? 39:40 What is the one thing you want the people of Illinois to know about Illinois Extension? 41:14 Judy’s 30 second elevator speech about Illinois Extension. 43:24 Judy talks about know your why? 47:37 Judy asks Good Growing crew what they hope the world to be. To learn more about University of Illinois Extension job openings, visit https://jobs.illinois.edu/off-campus-positions?start=1&per=500 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.

On this week's Good Growing podcast we chat one last time with retiring horticulture educator Richard Hentschel. Richard dives into tips for spring lawn care and we get into environmentally friendly practices for our lawns and ask if they really work. Plus, Richard gives his parting tips to Katie, Ken, and Chris for their career with Illinois Extension. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6s6_WKlZTEo Jump to what you want to know: 03:50 Hello Richard! 04:38 How much of the US is covered in lawns? 06:35 What site conditions does it take to grow a lush lawn without inputs? 09:27 Reading the grass seed label and understanding annual rye use in Illinois 13:27 What are those key springtime lawn tasks for those in Illinois? 18:21 Is no-mow May a good idea? 22:40 Lots of people want to spray dandelions in the spring. Is this the best time for dandelion control? 24:48 Are there alternatives to conventional synthetic herbicides for lawns? 27:33 Changing gears to Richard's retirement: What's the best part of working at Illinois Extension? 29:43 For someone known for his knowledge of turfgrass, what does Richard really enjoy doing in his yard and garden? 32:06 Richard's favorite memory on the job at Illinois Extension 34:22 What is Richard's number one gardening resource on the job? 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 companies.

On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we chat with Assistant Professor and Faculty Extension Specialist Kacie Athey about climate change and insects. We discuss what impacts our changing climate may have on insects, like will we see range expansions, more generations, more plant damage, phenology, and more! See our smiling faces on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DzEnKQG_F6w Skip to what you want to know: 03:53 – What is phenology? 04:35 – Welcome Kacie 05:15 – Climate change research on insects and specialty crops 07:30 - With a warming environment, will we see population expansions of southern insects north to Illinois? 09:40 – Is there a possibility we will see insect ranges shrink? 11:19 – Will climate change affect disease vectors like mosquitoes? 13:58 – With warming and shorter winters and a longer growing season, will we see more insects in the summer? Will we see more generations of insects? 16:10 – We often focus on pest insects and climate change, what about beneficial insects? 18:12 – Climate models show Illinois getting wetter, how will more rainfall affect insects? 20:25 – Will we see more diseases affecting insects in a wetter environment? 21:35 – We can likely expect to see more damage to plants from pest insects, is there anything else we may see? 23:35 – After the 2012 drought, there was a drastic drop in monarch populations, could this be linked? 25:17 – Is there a chance we’ll see more insect-vectored plant diseases? 26:51 – Pest outbreaks armyworms and melonworms 29:09 – With a changing climate will phenology between insects and plants be thrown off? 31:10 – Insects are often overlooked as decomposers, will climate change affect them? 35:00 – Some insects need to be cold 35:52 – What impact do you think climate change will have on insects? 38:00 – Future specialty crop research in Illinois 40:18 – Thank yous and what’s coming up Climate change questions? Contact Trent Ford: [email protected] 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.

On this week’s Good Growing podcast, we talk to Dr. Kacie Athey about biocontrols. Dr. Kacie Athey is an assistant professor and faculty extension specialist at University of Illinois and contributes much of her research into non-chemical insect control in specialty crop systems. Join us as we discuss biocontrols, where to use them, and how they work. 5:20 Welcome back Kacie! 6:28 Where are you studying biocontrols? 8:02 What are biocontrols? 15: 29 What type of results did you gather about biocontrols? 27:15 What are some things that someone trying this in their high tunnel would need to know if they were also using pesticides? 30:06 How does biological controls work outside the high tunnel? 36:00 Is there a strategy for addressing cucurbit pests with biological controls? Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsu... Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. – Want to listen to the podcast? You can find us on most podcast platforms. SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573 iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-gr... Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening... Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3si... Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growin... Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/... Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-1... Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growi... Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD

On this week's Good Growing podcast we sit down to talk with Dr. Joy O'Keefe all about bats! Dr. O'Keefe is an assistant professor at University of Illinois and a wildlife specialist with Extension who studies bats and how humans can work to co-exist with our flying fellow mammals. In this show we learn about the importance of bats, how to attract them to our yards, and how to deal with a bat in the house. All this and much more! See our smiling faces on YouTube https://youtu.be/9fLLNtNHkpI Skip to what you want to know: 4:11 Welcome Joy! 6:24 What's so special about bats? 9:52 How can we attract bats to our landscapes? 13:16 How can we deal with a bat in the house? 19:56 Should we be alarmed when we encounter a bat? 23:21 Handling bats and is rabies a concern? 25:19 Let's say you got bit by a bat. How soon should you get a rabies shot? 27:21 How have humans impacted bat populations? - 27:35 Habitat Loss - 29:31 Invasive Species - 30:04 White Nose Syndrome - 32:19 Wind Energy 34:20 How many bat species do we have in Illinois? 36:59 How has COVID-19 impacted bat research 39:16 Do bats prefer certain tree species for roosting? 42:07 Why do bats come out at night? 44:26 Do bats eat anything other than insects? 45:27 What is the link between Count Dracula and bats? 48:25 Why do bats swoop at our heads? Contact Dr. O'Keefe https://nres.illinois.edu/directory/jmokeefe Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://groups.webservices.illinois.edu/subscribe/113369 Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.

This week Illinois Extension horticulture educator Ken Johnson talks about how we should approach spring garden cleanup with beneficial insects in mind. 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.

In this week’s podcast, University of Illinois commercial ag educator Chelsea Harbach joins the Good Growing team to discuss the historical significance of plant diseases such as the Irish Potato Famine (the Great Hunger). Listen in to hear what happened and what caused it to happen! 3: 36 Plants get sick? What do they get sick with? 8:42 Are viruses living or not living? 10:44 The History of Robigalia, when Romans made sacrifices to the god Robigus to prevent rust in wheat. 23:40 As we celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, why are potatoes and Ireland often linked? What happened with the Irish Potato Famine? 40:49 Tulip mania is thought as the first financial bubble collapse. Lots of money was made and a lot was lost. Was this driven by disease too? Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsu... Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. -- Want to listen to the podcast? You can find us on most podcast platforms. SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573 iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-gr... Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening... Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3si... Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growin... Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/... Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-1... Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growi... Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD

This week Illinois Extension horticulture educator Chris Enroth dives into the world of shredded rubber mulch. He'll talk pros and cons of this automotive byproduct. Want to learn more about mulch? Who doesn't! Chris dives into the multitude of mulches in this blog. https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2022-01-20-common-mulches-used-vegetable-garden 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.

In this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we talk with Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford about some of the impacts we are seeing now and how climate change will affect our landscapes and agriculture in the future. We also discuss how to engage with climate change skeptics and what people can do to try and mitigate climate change. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/G65eStr_RLA Skip to what you want to know: 03:35 – What’s the difference between weather and climate? 7:40 – Are we seeing the phenology of plants shifting in the spring due to climate change? 9:13 – Are we at risk of not having enough chill hours for fruit trees like peaches? What about spring freezes? 13:27 – The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) releases reports on climate change; Where will we be with climate change at the end of the century? 18:48 – Is a runaway greenhouse effect (like Venus) a risk for Earth? 21:25 – What types of impacts from climate change are we seeing on Illinois agriculture? 25:58 – The biggest impact from climate change on agriculture in Illinois 30:40 – How is climate change going to affect urban tree canopies? 36:47 – How does air conditioning play into heat buildup in cities? 38:13 – How do you engage with climate change skeptics? 44:34 – What can we do to help mitigate climate change? 52:17 – Goodbye and what’s coming up National Phenology Network - https://www.usanpn.org/ Nature’s Notebook - https://www.usanpn.org/natures_notebook The Redbud Phenology Project - https://www.usanpn.org/nn/redbud Budburst - https://budburst.org/ 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.

The Good Growing Podcast crew celebrates their 100th episode by talking tree fruit maintenance with University of Illinois horticulture educator Andrew Holsinger. Listen in as they discuss pruning, disease management, mulching, and more. Be sure to stay until the end as Chris has a surprise segment. 4:05 Updates on Tree fruit school. 9:18 Best time to start pruning fruit trees 10:30 Best time to manage Peach leaf curl, cedar apple rust, and applescab 16:00 Best practices to keep your fruit trees healthy 18:04 Mulching fruit trees 19:53 Why would a five-year-old peach tree not produce fruit every year? 23:28 Surprise segment Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsu... Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. -- Want to listen to the podcast? You can find us on most podcast platforms. SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573 iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-gr... Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening... Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3si... Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growin... Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/... Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-1... Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growi... Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD

This week we are posting the first Good Growing (then called Green Speak) episode that we thought was lost to time. In 2017 with an idea for a podcast, Chris Enroth sat down and talked with Family Life educator Cara Allen about the effects of nature on human physical and mental health and how being outdoors as kids influenced our career choices. Plus answers to common home gardening questions. Skip to what you want to know: 5:19 Hello Cara! 7:25 Brain health and how it relates to gardening 9:10 Does being outdoors as a child influence our decisions as adults? 16:40 How being outside can improve mental health 18:52 Garden Q&A 19:45 Bagworm control 22:40 Zucchini is not setting fruit 25:25 How to stop oak wilt from spreading 27:15 What's wrong with my ash tree that is dying and losing limbs? 29:05 What are these spots on my plant leaves? Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/yABfqI0ZVI8 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 companies.

On this week's Good Growing podcast, Katie talks about the benefits of winter to our gardens! You may be getting tired of the cold and snow from winter, but it does provide major benefits such as disease and insect control. Check out the Good Growing Blog extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing Want Good Growing updates? Subscribe at 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.

On this week's Good Growing podcast, the hosts discuss our upcoming snow storm and some fun February garden activities that we can do. Join Ken and Katie to learn more! Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/CYXUL7n3_04 Check out Ken's article on Salt in the Landscape https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2018-11-28-salt-landscape Another article to check out is Forcing Branches which can be found here https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2020-02-06-bringing-spring-indoors-forcing-branches#:~:text=Plants%20such%20as%20forsythia%2C%20redbud,be%20forced%20into%20blooming%20indoors. 2:36 Salt Damage to Plants 7:38 Ordering Seed for 2022 8:36 Germination Testing 10:40 Forcing Branches Check out the Good Growing Blog extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.

Are you a farmer with employees? Do you manage crews for a landscaping company? What type of leadership skills does someone who grows plants for a living need? On this week's Good Growing podcast we chat with University of Illinois Extension's assistant dean Dr. Travis Burke about growing up on the farm in North Carolina and his five tips for being a good leader. Skip to what you want to know: 2:00 - Hello Travis! 3:30 - Growing up in North Carolina 7:07 - What led Travis to a career in Extension 9:55 - What stood out in Travis' career in North Carolina Extension? 12:34 - What is missed most about North Carolina? 15:30 - What are the biggest challenges facing agriculture in 2022? 18:04 - What project is Travis excited to be working on for the citizens of Illinois? Travis' Five Tips for Leadership 22:22 - Make eye contact 27:10 - Don't expect the corner office...at least not right away 30:56 - Follow the chain of command 35:39 - Never raise your voice in anger 40:09 - Not everything is a life or death situation 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 companies. -- You can find us on most podcast platforms! iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/ Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/ Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902 Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD

On this week’s Good Growing podcast, we discuss questions we’ve gotten from webinars, blogs and articles we’ve written, and emails to the office the past year. We discuss feeding birds, pantry pests, managing mice, pruning trees, and more! Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yVbFgEHuYOo Skip to what you want to know: 4:30 - I’ve been using sunflower seed to feed my birds, but the blue jays, cardinals, and finches aren’t showing up. Why could this be? 8:35 - You mentioned burning bush is a lousy shrub, but birds use it for cover. What should I do? 10:25 - I had some pantry pests; now I’m finding them in other parts of my house. What should I do? 14:50 - Can instant potato flakes be used to manage mice? What other options are out there? 18:20 - I just purchased some land and don’t know where to start! What Extension resources are available to new landowners? 21:20 - Why can I only find bushy-looking Norfolk Island Pines? I want one that has a single trunk! 24:15 - When is the best time to trim trees? 27:13 - This fall, we saw some issues with early leaf drop and nutrient deficiency. Is there anything we can be doing now to help? 30:06 - Thank you and what’s up next week Common Pantry Pests: https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/common_pantry_pests.pdf University of Illinois Extension Forestry website: https://extension.illinois.edu/forestry 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 companies. -- You can find us on most podcast platforms. SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573 iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/ Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/ Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902 Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD

In this week's podcast we talk with Local Foods and Small Farms Educator Nick Frillman about Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Nick shares a lot of great information about what CSA is, how it works, and how to get involved in one. 2:51 Welcome Nick Frillman 3:11 What does CSA stand for? 4:19 What does community supported agriculture mean? 7:12 How are you so familiar with CSA already? 9:05 What are “shares” in a CSA system? 12:21 What products can you get in a CSA? 14:03 What vegetables do you get when? Can you choose what you get? Are there bigger or small size shares that you can get? 22:14 About how much is a vegetable CSA membership cost per week? How is the CSA cost billed? Why is it billed that way? 28: 05 How come there aren’t more winter CSAs? 34:12 What if you don’t use it all? How do you use it all? Or do you? 40:11 Can I choose what I get for produce or should I just stick to going to the farmers market? 44: 32 Why should someone consider a CSA for 2022? 45: 55 How do I find a CSA near me? Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsu... Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. -- Want to listen to the podcast? You can find us on most podcast platforms. SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573 iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-gr... Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening... Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3si... Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growin... Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/... Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-1... Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growi... Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD

On this week's Good Growing podcast, the hosts discuss some last minute Christmas gifts for a gardener, the winter solstice, and our recent winter weather. Listen in as they reminisce about the past year of podcasts. Where has Ken been? 1:34 Last minute Christmas gift ideas 2:43 Happy Winter Solstice! 7:37 Warm Winter Weather and Bats 8:23 Warm Weather and Wind Damage 13:06 Reminiscing about 2021 Podcasts 17:15 How to Take Care of Amaryllis and Get Them to Rebloom https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2021-12-03-how-take-care-amaryllis-and-get-them-rebloom Keeping Your Poinsettia Alive Through the Holidays https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2021-12-16-keeping-your-poinsettia-alive-through-holidays Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsu... Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. -- Want to listen to the podcast? You can find us on most podcast platforms. SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573 iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-gr... Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening... Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3si... Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growin... Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/... Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-1... Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growi... Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD

On this week's Good Growing podcast we welcome Dr. Chelsea Harbach, commercial ag educator with University of Illinois Extension and nematode expert! We dive into what are nematodes and do Illinois gardeners need to worry about these microscopic worms swimming through the soil, plus the impacts that can occur on agricultural crops. Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/rBKyuXzRfrQ 3:42 Introducing Chelsea! 9:49 What kind of work does Chelsea do at the Monmouth Research Farm? 12:22 What is a nematode? 16:20 Are there good and bad nematodes? What kind of problems do they cause for agriculture? 21:09 Do home gardeners in Illinois need to worry about nematodes? 25:44 What remedy do we have against nematodes? 31:10 Does the population of nematodes like soybean cyst nematode go up and down over the years? 33:50 The problem with resistance and nematode infection of crops. 37:10 What does a root infected with nematodes look like? 40:40 Upcoming Crop Management Conference. Register Here go.illinois.edu/cmc2022 Plant Clinic website http://web.extension.illinois.edu/plantclinic/ 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 companies.

On this week's Good Growing podcast we chat with plant pathologist Diane Plewa about disease observations in 2021 and what gardeners can do when plant disease rears its ugly head in your garden. Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/FQcZJ9fhhS4 2:51 Welcome Diane and learning about the University of Illinois Plant Clinic! 9:49 Were there any disease trends you noticed or did anything surprise you in 2021? 14:23 Are there any concerning plant diseases on the horizon? 26:37 How do plant diseases get into the garden and how can we prevent plant infection? 33:33 How can home gardeners try to reduce the risk of introducing a plant disease into their landscape? 38:55 What options do homeowners have if they are dealing with a plant infected with a disease? Plant Clinic website http://web.extension.illinois.edu/plantclinic/ Diane’s email [email protected] Laurel Wilt http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=1182 Bur Oak Blight http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=1033 Boxwood Blight http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=869 Boxwood blight look-a-likes http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=1059 Sudden Oak Death https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2021-05-21-pathogen-causes-sudden-oak-death-found-illinois 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 companies. -- Want to listen to the podcast? You can find us on most podcast platforms. SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573 iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/ Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/ Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902 Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD

Join the Good Growing crew as they chat with University of Illinois Extension Local Food and Small Farm Educator Bronwyn Aly as she shares with them some of the work being done at the Dixon Springs Research center. 2:49 Upcoming Good Growing Winter Webinar Series https://extension.illinois.edu/global/good-growing 4:50 Bronwyn tells us about her research at the Dixon Springs Research Center. See more of what she has been working on here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60mykiWvnhE&list=PLffsjFIQsK0Z433WmK0OiRjcjXWF8XQH9 18:40 What type of tomatoes grow best in a high tunnel. 22:15 Trellising tomatoes in a high tunnel system. 27:15 Inputs and management practices of high tunnels vs traditional growing. 35:08 Cooling strategies to lower temperatures for plants in the high tunnel. 39:27 Bronwyn's work at a local correctional facility. 47:37 Illinois Specialty Crop Conference. Register for the conference https://www.specialtygrowers.org/iscc2022 50:47 Where to find updates at the Dixon Springs Research Center and throughout the state. Find the Illinois Fruit and Vegetable Newsletter here https://ipm.illinois.edu/ifvn/. Email Bronwyn Aly [email protected] or Nathan Johanning [email protected] to sign up for the newsletter.

On this week's Good Growing podcast, Chris talks about his list of things he is thankful for during this Thanksgiving week! If you've ever wondered what a gardener and Extension educator would have on their list of thanks, listen as Chris describes healthy soil, volunteers, and more! Check out the Good Growing Blog extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing Want Good Growing updates? Subscribe at 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.

In this week's Good Growing podcast Ken discusses the differences between sweet potatoes and yams, which may prove helpful come Thanksgiving. Check out the Good Growing Blog extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing Want Good Growing updates? Subscribe at 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 companies.

December 1st is the start of the Good Growing Webinar Series, and you won't want to miss it! Topics to be covered by the webinar series include Unique Plants for the Holidays, Going Nuts over Tree Nuts, Wonderful Winter Interest, and Dealing with Winter Wildlife Damage. Listen in to learn a bit more about each webinar topic and learn how to get registered! 1:52 Welcome Andrew! 2:41 Ken tells us about some of the unique plants he has received as Christmas gifts over the years. 6:30 Andrew shares his experience with walnuts and shares other common nuts we can enjoy during the holiday season. 8:58 Katie tells us about the different options for adding color, texture, and plant structure to our landscape. 11:50 Chris wraps things up by sharing different damage in our landscapes from wildlife such as rodents, deer, and racoons. To learn more and register for the Good Growing Winter Webinar Series, visit https://extension.illinois.edu/global/good-growing. Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsu... Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. -- Want to listen to the podcast? You can find us on most podcast platforms. SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573 iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-gr... Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening... Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3si... Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growin... Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/... Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-1... Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growi... Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD

After an unseasonably long wait for our first frost, we finally got hit the first week of November. Frost in the Midwest sets about a chain of natural events in the landscape as the world prepares for winter. What are some things to consider when putting the yard and garden to bed in the fall? The Good Growing crew discusses what is on their to-do list to get their gardens prepared for winter. Watch us on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fcmbHDXzdY 1:27 - Talking the first frost - were we ready? 3:36 - Controversial advice to cut back perennials. What about the insects? Should we leave the stems? 7:07 - The exception to not cleaning up the garden 8:04 - Is there a right answer to cleaning up the garden? What's our podcast philosophy 8:42 - Same question but now dealing with fall leaves. What is our approach to handling our fall leaves? 11:57 - What is the leaf cleanup controversy? 15:00 - Cleaning up the vegetable garden. What we do. 18:18 - Getting strawberries ready for next year. 19:38 - Making strawberry wine with this year's harvest 21:30 - Preparing machinery for winter 23:04 - Getting hand tools clean and avoiding rust 24:12 - Shipping delays for our fall bulb planting. Where are they!? 25:57 - Saving tender perennials like dahlias, elephant ear, etc and storing for the winter 27:32 - Getting hoses unhooked and drained Odds'n'ends 28:10 - Preparing drip irrigation system for winter 28:48 - Emptying the rain barrel 29:08 - Storing pesticides and winterizing sprayers 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 companies.

This week's Good Growing podcast is a Halloween Spooktacular episode. We're all dressed up for Halloween as we discuss soil testing, jumping worms, creepy crawlies moving indoors, how to dispose of pumpkins at the end of Halloween, and more! Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/joDWxklnbz4 00:20 - Costume reveals 06:28 - Soil testing 06:55 - Do we lack any nutrients in central Illinois soils? 10:45 - Do we test for nitrogen? 12:11 - Interpreting soil tests 13:32 - Jumping worms 15:15 - How do they spread? 16:24 - What problems do they cause? 18:05 - How do they act and what do they look like? 19:55 - Insects and their friends moving indoors 20:15 - Millipedes 21:40 - Brown marmorated stink bugs 26:10 - Getting rid of brown marmorated stink bugs and multicolored Asian lady beetles 28:26 - How do we keep insects out of the house? 30:22 - What can I do with my pumpkins after Halloween? 35:25 - Wrap-up, thank yous, what's up next week, and goodbye Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Duane Friend's article on acid rain: https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/all-about-weather/2021-10-15-rain-and-acid-thats-not-rock-band Duane's how to take a soil test video: https://youtu.be/bv7iocI90os Duane's interpreting a soil test video: https://youtu.be/UK_L6xVAw_A Michigan State University Extension's Understand Your Soil Test Results website: https://homesoiltest.msu.edu/your-results Jumping worm fact sheet: https://go.illinois.edu/jumpingworms2021 SCARCE pumpkin smash: https://www.scarce.org/pumpkins/ -- Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.

In this week’s episode of the Good Growing podcast, we chat with Extension Local Foods and Small Farms Educator Doug Gucker about Paw Paw trees. Doug explains to us how to get started with growing paw paws; he even shares the many ways this fruit can be enjoyed! Watch us on YouTube 3:20 Welcome Doug! 5: 27 What is the history of the Paw Paw tree? 8:43 How did you get interested in growing pawpaws? 11:40 What does a home gardener need to know to grow pawpaw and select the right tree? Are there any recommended varieties? Do you need just one tree? Does pollination start in the spring? 16: 58 What type of pests need to be monitored for with pawpaws? 19: 12 When are pawpaws ready to harvest? 23: 40 What about eating the pawpaw? What can and can’t you eat? What’s your favorite way to use pawpaw? 30:09 Is there any special pruning done to reach the fruit? Check out the Good Growing Blog extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.

In this week’s episode of the Good Growing podcast, we chat with Extension Local Foods and Small Farms Educator Nick Frillman about garlic. We dive into growing this tasty spice starting right now, in the fall and then we go through the garlic growing season to harvest. We even talk about our favorite types, uses, and how can we select our harvest for replanting for next year’s crop. Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/_T7QYXEcUWg Check out one of Nick’s partner organizations the Illinois Young Farmers Coalition https://www.facebook.com/groups/396398914163736/ 3:33 Hello Nick! 10:38 What planting window do you recommend for people in Illinois? 14:08 What if we don’t get our garlic in the ground this fall? Can it still be planted in the spring? Is it too late to order garlic? 15:47 What are the differences between hardneck and softneck garlic? 18:38 What varieties do we grow? 22:38 What’s best for a vampire deterrent? But seriously does garlic deter mosquitoes? 23:52 What about elephant garlic? 25:57 What do we need to consider for a planting location? Can we interplant? 28:48 Since garlic is planted in the fall do we need to do anything after it’s in the ground? 33:07 Do we need to fertilize the garlic? 36:02 What happens if you don’t remove the garlic scape in June? 39:28 How do you know when garlic is ready for harvest? 41:25 What happens after harvest? Can you just use the garlic right away? 43:18 What’s our favorite way to use garlic? 48:38 What is black garlic? 51:06 Can you save garlic for replanting? How do you select for planting? Check out the Good Growing Blog extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.

On this week’s Good Growing podcast, we talk with Commercial Agriculture Educator Elizabeth Wahle about some of her favorite plants. In addition to some of her favorite plants, we discuss her process of selecting plants, how she handles wildlife in her garden, and more! Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GMK4U0tKnvk Plants we discuss: Crocus, Cornelian Cherry Dogwood (Cornus mas), Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Hellebore (Helleborus), Dogtooth Violet (Erythronium), Herbaceous Peonies (Paeonia), Kentucky Lady Slipper (Cypripedium kentuckiense), Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica), Bee Balm 'Jacob Cline' (Monarda), Purple Coneflower 'Fragrant Angel' (Echinacea purpurea), Bottle Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii), Tatarian Aster 'Jin Dai' (Aster tataricus) 02:15 - Welcome Elizabeth 03:53 - Where do you find your plant material and how do you choose what to grow? 08:10 Favorite blooming plants in early spring 09:05 - Crocus 09:20 - Cornelian cherry dogwood 10:05 - Bloodroot 11:00 - Hellebore 12:03 - Do you have problems with wildlife? What do you do about them? 14:58 - When is the best time to plant spring blooming plants? 16:53 - How do you keep your peonies from flopping? 20:15 - Are lady slippers difficult to grow? Any tips? 24:45 - Thoughts on Indian Pink? Does it attract humming birds? 27:23 - Jacob Cline bee balm, whats so special? 29:15 - Fragrant angel coneflower, why did you pick it and does it stay true to form? 32:57 - Bottle gentian has unique flowers, how does it get pollinated? 34:24 - Saffron crocus, do you harvest saffron from yours? 36:10 - Tartarian aster 'Jin Dai' 38:22 - Wrap-up, thank yous, what's up next week, and goodbye Mt. Cuba Center Garden Trials - https://mtcubacenter.org/research/trial-garden/ Chicago Botanic Garden Plant Evaluations - https://www.chicagobotanic.org/collections/ornamental_plant_research/plant_evaluation Check out the Good Growing Blog extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing --- Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.