Good Growing

When cold weather arrives, it brings the end of the vegetable gardening season for many of us. That doesn’t have to be the case though. On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we discuss how we can expand our growing season beyond what's normal by using season extension. Learn about what season extension is, why we would want to use it, the different techniques you can use, and more! Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/B2REiv1lFYc Skip to what you want to know: 00:31 – Welcome, Ken. What are our vegetable gardens looking like? 03:05 – What are our experiences with season extension? 04:25 – What is season extension? 06:20 – Effect of daylength on plant growth 10:25 – What kind of crops are we talking about when it comes to season extension? 13:26 – Cloches 16:27 – Temperature/heat management 17:55 – Floating row cover 22:00 – Low tunnels 24:05 – High tunnels and caterpillar tunnels 34:20 – Greenhouses (controlled environment) 37:20 – Cold frames 40:25 – Hot frame 41:46 – Starting seeds indoors 43:10 – Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye! Duration of Daylight/Darkness Table How to Build a Low Tunnel Part 1 - Bending low tunnel frames How to Build a Low Tunnel Part 2 - Installing greenhouse poly plastic Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk -- You can find us on most podcast platforms. iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 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

This week on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris marvel at all the stuff they are still harvesting in their gardens. A touch of frost hasn't seemed to stop the tomatoes and peppers. When will the gardening season end!? Plus we look at the NOAA predictions for the coming month and answer your horticultural questions on black cherry aphid, lawn grub explosions across northern Illinois, and more. Plus if you've ever dealt with peach leaf curl, right now is a great time to considered treating your peach tree. Check out the recommendations in this week's podcast. Skip to what you want to know: 00:37 - Hey Ken! It's warm outside for being November. 01:44 - What are we still picking from the garden? 04:38 - What does NOAA predict for our upcoming weather patterns? 09:30 - Answering your gardening questions: Why does my rose have a stem covered in thorns? Moreso than normal! 15:28 - Why are lawn grubs so bad this year? 23:40 - What is causing my cherry tree leaves to curl in the spring? When I notice in the summer I can't find anything. 28:23 - Peach leaf curl shows up in late spring, but it can be treated right now in the fall! European Chafer Grub Feeding on Warm-season and Cool-season Turfgrasses, Native Prairie Grasses, and Pennsylvania Sedge https://journals.ashs.org/horttech/view/journals/horttech/18/3/article-p329.xml Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk -- You can find us on most podcast platforms. iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 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

Windbreaks, also known as shelter belts, play a crucial role in protecting the land from powerful Midwestern winds. Traditionally used on rural lands, windbreaks are living barriers that intercept wind, thereby reducing velocity and impact. During this week’s Gardenbite, Horticulture Educator Emily Swihart looks back at the history of Roosevelt’s ‘tree army’ and planting efforts in response to the Dust Bowl provides best practices for maximizing results, and encourages communities to manage the urban forest to capture windbreak benefits. Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Emily Swihart: eswihart@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. Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk -- You can find us on most podcast platforms. iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 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 614?country=us

It’s time for another Good Growing Halloween Spooktacular! We’re all dressed up again this year to talk about some creepy crawlies that have had or are still having an impact on humans or have a lot of lore behind them, including black widow and brown recluse spiders, stinging caterpillars, oriental rat fleas, lice, and more! Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DGbFkgEs2ZE Skip to what you want to know: 00:41 – Welcome, Ken. What are our costumes this year? 02:50 – Black widow spiders 11:30 – Brown recluse spider 15:50 – Identifying brown recluse spiders 18:30 – Venomous vs poisonous 19:20 – Stinging caterpillars 22:40 - Saddleback caterpillar 24:55 - Puss caterpillar 28:30 – Oriental rat flea and plague 35:47 – Lice 36:25 – Body lice 39:30 – Head lice 41:30 – Pubic lice 45:22 – Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye! Southern black widow (University of Florida) - https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/spiders/black_widow_spider.htm Brown recluse (Colorado State University) - https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/brown-recluse-spiders-in-colorado-recognition-and-spiders-of-similar-appearance-5-607/ CDC lice guidelines - https://www.cdc.gov/lice/caring-head/index.html Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk -- You can find us on most podcast platforms. iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 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

Now that the garden season is starting to wind down, it’s a good time to start thinking about getting our tools ready for winter. This week on the Good Growing Podcast, we discuss some things we do to get our garden tools ready for winter, including cleaning, sharpening, winterizing, organizing, and more! Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/o5VuG7Au7ng Skip to what you want to know: 00:40 – Welcome, Ken, and time to clean up the garages. 02:10 – Cleaning and sharpening shovels 11:35 – Sharpening cultivators/hoes 14:52 – Caring for wooden handles 18:05 – Motor oil to protect metal? Other ways to prevent rust and lubricate tools 21:10 – Caring for and sharpening pruners 32:10 – Getting lawnmowers ready for winter 42:50 – Organizing tool storage areas 45:35 – Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye! Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk -- You can find us on most podcast platforms. iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 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

This week on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris discuss why we clean up our gardens in the fall. Cutting down perennials, raking leaves, and pulling out spent vegetable plants is a common job for the gardener in the fall. As the autumn days get shorter our time is precious outdoors. What needs to be done now and what can wait until next year? Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/scU_YKv_gFE Skip to what you want to know: 00:29 Hey Ken! It rained! 02:33 Fall clean up. Why do we do it? 04:38 How does cleaning the vegetable garden break disease cycles? 11:53 Adding amendments to the vegetable garden. 13:55 Using manure in the garden. 16:32 Shifting gears to our yard, should we be mowing shorter for our last mowing of the year? 18:21 What about fall leaves? Should we shred them or leave them on the lawn? 22:30 Do trees and shrubs need water as part of putting the landscape "to bed?" 25:06 Cleaning up our perennial plants in the fall. Deadheading aggressive seed producers. 26:59 Cutting back perennials can wait until spring, at least for the plant's sake. Your situation may be different though! 32:30 Brief tool talk. (preview of next week) Fall garden clean up with pollinators and other wildlife in mind https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2021-10-22-fall-garden-clean-pollinators-and-other-wildlife-mind When should I start cleaning up my garden? https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2023-03-02-when-should-i-start-cleaning-my-garden Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk -- You can find us on most podcast platforms. iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 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

It’s time for our last Grow Along check-in for 2024. Each year we at Good Growing decide to try growing some new (to us) vegetables. This year we invited you to grow along with us. This video is for those who signed up to receive seed for our Grow Along. In this video, we are trying the fruits of our labor. We share some of the different ways we have prepared the produce we grew as part of the Grow Along. We want to hear back from you! You should have gotten an email with a survey link if you received Grow Along seed from us. How is your crop progressing? Have you been able to harvest anything? And more. Please use the survey link sent to you in the most recent email that included a link to this episode. We are treating this as a quasi-trial of these crops. So, we are asking for some specific details on your growing conditions. If this year works out, we may make these "trials" more official. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/aC0JUpFpYsQ Got questions? Contact us at Chris Enroth cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson kjohnso@illinois.edu Emily Swihart eswihart@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. -- 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

October has arrived, and while it may not feel like it at times, so has fall. This week on the Good Growing Podcast, we discuss some of the different things on our fall gardening to-do list, including caring for mums, moving houseplants indoors, planting garlic and woody plants, soil testing, and more! Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VbB2p-EyjDY Skip to what you want to know: 00:35 – Welcome, Ken and preparing for fall invaders. 03:10 – Planting and caring for mums in the fall 08:05 – Moving houseplants indoors 13:50 – Planting garlic 21:20 – Testing soil and where to send it 25:00 – Planting trees and shrubs and protecting them from deer 29:10 – Lawn work and dry weather 35:20 – Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye! How to grow and care for fall mums in your garden How to grow garlic Soil testing Soil test labs National Turfgrass Evaluation Program Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk -- You can find us on most podcast platforms. iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 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

This week on the Good Growing Podcast, Chris compares the essential fall flavors of apple and pumpkin. If you had to choose, what side would you fall on? Team Apple? Or Team Pumpkin? Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. Mysterious Invasion [ Cinematic Trailer ] Volodymyr Piddubnyk -- You can find us on most podcast platforms. iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 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

This week on the Good Growing Podcast, we’re trying something new: toothache plant. Learn more about this interesting plant, what happens when you eat it, and how you can grow it yourself! Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Z7ywlxrKWTM Skip to what you want to know: 00:40 – Introduction to toothache plant 05:50 – Eating toothache plant reactions 10:20 – How to grow toothache plant 13:13 – Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye! Toothache plant picture: 葉子, Public Domain, iNaturalist Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Emily Swihart: eswihart@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. Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk -- You can find us on most podcast platforms. iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 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 614?country=us

Have you ever wondered what causes the reds, yellows, oranges, and maroons of autumn? There are lots of different plant pigments beyond the green color of chloroplast. In this episode horticulture educator Chris Enroth peers inside the processes of a leaf in the fall and how we get those spectacular autumn leaf displays. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2puA2uMoXEg Skip to what you want to know: 00:18 Fall color lore 00:33 What we thought was happening in leaves to produce fall color. 01:06 What triggers fall color to begin? 01:19 Senescence 01:32 Resorption 02:08 Abscission layer 02:34 What role does fall color play in leaf senescence? 03:44 Leaf pigments: carotenoids 05:18 Tannins 05:55 Anthocyanins 09:06 What autumn weather produces the best fall color? Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk -- You can find us on most podcast platforms. iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 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

Have the weeds been popping up all over the place in your landscape? You’re in luck, fall is a great time to manage weeds. On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we discuss why fall is a good time to manage weeds, types of weeds, and different ways we can manage them. We also discuss some herbicide updates on Roundup and glyphosate as well as Dacthal. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/R8N_ANQkUTw Skip to what you want to know: 00:30 – Welcome, Ken! Tomatoes and peppers everywhere. 02:15 – Managing weeds in the fall 02:50 – Why focus on weeds in the fall? 04:15 – Annual weeds 10:00 – Biennial weeds 11:40 – Perennial weeds 14:40 – Changes to Roundup 24:20 – EPA emergency stop order for use of Dacthal 27:40 – Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye! Illinois Extension garlic mustard - https://extension.illinois.edu/invasives/invasive-garlic-mustard When Roundup Isn’t Roundup: Clearing up the confusion between products (Purdue University) - https://www.purduelandscapereport.org/article/when-roundup-isnt-roundup-clearing-up-the-confusion-between-products/ EPA stop use (Dacthal) - https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-issues-emergency-order-stop-use-pesticide-dacthal-address-serious-health-risk-4 Illinois EPA Clean-Sweep Program - https://agr.illinois.gov/pesticides/pesticide-clean-sweep-program.html Henbit picture: "Henbit Colony" (CC BY 2.0) by klm185 Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk -- 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

This week on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris talk about hazelnuts. Chris remembers hazelnut shrubs growing in the woods from his childhood, we compare European and American hazelnut species, talk about pests, what you might find if you go looking to buy hazelnut plants, and more! Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/tWgbcfiYIKg Skip to what you want to know: 00:32 Hey Ken! The messy consumption of chocolate hazelnut spread in our houses. 01:47 RIP Roger Cook 02:56 Correction from a previous episode on calcium in fertilizer 04:03 Our initial experiences with hazelnut 05:49 Hazelnut origins: Where do they come from? Are there multiple species? 06:57 Comparing American and European hazelnut 09:31 Flavor of American hazelnut vs. European hazelnut 11:00 Another common name for hazelnut is "filbert" 11:45 Eastern Filbert Blight and its impact on hazelnut production in the US 15:23 Where can American hazelnut be planted and grown? 19:53 Pests of hazelnut in Illinois 22:05 Walking through a year in the lifecycle of the hazelnut 26:50 Selecting your hazelnut plants. Seedlings, cultivars, hybrids, oh my! 32:36 Pollination is not so straightforward. There are some considerations when it comes to selection. 35:57 Thank yous! Upper Midwest Hazelnut Development Initiative https://www.midwesthazelnuts.org/ Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. -- You can find us on most podcast platforms. iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 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

This week on the Good Growing Podcast: Join Ken and Chris as they delve into the fascinating world of cover crops! More and more home gardeners are discovering the benefits of using cover crops to enhance their gardens. Are you curious about how cover crops can transform your garden or landscape? Tune in to this week’s episode to uncover Ken and Chris’s top tips and insights on incorporating cover crops into your gardening routine. Watch us on YouTube Skip to what you want to know: 00:29 Hey Ken! 01:15 What is a cover crop and what would a home gardener use them to accomplish? 02:26 Why do people use cover crops: To help rebuild soil structure. 04:20 Why do people use cover crops: To break up soil compaction 04:40 Why do people use cover crops: Weed suppression 04:57 Why do people use cover crops: Fix nitrogen from the atmosphere into the soil 05:22 Why do people use cover crops: Build up organic matter 05:38 What types of cover crops do we have to choose from? 08:07 Why do people use cover crops: It can look pretty 09:37 Why do people use cover crops: Attract pollinators or beneficial insects 10:02 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLvJLHERYJI 10:45 Why do people use cover crops: Scavenge nutrients from the soil 13:36 Chris likes to use cover crops that winterkill. 15:37 Ken's preferred cover crop mix. 17:55 Why we terminate (kill) cover crops. 21:21 Ways to terminate (kill) your cover crop. 26:51 How soon can we plant into a recently terminated cover crop? 30:01 Drawbacks of cover crops 33:15 How do you choose what cover crop to use in your backyard? 34:57 Purdue Extension document - Cover Crops in the Home Garden https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/HO/HO-324-W.pdf 37:11 Cover crops and competition with nearby crops. 41:04 Can't we leave our dead vegetable crops in the ground and get the same results as a cover crop? 43:53 Why do people use cover crops: Allelopathic effects in the soil that can prevent weed seed germination. 44:22 Thank yous and coming up next week.

There are a lot of garden remedies that have been used throughout the years, and some of them are still recommended today. Do they work? Should we still be using them? On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we discuss some of these old-time remedies like vinegar, pruning paint, dynamite, pesticide concoctions, and more. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/v64wU2PINS8 Skip to what you want to know: 00:45 – Welcome, Ken! Pest control in the past. 03:10 – Vinegar 06:22 – Pruning tars and paints 08:12 – Epsom salt 10:22 – Eggshells 16:05 – Dynamite! 27:55 – Old-timey pesticides 28:25 – Tobacco 30:45 - Forsyth’s Composition 33:00 – 1849 concoction for mildew on peaches 35:30 – Heavy metals 37:40 – Dish soap 38:40 – Oils 40:00 – Can water burn plants? 41:03 – Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye! Gillman, Jeff. 2008. The Truth about Garden Remedies : What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why. Portland: Timber Press. Abscisic acid triggers whole-plant and fruit-specific mechanisms to increase fruit calcium uptake and prevent blossom end rot development in tomato fruit Landscape Architecture Magazine – Planting with Dynamite Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk -- 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

In this episode, we dive into the latest challenges facing gardeners and landscapers. From toppling trees to the potential for itchy mites dropping from the sky, Ken and Chris have a list of things that might be bugging your garden and landscape! Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/r3od_YL19_s Skip to what you want to know: 00:38 Hey Ken! 01:57 Chris found a pretty bug! A dog-day cicada. 03:47 Updates from Ken and Chris' yards. 07:06 What is this green bug eating my flowers? 10:53 Issues with a pin oak tree dropping limbs and leaking fluid from a hole in the trunk 17:50 The problem with aphids this summer. So many! Why? 21:02 Why did my ash tree fall over? It seemed healthy and we treated it for EAB every year." 26:48 What are these bumps on my magnolia tree? Magnolia scale is everywhere this year! 33:32 The rise of oak leaf gall mite? Makes people itchy. 38:05 Thank yous and coming up next week. Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or 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

It’s time for another Grow Along check-in. Each year we at Good Growing decide to try growing some new (to us) vegetables. This year we invited you to grow along with us. This video is for those who signed up to receive seed for our Grow Along. In this video, we check in and share how our Grow Along crops are progressing in our gardens, answer some of your questions, and share some of our plans for the produce we harvest. We want to hear back from you! You should have gotten an email with a survey link if you received Grow Along seed from us. How is your crop progressing? Have you been able to harvest anything? And more. Please use the survey link sent to you in the most recent email that included a link to this episode. We are treating this as a quasi-trial of these crops. So, we are asking for some specific details on your growing conditions. If this year works out, we may make these "trials" more official. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/k0Qj0zQRs-A Grow and harvest okra: https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/raise-grow-harvest-eat-repeat/2020-08-11-growing-and-harvesting-okra Selecting okra pods and how to reduce the slime: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LjXEK855rqs Freezer pickles: https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/freezing-garden-produce-best-results Got questions? Contact us at Chris Enroth cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson kjohnso@illinois.edu Emily Swihart eswihart@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. -- 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

Many of us skipped planting trees this spring to avoid damage from periodical cicadas. But now that we’re approaching fall, we have an opportunity to plant some trees. Our Gardenbite this week goes back to 2022 when we had a conversation with Emily Swihart about fall tree planting. We discussed what trees can be planted in the fall, things to consider when planting trees, how to plant and care for trees, and more! Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/G3hUNwf3lcI 00:55 – We commonly hear fall is a good time to plant trees. Is this true? Why or why not? 03:27 – What are some things we need to consider when planting trees? 07:19 – What do we mean by a tree is planted too deep? 09:20 – Should we amend the planting hole? Digging the planting hole. 12:20 – Should burlap and wire cages be removed from ball and burlap trees? 15:25 – Should newly planted trees be staked? 20:29 – After planting care 24:47 – Wrap-up, thank you, and goodbye! Check out the full original version, Tree planting and care: https://youtu.be/b4RWZi_7OsA 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

Have you been having problems in your garden this year? We certainly have! On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we discuss some of the most common problems we’ve been seeing in gardens so far this year, including problems with coneflowers, oak wilt, fire blight, and blossom end rot. Plus, where have all the Japanese beetles gone? Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7O96jjEbZ3o Skip to what you want to know: 00:40 – Welcome, Ken! Garden updates and purple tomatoes! 07:40 – Coneflower rosette mite damage vs aster yellows 13:50 – Oak wilt 15:20 – Identifying red oak group and white oak group 18:00 – Oak wilt symptoms 19:55 – Submitting samples 22:05 – Spread by root grafts 25:05 – Fungicide treatment? 27:35 – Fire blight in ornamental pear 33:05 – Blossom end rot in tomatoes 36:58 – Where are all the Japanese beetles? 40:08 – Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye! University of Illinois Plant Clinic: https://extension.illinois.edu/plant-clinic Talking summertime tomato growing with #GoodGrowing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmkBN8tqLOs What causes blossom end rot of tomatoes?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK1UUJXpTrc Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or 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

This week on the Good Growing podcast, Ken and Chris sift through a survey that asks homeowners about water-saving products that can be used during water restrictions. The duo go down the list of products suggested by the survey and discuss whether these items would truly help save water and benefit your plants during a severe drought. After debating the merits of the survey’s products, Ken and Chris provide some horticulturally sound water-saving tips for our Midwest yards and gardens. Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/oO3BYDiOzww Skip to what you want to know: 03:02 The survey we are discussing today regarding water-saving products from the lawn and garden. Impacts from water restrictions. 07:36 Going through the survey results. 12:26 Natural fertilizers. Water Saving Product? 16:08 Soil Wetting Agents. Water Saving Product? 21:49 Compost. Water Saving Product? 25:28 Liquid lawn fertilizers and soil moisture monitors. Water Saving Product? 30:35 Artificial Turf. Water Saving Product? 33:53 Soil amendments. Water Saving Product? 36:56 Granular lawn fertilizer. Water Saving Product? 40:35 Herbicides and fungicides. Water Saving Product? 42:17 Polymer pellets (hydrogels). Water Saving Product? 47:11 Recommendations for saving water in Illinois gardens and landscapes. 47:32 Soil amendments based on soil test results. 48:27 Planting vegetables in blocks rather than rows. 48:35 Siting plants based on their water requirements. 49:51 Select plants adapted to your site conditions. 50:12 Shade cloth in vegetable gardens. 51:00 Enhance and protect shade trees. 52:55 Eliminate non-functional turf. 53:32 Break up impervious pavement surfaces. 54:55 Water collection devices. 56:02 What about graywater in Illinois? 56:48 Watering properly and efficiently. 57:59 Drip irrigation or soaker hoses. 58:51 Prioritizing what plants get watered and which are on their own. 01:02:07 Thank yous! See ya next week! Mulch episode https://youtu.be/sqw4Cwr7wjo Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. -- You can find us on most podcast platforms. iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 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