Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast

Time for a thorough spring cleaning of the Growing Together mailbag. In this episode, Don and John answer listener questions about amaryllis bulbs, soil testing, starting marigolds from seed, and plenty more timely topics. If you have your own questions, email them to Don Kinzler at [email protected].

Another Easter is upon us, which means the lush array of Easter plants and the threat (and benefit) of wet, heavy late-season snow. In this episode, Don and John discuss the Easter season through beloved plants like lillies and Easter cactus. Plus, they chat about the effects of early spring storms on your garden.

It's that time of year, between the Spring of Deception and Third Winter, when you just simply can't trust nature. In this episode, Don and John look use the upcoming April Fool's Day as inspiration for a look at all the tomfoolery happening in and around your garden, like old wive's tales, plants that deceive, and pranks you can play on your favorite gardener.

It's officially spring, which means gardening season is just around the corner. In this episode, Don and John discuss how to get ahead of weeds before the growing season begins, from early planning to smart prevention strategies.

If you're a gardener, chances are that green is one of your favorite colors, and what's greener than St. Patrick's Day? In this episode, Don and John celebrate the greenest of holidays with a wee bit o' love for the flowers and plants that make Ireland beautiful.

Pruning has many benefits, like better yields and attractive shaping...but if you're not sure how best to approach it, you might fear doing serious damage to your beloved plants. In this episode, Don and John talk about the best way to approach pruning so you do no harm while reaping the significant benefits.

Did you know the average American eats 20 pounds of onions a year? In this episode, Don and John give you the lowdown on a true culinary staple that would be a welcome addition to any vegetable garden, from the best varieties for our region to the planting and harvesting techniques that set you up for mouthwatering success.

We're all excited for spring, but for a Master Gardener, spring is kinda like show time. In this episode, Don and John talk with Sandra Vigen, a Fargo, N.D.-based Master Gardener and business owner. Sandra has spent years working on her home garden and sharing her skills with the community, and she comes to the show with lots of great ideas and tips.

Chances are, with the days lengthening, you're already thinking about gardening this season. But are you actively planning it out? In this episode, Don and John discuss planning your garden and thinking about what you'll plant and where you'll plant it—planning that could save you time and effort once the season begins.

Nothing against a dozen red roses—we all love roses—but if you want to send an extra special message to your loved one this Valentine's Day, you might want to look somewhere else. In this episode, Don and John go over a few different floral options, what their colors mean and what message they send. Plus, they give you some helpful tips on making a dynamite arrangement, even if you're a complete beginner.

You might have seen terrariums all over your social media feed, but you might not know that there's a long history to these self-contained little tabletop worlds. In this episode, Don and John talk about the history of terrariums and how you might go about putting one together for yourself as a way to beat the winter cold. And speaking of winter, they also go into the cold-weather phenomenon of "exploding trees."

How long have seed catalogs been available in the U.S.? You'll have to listen to hear the answer...but it's a long time. In this episode, Don and John take a moment to talk about the history of seed catalogs while giving you some tips on their favorites and what to watch for in their pages brimming with spring promise.

Gardening is one of those human activities with a long history, deep symbolism and a lot of details, so it has a substantial vocabulary to accompany it. In this episode, Don and John go over some of the curious terms you may hear in gardening so you won't be left scratching your head.

Note: This episode of Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast was originally published on Jan. 9, 2025. Sure, your green thumbs have been busy the last few weeks thumbing through seed catalogs, but if anything, that's just making you more excited to get your hands dirty working with actual plants. In this episode, Don and John talk about repotting your houseplants as a way to ease your cabin fever, with plenty of tips on keeping your beloved plant homies healthy.

Chances are, you wanted some garden do-overs this year. You won't be able to do them over, unfortunately, but you do have the opportunity to do things differently next year. In this episode, Don and John discuss some new year's resolutions for your yard and garden, like planning your yard better and improved weeding and spraying. There's always room to improve, and now's the time to make those goals.

We're only guessing here, but the gardener on your gift list is probably one of the sweetest, loveliest people you know. Don't you want to get them the awesome gift they deserve? In this episode, Don and John go over some holiday gift ideas for the gardener you love the most (or for youself; we won't tell). They also answer a listener question about how to start a professional life in a garden center.