Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast

There's nothing quite as show-stopping as a healthy, blooming hydrangea bursting with color in your yard. But where to start? In this episode, Don and John go over the basics of hydrangeas: How to choose the right variety, where to plant them and how to give them the best care.

While we associate planting with the rush and excitement of spring, you still have lots of options later in the season, including shrubs and some spring bloomers. In this epsiode, Don and John take a look at fall planting and give you some reasons to hit up the garden centers for late-season delights.

If you love the idea of canning but are hesitant to make the leap, this show's for you. In this episode, Don and John are joined by Rita Ussatis, Family and Community Wellness Extension Agent at NDSU. Rita has been canning, and teaching about canning, for years and she has plenty of wisdom to get you started.

Once you start your own garden, it's easy to see how natural it is to save money and time by saving your own seeds. In this episode, Don and John discuss some of the benefits of keeping your seeds and give you some things to consider along the way.

July is ending and we're well into the dog days of summer. Don Kinzler and John Lamb discuss the things to look for and what to do to keep your plants and flowers healthy in the hot weather. In this episode, Don also tells the story of his recent absence from the podcast.

A fulfilling part of growing your own garden is sharing it with those you love, and better photos make that easier. In this episode, John sits down with Britta Trygstad, aka Britta The Photographer, to talk about some simple tactics you can use to get better photos of your garden to document it and share it with the world. Learn more about Trygstad on her website: https://brittathephotographer.com/

Spoiler: The most common culprit with trees that die unexpectedly is improper care. In this episode, Don and John explore the Mystery of the Murdered Tree and teach us all a basic lesson in tree care that might prevent the unthinkable from happening to your trees and shrubs.

Summer is a great time for your garden...unless your plants aren't quite growing the way they should. In this episode, Don and John look at the most common issues that begin to pop up this time of year, including blossom end rot, fungus and pests.

For something as deep and complex as gardening, it's vital to have others around to teach you new things and give you new ideas. In this episode, Don and John are joined by Rachel Sailer, organizer of the 2nd Annual Red River Valley Garden Tour. The tour allows any gardener to take a peek at the yards of experienced gardeners and find new inspiration. Sailer is a master gardener and operations manager at Baker Garden and Gift. The Red River Valley Garden Tour is July 17 and 18, and it will feature five homeowner yards plus an open invite to the Northern Plains Botanic Garden. Tickets are $15 per person, with proceeds benefiting the Northern Plains Botanic Garden Society. You can find tickets and details on the Red River Valley Garden Tour Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RRVGardenTour.

As we enter the thick of summer, you've no doubt been busy in your garden. But this time of year marks a time when you can take it a little easier. In this episode, Don and John discuss the tasks you can stop doing once we hit July, like fertilizing and pruning,

Apples and apple trees are more commonly associated with cooler autumn days and heaping buckets full of delicious apples. But if you want that sweet apple crop, there's no time like summer to give them some extra attention. In this episode, Don and John go over some of the tasks you should be thinking about with your apple trees, or what to do if you're thinking of getting an apple tree started in your yard.

Peonies and irises are an enthusiastic addition to your yard or garden thanks to their early summer start and showy blossoms. In this episode, Don and John go over the basics of caring for peonies and irises, including an easy way to get ants off your peony blossoms before bringing them indoors.

Arguably, no other flower carries as much meaning and history as a rose, which makes them a popular choice for a gardener. But roses can also present a thorny (forgive the pun) challenge. In this episode, Don and John go over the basics of growing and caring for your roses, from sourcing the best roses to pruning them safely.

In this episode, WDAY Chief Meteorologist John Wheeler joins Don and John for a look at possible weather patterns for the upper Midwest as we head into the summer growing season. Plus, he talks about setting up new raised garden plots and gives us a simple pepper sauce recipe.

We all know fertilizing is an important part of maintaining healthy trees and shrubs along with a healthy yard and garden. But when should we fertilize, how much should we use, and what kinds of fertilizers work the best? In this episode, Don and John tackle the important question of fertilizing and discuss why May and June are the best times to get it done.

There isn't anything quite as satisfying as a full, lush lawn. And nothing is as frustrating as a lawn that doesn't look healthy, no matter how hard you try. In this episode, Don and John go over some of the most common concerns facing those who care for lawns, including yellow patches, thinning spots, weeds, fertilizing and mowing.

We're hot on the heels of planting season, meaning it's time to head out to our local garden centers to find the right plants and shrubs for our yards and gardens. What should we know before we go? In this episode, Don and John share their collected wisdom to keep in your back pocket before you find yourself enthralled with what a garden center has to offer.

Gardening is all about strong connections, like our connection to the Earth and the connections with one another shown in the love and knowledge we pass down from one generation to the next. In this episode, Don and John pay tribute to the moms (and dads and grandparents) who shared their hard-won gardening experience with us. Our listeners share their fondest memories, too, from picking potato bugs to learning big lessons about life.

Every stage in the development of your garden is important, but nothing matches the excitement of getting your plants into the ground once spring comes around. In this episode, Don and John go over spring planting methods that will give your plants their best shot at a successful growing season. === "Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast" is a show for gardeners in the upper Midwest based in Fargo, North Dakota. Don Kinzler is a horticulturist with NDSU Extension in Cass County, a lifelong gardener, and a longtime trusted resource for gardeners throughout our region. Co-host John Lamb is an arts and entertainment reporter for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. John bought a house a few years ago and has taken up gardening, so he has a lot of questions for Don. If you have a question for an upcoming episode of "Growing Together," email Don at [email protected]. To read Don's weekly gardening columns, visit The Forum website: https://www.inforum.com/don%20kinzler

Don and John go over their recommendations for the best tools to get your yard in garden in shape this spring, from the right pair of gloves to a reciprocating saw.

The season is finally starting to make a turn for the warmer, and while it's still a little too cool to get plants in the ground, there's still plenty to do. In this episode, Don and John go over some of the tasks you can do to get your yard and garden in shape after the dormant winter months, like raking and pruning.

How do new trees get introduced to our region, and who's researching how well they'll do here? In this episode, Don and John talk to Dr. Todd West, NDSU's Woody Plant Improvement Director, for a look into the research he does on new varieties of trees and shrubs that will perform well in our region. Dr. West also has some advice on choosing trees for your landscape and gives a preview of new trees that could become available to us soon.

When we think of a community garden, we might think it's a community of people growing gardens. But the inverse is also true. In this episode, Don and John welcome Jack Wood, co-founder of the Growing Together community garden, to the show. Jack talks about how his group has opened its arms to new Americans in the Fargo-Moorhead area and grown a tight-knit community of like-minded gardening lovers.

Since you're probably thinking about the growing season, chances are you're also thinking about canning your harvest once fall comes. In this episode, Don and John are joined by Rita Ussatis, the Cass County (N.D.) Extension Agent for Family and Community Wellness, to hear her guidance about successful canning.

From rain in January to a blizzard bookended by unseasonable warmth, it's been an odd winter for gardeners in our part of the world. In this episode, Don and John field questions from your fellow Growing Together listeners on what to do and what to look out for as we transition from not-winter to spring.

If you're new to growing plants in your home, or looking for something that gives you a little slack when it comes to timely watering, succulents may be right for you. In this episode, Don and John go over the basics of succulents, from watering to potting to making them bloom. They'll also settle the nagging question: Are they "cactuses" or "cacti"?

It's been a mild winter in our neck of the woods, but it's still not quite warm enough to get your garden growing ... or is it? In this episode, Don and John go over the basics of starting seeds indoors, including the setup you'll need and the timelines for your favorite varieties. === "Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast" is a show for gardeners in the upper Midwest based in Fargo, North Dakota. Don Kinzler is a horticulturist with NDSU Extension in Cass County, a lifelong gardener, and a longtime trusted resource for gardeners throughout our region. Co-host John Lamb is an arts and entertainment reporter for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. John bought a house a few years ago and has taken up gardening, so he has a lot of questions for Don. If you have a question for an upcoming episode of "Growing Together," email Don at [email protected]. To read Don's weekly gardening columns, visit The Forum website: https://www.inforum.com/don%20kinzler

Those of us in the northern U.S. are appreciating this warm winter for reducing the stress of things like travel or snow removal. But what about plants that are stirring way too soon? In this episode, Don and John talk through the effects that a warm winter can have on your plants, ways you can give them some extra care, and what to plan for the next growing season.

Giving someone flowers can say a lot, but the flowers themselves might be saying more than you think. In this episode, Don and John talk about floriography, the "language of flowers" that arose in the Victorian era as a way for people to send messages of friendship, gratitude, sorrow and love via certain types of flowers. They'll also go over some tips on taking care of the flowers you receive this Valentine's Day.

For someone who studies a serene topic like trees, NDSU Extension Forester Joe Zeleznik has quite a few pressing issues on his plate. In this episode, Don and John welcome Zeleznik onto the Growing Together podcast for a conversation about trees, which is normally a rather quiet topic. Zeleznik's studies, however, take him into some urgent topics like flooding and the spread of invasive species like the emerald ash borer.

We tend to think about blossoms and greenery when landscaping our yards, but winter offers its own unique opportunities. In this episode, Don and John discuss the choices you can make to turn your yard into a winter wonderland of lingering shadows and attention-grabbing contrast using the principles of Piet Oudolf and the New Perennial Movement.

With so many different seed companies each offering different varieties, starting a flower and garden projects from seed can leave anyone feeling a little scattered In this episode, Don and John talk about different varieties of seeds and how to make the right choices when starting a garden project.

Don and John start making plans for next summer's garden by going over some of the seed catalogs coming in the mail. Don explains how to store seeds once they arrive, why he prefers starting some plants from seeds instead of buying from a local garden center, what success rates are for growing with seeds and the difference between open-pollinated and hybrid seeds.

A long winter, short spring, hot summer and mild fall created a memorable growing season for area gardeners. In this episode, Don and John talk about the last year for local gardeners, what was learned from challenges and the successes they had.

While there's no shortage of light and color around the holidays, nothing adds warmth and life to your home quite like a healthy poinsettia. In this episode, Don and John talk about everyone's favorite holiday plant along with a few others, like Christmas cactus and amaryllis. They add a breath of life to your home during the cold, busy holiday season.

If you have a gardener on your gift list, you can breathe easy. They're easy bunch to buy for. In this episode, Don and John go over some tried and true gifts for any gardener. Plus, they give you some ideas for gardeners with a focus and some thoughts on how to personalize your gift to make it extra special. === "Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast" is a show for gardeners in the upper Midwest based in Fargo, North Dakota. Don Kinzler is a horticulturist with NDSU Extension in Cass County, a lifelong gardener, and a longtime trusted resource for gardeners throughout our region. Co-host John Lamb is an arts and entertainment reporter for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. John bought a house a few years ago and has taken up gardening, so he has a lot of questions for Don. If you have a question for an upcoming episode of "Growing Together," email Don at [email protected]. To read Don's weekly gardening columns, visit The Forum website: https://www.inforum.com/don%20kinzler

Winter may be here but you can keep things lively during these frigid months by overwintering your favorite plants. In this episode, Don and John are joined once again by the delightful Mary Holm, host of "Prairie Yard and Garden," to talk about overwintering coleus, clivia, geraniums and more. To learn more about PY&G, visit their website: https://www.pioneer.org/pyg/ === "Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast" is a show for gardeners in the upper Midwest based in Fargo, North Dakota. Don Kinzler is a horticulturist with NDSU Extension in Cass County, a lifelong gardener, and a longtime trusted resource for gardeners throughout our region. Co-host John Lamb is an arts and entertainment reporter for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. John bought a house a few years ago and has taken up gardening, so he has a lot of questions for Don. If you have a question for an upcoming episode of "Growing Together," email Don at [email protected]. To read Don's weekly gardening columns, visit The Forum website: https://www.inforum.com/don%20kinzler

Nothing warms your home during our frigid holiday season quite like a real Christmas tree ... as long as it's properly cared for. In this episode, Don and John welcome Eric Baker of Baker Garden and Gift of Fargo, N.D. to hear all about choosing, caring for, and, yes, flocking Christmas trees. (Did you know people really like black Christmas trees? We didn't either.) To learn more about Baker Garden and Gift, visit their website: https://bakernursery.com/ === "Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast" is a show for gardeners in the upper Midwest based in Fargo, North Dakota. Don Kinzler is a horticulturist with NDSU Extension in Cass County, a lifelong gardener, and a longtime trusted resource for gardeners throughout our region. Co-host John Lamb is an arts and entertainment reporter for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. John bought a house a few years ago and has taken up gardening, so he has a lot of questions for Don. If you have a question for an upcoming episode of "Growing Together," email Don at [email protected]. To read Don's weekly gardening columns, visit The Forum website: https://www.inforum.com/don%20kinzler

There's no way to know exactly what will happen this winter's weather, but we can take our best educated guess. In this episode, Don and John are joined by gardener and WDAY Chief Meteorologist John Wheeler, whose guess about the weather is about as educated you can get. He also gives us a recap of this season in his garden and talks indoor growing methods.

Now that our garden beds are sealed up for the winter, it's time to check in our favorite off-season roommates: our houseplants. In this episode, Don and John go over some basic tips for houseplant care, like optimal watering practices and intentional care. Plus, they discuss the importance of giving your houseplants something of a social life. Plants need friends, too. === "Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast" is a show for gardeners in the upper Midwest based in Fargo, North Dakota. Don Kinzler is a horticulturist with NDSU Extension in Cass County, a lifelong gardener, and a longtime trusted resource for gardeners throughout our region. Co-host John Lamb is an arts and entertainment reporter for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. John bought a house a few years ago and has taken up gardening, so he has a lot of questions for Don. If you have a question for an upcoming episode of "Growing Together," email Don at [email protected]. To read Don's weekly gardening columns, visit The Forum website: https://www.inforum.com/don%20kinzler

Your fellow 'Growing Together' readers and listeners have lots of questions about getting ready for winter, and you likely do, too. In this episode, Don and John rummage around in the ol' Growing Together mailbag to answer questions about snow mold, voles, harvesting carrots and other late autumn tasks. === "Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast" is a show for gardeners in the upper Midwest based in Fargo, North Dakota. Don Kinzler is a horticulturist with NDSU Extension in Cass County, a lifelong gardener, and a longtime trusted resource for gardeners throughout our region. Co-host John Lamb is an arts and entertainment reporter for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. John bought a house a few years ago and has taken up gardening, so he has a lot of questions for Don. If you have a question for an upcoming episode of "Growing Together," email Don at [email protected]. To read Don's weekly gardening columns, visit The Forum website: https://www.inforum.com/don%20kinzler

Did you know pumpkins are a fruit, not a vegetable? And that the jack o'lantern may have sprung from a story about a deal with the devil? In this episode, Don and John embark on the surprising tale of the pumpkin. Pumpkins occupy a unique space in human history and, in some cases, occupy a giant space in our gardens.

Modern tools like YouTube and podcasts put valuable gardening information right at our fingertips. How could a dusty 90-year-old book still possibly be relevant? In this episode, Don and John crack open "The Complete Book of Gardening Magic" to see how well its advice holds up and share several insights from it. === "Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast" is a show for gardeners in the upper Midwest based in Fargo, North Dakota. Don Kinzler is a horticulturist with NDSU Extension in Cass County, a lifelong gardener, and a longtime trusted resource for gardeners throughout our region. Co-host John Lamb is an arts and entertainment reporter for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. John bought a house a few years ago and has taken up gardening, so he has a lot of questions for Don. If you have a question for an upcoming episode of "Growing Together," email Don at [email protected]. To read Don's weekly gardening columns, visit The Forum website: https://www.inforum.com/don%20kinzler

Trees do so much for us. They provide shade, protect us from the wind, give us fruit to eat and give us color in the fall. Trees also have special care needs. In this episode, Don and John discuss some strategies for planting trees in your yard, providing you with a few ideas of what to plant and some guidelines for giving them their best shot. === "Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast" is a show for gardeners in the upper Midwest based in Fargo, North Dakota. Don Kinzler is a horticulturist with NDSU Extension in Cass County, a lifelong gardener, and a longtime trusted resource for gardeners throughout our region. Co-host John Lamb is an arts and entertainment reporter for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. John bought a house a few years ago and has taken up gardening, so he has a lot of questions for Don. If you have a question for an upcoming episode of "Growing Together," email Don at [email protected]. To read Don's weekly gardening columns, visit The Forum website: https://www.inforum.com/don%20kinzler

With the season winding down, but still fresh in our memory, it's a good time to talk about what worked in our gardens and what didn't meet our expectations. In this episode, Don and John share the triumphs and tribulations they saw in their own gardens this year, from varieties that flourished to strategies that left them thinking "what was I thinking?" It's a healthy exercise that will pay dividends next season. === "Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast" is a show for gardeners in the upper Midwest based in Fargo, North Dakota. Don Kinzler is a horticulturist with NDSU Extension in Cass County, a lifelong gardener, and a longtime trusted resource for gardeners throughout our region. Co-host John Lamb is an arts and entertainment reporter for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. John bought a house a few years ago and has taken up gardening, so he has a lot of questions for Don. If you have a question for an upcoming episode of "Growing Together," email Don at [email protected]. To read Don's weekly gardening columns, visit The Forum website: https://www.inforum.com/don%20kinzler

You might be looking forward to a bounty of harvest produce and the burst of fall colors right now, but don't slow down for winter just yet. In this episode, Don and John go over tasks you should be doing during fall to get everything buttoned up for winter. While you're at it, you can start getting preparted to hit the ground running next spring. === "Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast" is a show for gardeners in the upper Midwest based in Fargo, North Dakota. Don Kinzler is a horticulturist with NDSU Extension in Cass County, a lifelong gardener, and a longtime trusted resource for gardeners throughout our region. Co-host John Lamb is an arts and entertainment reporter for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. John bought a house a few years ago and has taken up gardening, so he has a lot of questions for Don. If you have a question for an upcoming episode of "Growing Together," email Don at [email protected]. To read Don's weekly gardening columns, visit The Forum website: https://www.inforum.com/don%20kinzler

A garden full of fresh, delicious produce is a vital step toward a great meal, but it isn't the only step. In this episode, Don and John welcome chef Ryan Nitschke to talk about his favorite garden ingredients and ways to prepare your garden's bounty, especially around harvest time. Nitschke has been a chef in Fargo area restaurants for years and has a wide array of food ventures with business partner Nikki Ness Berglund that includes Luna Fargo on South University Drive, Fargo, Sol Ave. Kitchen in Moorhead, Nova Eatery at Fargo Brewing and most recently, Mangata Wine & Raw Bar and Unicorn Park Foodery in Brewhalla. === "Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast" is a show for gardeners in the upper Midwest based in Fargo, North Dakota. Don Kinzler is a horticulturist with NDSU Extension in Cass County, a lifelong gardener, and a longtime trusted resource for gardeners throughout our region. Co-host John Lamb is an arts and entertainment reporter for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. John bought a house a few years ago and has taken up gardening, so he has a lot of questions for Don. If you have a question for an upcoming episode of "Growing Together," email Don at [email protected]. To read Don's weekly gardening columns, visit The Forum website: https://www.inforum.com/don%20kinzler

A well-tended yard doesn't just look good. It can taste good, too. In this episode, Don and John discuss edible landscaping, the notion that your trees and shrubs can provide a literal feast in addition to being a feast for your eyes. They discuss some popular berry, tree and vine varieties for our climate that might also inspire your next menu item.

When we think of fall color, we're usually talking about trees, but many flowers and ornamental grasses can add their own dash of color to your yard and garden. In this episode, Don and John talk about mums, asters and grasses that can prolong the joy of garden color long after summer begins to fade into autumn. === "Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast" is a show for gardeners in the upper Midwest and is based in Fargo, North Dakota. Don Kinzler is a horticulturist with NDSU Extension in Cass County, a lifelong gardener, and a trusted resource for gardeners throughout our region. Co-host John Lamb is an arts and entertainment reporter for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. John bought a house a few years ago and has taken up gardening, so he has a lot of questions for Don. If you have a question for an upcoming episode of "Growing Together," email Don at [email protected]. To read Don's weekly gardening columns, visit The Forum website: https://www.inforum.com/don%20kinzler

Labor Day is approaching quickly, marking yet another point of transition as we begin to move from summer to fall. In this episode, Don and John take you through a few of the tasks that should be completed around Labor Day, including fertilizing and weeding your lawn and finding an indoor spot for some of your outdoor plants.