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.

In this week's Good Growing podcast Chris remarks on the observation of dying ash trees and one final landscape use for a dead ash tree. 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 talk with Illinois state climatologist Trent Ford. We ask Trent about our weather observations from 2021 starting with the weeks of rain this spring, a humid smokey summer, to the abnormally dry autumns we've seen for the past several years including this one. Trent looks at the data to see how our observations trend with recorded weather patterns and what that means for the overall Illinois climate. Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/4IwiQJPveeA 02:20 Welcome Trent! 06:29 What does being the Illinois State Climatologist entail? 09:19 Knowing the difference between weather and climate 10:40 In Western Illinois, there were several weeks of non-stop rain spring of 2021. Was that significant? 13:00 2021 Drought in Northern Illinois 15:18 How humidity, wind, corn, and smoke from fires out west affected our summer weather. 20:05 How hot was the summer? 21:00 Are autumns getting drier in Illinois? 25:27 Are we losing spring? It seems to go from winter to summer. 29:06 If the days are longest in June why is it hottest in July and August? 29:45 When it comes to informing the public about climate and weather, are there resources or data online that you recommend Illinoisans check? Some helpful resources on this week's topics: National Weather Service https://www.weather.gov/ NOAA Climate at a Glance https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/ Illinois State Climatologist Office https://stateclimatologist.web.illinois.edu/ 2021 Illinois Climate Assessment https://stateclimatologist.web.illinois.edu/illinois-climate-change-assessments/ 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 Local Foods and Small Farms Educator Grant McCarty about how things are going in northern Illinois and some of the different crops he's been trying in his garden, like day-neutral strawberries, grapes, and fall-planted blackberries. We also discuss an orchard crawl Grant did, and Ken gives updates on his rice and glass gem corn. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GPLfk0Mavp4 01:35 - Rice and glass gem corn update 03:45 - Welcome Grant 04:35 - Growing conditions this year in northern Illinois 07:18 - What is an orchard crawl? What did you see and do? 10:25 - How are commercial and backyard orchards looking? 13:20 - Growing day-neutral strawberries 20:02 - Growing table and wine grapes 26:40 - Planting blackberries in the fall 30:39 - Thank you, what's up next week, and goodbye Some helpful resources on this week's topics: Iowa State Grape Cultivars - https://www.extension.iastate.edu/viticulture/cold-climate-cultivars Day-Neutral Strawberries in Minnesota - https://extension.umn.edu/strawberry-farming/day-neutral-strawberries Impact of Heat on Vegetables - https://blog-fruit-vegetable-ipm.extension.umn.edu/2021/07/vegetables-not-yielding-well-blame-heat.html 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 Eliana Brown, Water Resources Outreach Specialist, and Layne Knoche, Extension Outreach Associate, about the Red Oak Rain Garden. We go into detail on their process for redesigning the rain garden while remaining sensitive to the site two massive existing trees a red oak and a sycamore. Learn about how they graded the soils so carefully using an air knife to gently expose the tree roots. Learn about Layne’s design inspiration and how he applied his style of design to the site. Eliana and Layne also work on a statewide initiative to teach homeowners how to build their own rain gardens with the Rainscaping program plus they have been publishing guides for different native garden types. Listen and get inspired and then check out the Rainscaping program to learn how to build your very own rain garden. Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/m62-KWJFL0o Red Oak Rain Garden (RORG) Website https://redoakraingarden.org/ RORG Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RainGardenUIUC/photos/?ref=page_internal RORG Twitter https://twitter.com/RainGardenUIUC RORG Instagram https://www.instagram.com/raingardenUIUC/ Rainscaping Education Program https://extension.purdue.edu/rainscaping/ Native Plant Garden Guides – includes woodland, full sun, rain garden, spring ephemerals, and more! https://iiseagrant.org/resources/publications-products/results/?_sft_creator=c-eliana-brown Why a rain garden on campus? At what stage did Eliana bring in Layne to work on the RORG? Layne’s feelings about designing a rain garden on University of Illinois campus Layne’s approach and inspiration to designing the RORG? Does it look different now than you had originally envisioned? What was it like working U of I campus? This likely is a sensitive location near two large trees. When it came to the construction of the rain garden was earthwork involved? Was any special consideration taken for the root system? What type of plant material was sourced? What were your methods for installing? Did all the plants establish easily? Every spring the RORG group does Mulch Madness. Who came up with this amazing idea? What resources do you have for people to design and build their own rain gardens? Check out the Good Growing Blog extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing ___ Any products mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion of these products.

On this week's Good Growing Podcast Illinois Extension horticulture educators Ken Johnson and Chris Enroth talk about designing the pollinator display gardens for the upcoming Farm Progress show (August 31 - Sept 2). Including the struggle with finding late-season blooming plants in the nursery and some of our favorite late-season bloomers. Plus we talk about dividing iris, poorly developed apple fruit, squash bugs, and lilac problems. Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/vNy592LYdO0 Check out Ken's video on dividing iris https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBzSHT9Sc44 I-Pollinate Pollinator Garden Information https://ipollinate.illinois.edu/i-pollinate-research-garden/ Indiana/Illinois Sea Grant Pollinator Garden Brochure https://iiseagrant.org/publications/full_sun_pollinator_garden/ Pollinator Pocket Brochure https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/plantapollinatorpocket_brochure_2021_logo.pdf Katie's Good Growing blog post celebrating national peach month https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2021-08-13-celebrate-national-peach-month Chris' Good Growing blog on lilac problems https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2021-08-05-whats-wrong-my-lilac-summer-foliar-diseases-lilac Join Illinois Extension's Horticulture Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/ILextensionHorticulture

On this week's Good Growing podcast, we talk with horticulture educator Richard Hentschel about fall lawn care. We discuss why fall is a great time to do various activities in our lawns like seeding, fertilizing, and aerating. Plus, we answer some of your lawn questions! Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/QCWX2HzFpY8 03:10 - Lawns are often vilified, what are they good for? 08:05 - Seeding your lawn in the fall 13:00 - Fertilizing your lawn 19:15 - Aeration, what is it and how to do it 23:25 - Dethatching, what is it, and is it necessary? 29:40 - Maintaining lawns without chemicals 36:40 - Growing grass under trees 41:20 - Dealing with moss in lawns 45:40 - Dealing with fall leaves on lawns 50:00 - Lawn Talk website Lawn Talk website - https://web.extension.illinois.edu/lawntalk/index.cfm Check out the Good Growing Blog https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing ___ Any products mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion of these products.

On this week's Good Growing podcast, we talk with Phillip Alberti, commercial ag educator and one of Illinois' leading hemp experts. Now that hemp is legal to grow in Illinois we have some questions about what we're seeing in the farm fields and hearing about in the news. Growing hemp comes with lots of oversight, investment, and risk! Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/RRiCa9ySTRE 3:19 What is hemp? Cannabis? Marijuana? Is this all the same? What is being grown here in Illinois? 7:02 Is it common for a hemp plant to start producing more THC? 8:04 Is growing hemp similar to growing marijuana? 9:04 Is hemp only grown for CBD? What else can you do with hemp? 12:30 How is hemp grown? What are the inputs? 16:04 Does a hemp field need to be inspected? 18:02 What happens if the field develops too high of THC? 19:57 Does Illinois use the USDA threshold for THC delta-9 when growing hemp? 21:11 The word is farmers are spraying their hemp with delta-8. What is that? Is it legal? 25:17 What causes THC to increase in hemp? 27:49 How do you harvest hemp? Who is the buyer? 32:54 Can someone process their own hemp for CBD? 35:29 There are so many wild claims about CBD. Is CBD regulated? How do you know you’re getting what’s listed when buying CBD. 41:33 It seems like the novelty of growing hemp may have worn off in Illinois. Is there still much interest among farmers to grow hemp in Illinois? 44:30 Can you grow hemp in a backyard? What are the base requirements? 46:27 Can hemp be covered under crop insurance? 47:27 Does hemp have any pests? 49:55 What should I do if I find a hemp/marijuana-looking plant in nature? Check out the Good Growing Blog https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing ___ Any products mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion of these products.

On this week's Good Growing podcast, we are talking sweet corn. As we enter the later part of the season what are some things we need to know about growing sweet corn? Perhaps you've seen some unwanted pests or some fertility issues. What about harvesting and storing for a wintertime sweet corn treat? Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/6FIKy7H86Ms 2:11 Isn't it all corn just corn? What is sweet corn versus field corn? 3:31 What is the "milk stage?" And the different stages of pollination. 5:45 Does sweet corn benefit from pollinators? 6:49 Katie shares how she deals with weeds in sweet corn 9:43 Planting groundcover (cover crops) such as clover under corn 11:24 Should we fertilize once the corn's ears start to form? 13:22 What is corn "lodging?" 15:20 What can be done to ensure good pollination? 16:35 When do you know when sweet corn is ready to pick? 17:25 Can you eat sweet corn raw? 18:15 How do you store sweet corn? 19:33 How can you preserve corn for use in the winter? 20:23 Issues with sweet corn - squirrels 21:17 Issues with sweet corn - Japanese beetles 21:50 Issues with sweet corn - raccoons 24:43 Controlling Japanese beetles 26:00 What is corn earworm and does it ruin the corn ear? 27:30 Corn smut fungus - a delicacy or pest? Read about growing sweet corn on our Good Growing blog https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2020-05-15-how-grow-sweet-corn ___ Any products mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion of these products.

On this week's Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris chat about growing in containers. They discuss some unique plants they grow and cover why a soil-free mix is important, how they fertilize, some watering tips, and more! Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/-shjyu_ChKQ 1:01 What do we grow in containers? Ornamentals, veggies, and some unique plants. 8:44 Soil-free mix - why do we use it? Plus specialty mixes. 12:50 Benefits of soil-free potting mix 14:38 Selecting containers - material (plastic, clay, ceramic) 17:51 Selecting containers - Color 18:39 Some things to know when using fabric containers 20:41 Figuring out pot sizes 23:13 Improving drainage with gravel in the bottom. Does it work? 26:36 Fertilizing containers 30:49 Watering containers ___ Any products mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion of these products.

We take a road trip to Jacksonville, Illinois! On this week's Good Growing podcast we chat in-person with Energy and Environmental Educator Duane Friend about algae blooms on ponds, other pond weeds, and more pond problems. Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/Gt4E6uke72E 2:40 What's the difference between a pond and a lake? 3:48 How to identify an algal bloom and how do you know if it is dangerous? 8:34 Can you eat fish from a pond that has an algae bloom? 9:33 What about eating fish from a pond treated with chemicals? 10:35 What is the purpose of aerators on ponds? 11:59 Can you run aerators during the winter? 13:30 What about controlling cattails? Are some plants good for ponds? Is there a difference in managing submerged, floated, and emerged plants? 15:40 Cattle have damaged a dam, which had to be rebuilt. What seed could be planted on pond dams? 17:28 Why does duckweed keep showing up and how can we control it? 19:44 When should someone treat a pond to avoid fish kills? 20:37 Is there a way to prevent pond weeds besides using chemicals? Quick Pond Videos Shoreline Vegetation Mangement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDsHrT4ew7U Dealing with Canada Geese https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyaA3YHntYE Webinars on Ponds Farm Pond Management https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4kQMyFlwgU Planning a Multipurpose Pond https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBYXk0N1bqk ___ Any products mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion of these products.

Have you had a lot of rain recently? On this week's podcast, we discuss some of the issues we can encounter in our gardens when the weather gets wet and steps we can take to manage them. We also discuss some of the beneficial insects we can find in our gardens. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/30sF7kqj7fU 03:20 - Wet weather and plant diseases 04:35 - Humidity and plant diseases 06:00 - Ways to prevent plant diseases 07:30 - Hail damage to plants 09:30 - Why are there so many crop dusters out now 11:20 - Should we remove badly diseased vegetable plants? 12:15 - Can we use produce from a flooded garden? 14:40 - What can we do about standing water in the landscape? 16:30 - Discussing beneficial insects Links for hail damage yield loss http://corn.agronomy.wisc.edu/Management/L039.aspx https://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/pdf/ec128.pdf Check out Ken's post on beneficial insects - Not all bugs are bad: Good bugs in the Garden - https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2021-07-09-not-all-bugs-are-bad-good-bugs-garden --- Want to listen to the podcast? You can find us on most podcast platforms. SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573 iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377?mt=2 Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/good-growing?refid=stpr Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Education-Podcasts/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR

On this week's Good Growing podcast we dive into one of America's favorite garden vegetables, the tomato! Katie, Ken, and Chris enjoy growing tomatoes and describe how they grow tomatoes in their backyards. We tackle common tomato problems, some of our favorites, and how to save the harvest. All this and more! Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/MmkBN8tqLOs 3:30 How does Katie grow tomatoes? 4:00 Deer eating tomatoes? 5:40 What tomatoes does Ken grow? 7:33 What tomatoes does Chris grow? 8:20 Do we start tomatoes from seed or buy transplants? And why? 9:42 Is it too late to plant tomatoes? 10:40 The unofficial WIU tomato trial using bi-colored tomatoes. Finding a purple and gold tomato. 12:28 How do we trellis and train our tomatoes? 17:40 Tomato care - fertilizer? 18:18 Tomato care - mulch? 21:24 Killing the existing grass - does cardboard work? 23:04 What problems is Ken encountering with his tomatoes? Caterpillars and foliar disease 29:35 Why are tomato leaves curling up? 31:00 What is blossom end rot? Is it a calcium problem or a watering problem? 33:00 Can you harvest unripe tomatoes? 34:47 Why are my tomatoes splitting and cracking? 35:50 How do we preserve or save tomatoes for use after summer? 37:20 What are our favorite types of tomatoes to grow? 39:05 Does determinate stop producing tomatoes? 42:17 Chris' rant of bad restaurant tomatoes during tomato season. Read more about growing tomatoes: How to Grow Tomatoes https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2020-04-29-how-grow-tomatoes Hornworms on Tomatoes https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2020-08-07-hornworm-caterpillars-tomatoes Troubles with Tomatoes https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2020-05-01-troubles-tomatoes Different Types of Tomatoes https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2020-04-30-different-types-tomatoes ___ Any products mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion of these products.

Do you have a spot in the garden for some solar panels? What about the roof? For this episode of the Good Growing podcast we chat with Illinois Extension educator Erin Garrett about solar power for the home. If you are considering solar power for your home, we dive into some important considerations and a few extra questions on other renewable energy sources. 5:11 What is renewable energy and what options do those in Illinois have? 6:35 Is solar power the best option for Illinois homes? 9:14 What is a Smart Grid and how do you know if you have a Smart Meter? 15:06 What are some questions you should ask yourself as a homeowner if you are considering getting solar panels? How do you size a solar system? 26:10 Should I cut down large trees that shade my house in order to install solar? 29:20 Can you make money by supplying power to the grid? 34:40 What financial help is available to people considering solar? 39:38 What are some maintenance considerations when dealing with solar panels? 43:00 Why do solar panels need to be switched out every 25 years? 43:52 What options do you have if your home/property is not suitable for solar panels but you still want to support solar energy? 48:32 Do wind turbines kill birds? 50:28 Is there any opportunity for habitat creation in combination with renewable energy? National Renewable Energy Laboratory website - https://www.nrel.gov/ PVWatts Calculator – https://pvwatts.nrel.gov/ Illinois Shines (information about SRECs and community solar) – https://illinoisshines.com/ Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency - https://www.dsireusa.org/ Erin Garrett, Energy & Environment Stewardship Educator [email protected] Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/TrTSPiqgxeo ___ Any products mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion of these products.

On this episode of the Good Growing Podcast, we chat with Sara Johnson, a field botanist and research assistant with the Illinois Natural History Survey. Sara studies rare plants, and we discuss her recent thesis on a rare mint found in Florida. We talk about field botany and some good natural areas to go and visit in Illinois. Plus Sara shares some of the unique plants she grows in her own garden including some of the wild (and deadly) tomatoes (Solanum sp.). 2:49 What is Sara's favorite kind of fieldwork? 4:25 What brought you to the world of field botany? What is a field botanist? 8:19 Would many of the plant species you study be considered endangered? Or would they be rare occurrences? 10:20 What’s an example of a rare habitat in Illinois? What would be considered the greatest threat to losing these places? 12:46 What's the difference between a sand prairie and a hill prairie in Illinois? 17:14 Mint species in the garden and natural areas What goes into rare plant conservation? What can be done to help protect and possibly expand some of these rare habitats? 26:00 The similarities between Florida and Illinois and how that can inform plant identification. 29:37 Let’s talk field guides. Which ones do you always have in your backpack? 35:24 How do you introduce someone who has no experience in your field to what you do? 38:30 Do you know any good places in Central Illinois? Are there any rare habitats we should be on the lookout for in our area? 42:40 Sara has started a fantastic online magazine (zine). What was the inspiration to begin producing this publication? 47:07 What are some unique vegetables that you grow? Check out Sara's website https://saraannjohnson.wordpress.com/ Download and read her free online magazine Midwest Explorer https://saraannjohnson.wordpress.com/midwest-explorer-blog/ Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/QCfrko7KvpU ___ Any products mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion of these products.

On this week’s Good Growing podcast the crew chats with Extension horticulture educator Martha Smith about must-see botanic gardens and her favorite tree, the beech tree! From Longwood to Missouri Botanical Garden and much more, Martha points out some fantastic botanical gardens throughout the United States, and ones right here in the Midwest. We also discuss beech trees an under-rated and under-planted tree which happens to be Martha’s favorite tree. Martha shares her favorite beech tree cultivars and how they perform in her yard. If you’ve never seen a fern-leaf beech tree, check out that section of the video. Martha is soon to be retired and so to wrap this episode we ask about some of her favorite moments with Extension and tips for us Extension educators who still have awhile to go before we hit retirement. What’s a botanical garden? Is there a difference between that and an arboretum? Does Martha have a favorite botanical garden? Where is a botanical garden in Western Central Illinois? What is Martha’s favorite tree? Why do we hardly see this tree in our part of Illinois? Martha goes into the different types of beech trees in her yard. What is beech leaf disease? Is this a concern in Illinois? Would it be okay to cut down a healthy tree you don’t like to plant one you want? What tree would Martha recommend? Both Katie and Martha love ginkgo trees. Martha shares some of the unique ginkgo trees she has in her yard. With Martha about to retire, we ask her about some memories working with Extension What was your favorite part of the job? Best/ funniest memory? Greatest resource(s) as an Extension educator? Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/BwLRXnVB7J0 ___ Any products mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion of these products.

On this week's Good Growing podcast the crew sits down with University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Sarah Vogel to talk about trees and some common problems we encounter in the home landscape. Sarah is a certified arborist and is based in Decatur, Illinois. On this show we get into: What are the main problems Sarah sees with home landscape trees There is conflicting advice on tree planting. What's the best way to plant a tree? What is root washing? Is it worth the extra effort? When it comes to Emerald Ash Borer is it going to lead to the extinction of ash trees? There is a young tree losing bark. What's happening? There are lots of people that mound mulch up against the tree. But Extension says otherwise. What's the correct way to mulch a tree? Will squirrels nesting in a tree hurt the tree? Should the cavity be filled with something? If someone doesn't take care of their tree properly, how long will it live? Anything Grows Virtual Help Desk https://extension.illinois.edu/events/2021-05-14-anything-grows-webinar-series-vegetable-gardening Master Gardeners of DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt Counties https://extension.illinois.edu/dmp/master-gardeners Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/eC5X4TnshgI ___ Any products mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion of these products.

On this week's Good Growing podcast the crew chats about the upcoming Brood X emergence and why Ken is sad we don't live within their range. But we do talk about the best ways to eat cicadas plus who shouldn't eat cicadas. What should people expect who live within the Brood X range and how to protect young trees from cicada damage. All this and much more! Check out the Cicada Mania webpage https://www.cicadamania.com/ The Ohio State University's article on cicadas https://bygl.osu.edu/node/1759 Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/6Y0utDdt3mY ___ Any products mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion of these products.

On this week's Good Growing podcast Katie, Ken, and Chris answer your timely questions about gardening in May. Dealing with late spring frosts and tomatoes. What to do about rhubarb that gets hit by frost? There are some landscape plants with black and brown foliage. Is this from the frost a few weeks ago? What should you do about cedar apple rust? If I spray 2,4-D on my lawn will it kill my hostas? Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/EZMyurxkCFY ___ Any products mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion of these products.

On this week's Good Growing podcast we talk with wildlife biologist Dr. John Vanek all about snakes! Dr. Vanek has a specialty in herpetology and loves to study snakes. In this episode we discuss: Why are so many humans afraid of snakes? Is it learned behavior or something deeper in our brains? What snake will people commonly encounter outside in Illinois? Is it safe to handle any wild snake we find outside? How common are venomous snakes? What types do we have in Illinois? How can we tell the difference between a non-venomous and venomous snake? Snake ID from a listener submitted photo - Can you identify the snake hanging out in this tree? This person had a cluster of snakes in her tree by a pond. What are they? And why are they clustered up? And will they eat the baby geese? Are snake populations declining? How do we discourage snakes in our yard. What do we need to do? Do the repellants work? Mothballs? What if we want to encourage snakes in our yard. Is there some way we can do that? Are there any snakes that would help control larger animals like rabbits? A snake is hanging off of their ceiling fan! First off, how did it get on the fan? And how do we keep snakes out of the house? What happens when you know there’s a snake in the house, but you can’t find it? How do you flush out a snake? Check out John's webpage johnpvanek.weebly.com Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/Y9iso_KVUXc ___ Any products mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion of these products.

In this episode of the Good Growing podcast, we sit down with University of Illinois Extension educator Carrie McKillip to talk about disaster preparedness and things we as residents in storm-prone Illinois need to consider. Carrie is a Community and Economic Development educator who specializes in helping communities prepare and respond to disasters. We chat about how she does that, keeping an emergency kit, should we be worried about earthquakes in Illinois, and preparing for the disaster we are most likely to face. Plus we answer actual questions that came into the Extension office during past Illinois disasters. How do you get debris out of the lawn following a tornado? What should you do about trees that are damaged during storms? Can you eat produce from a flooded vegetable garden? How can we fix our lawn after being flooded for weeks? Should we knock the ice off of branches during an ice storm? How can you make your yard more sustainable from drought? Native plant list from Indiana/Illinois Sea Grant https://iiseagrant.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/1-ILLINOIS-NATIVE-PLANTS-FOR-THE-HOME-LANDSCAPE.pdf Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/uYxLlpKnASM ___ Any products mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion of these products.

On this week's Good Growing podcast we share some recent photos of spring-blooming plants in our yards. Horticulture program coordinator and photographer Wendy Ferguson gives us some tips for improving our photography skills. Plus your home gardening questions answered. I have an image of our saucer magnolia taken at night. The flowers seemed to glow in the dark so I grabbed my camera, but the photo didn’t turn out well. Can I take a photo at night and get realistic images? Hellebores in bloom Is there anything I can do about shadows? I always have my shadow or the shadow of something else in my pictures. I understand to move, but is there something else I can do? Close up images Image composition Taking pictures at ground level Some unique tulip cultivars; plus a field full of spring beauties https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2021-04-15-spring-brings-spring-beauties-landscape What can I do about harsh lighting during the middle of the day? I bought blooming spring bulbs in containers for Easter. Is it okay to cut the foliage and dead blooms off of my bulbs before I plant them in the ground? Will the cold night temperatures affect my snapdragons I just planted in a container? How do you get rid of creeping Charley? When the best time to spray for bagworms? How to control wild onion in turf? Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/oySSB7hl614 --- Any products mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion of these products.

In this week's Good Growing podcast we chat with Mary Fischer about her work in building a coalition of conservationists with Illinois teenagers. Mary is working to expand the Master Naturalist program to teens to build a land ethic in the next generation and create ideas for future careers. Plus we answer your home gardening questions! Talking about Mary's work to build a Master Naturalist Youth program. What are some easy and inexpensive activities parents can do with their kids outdoors? (maybe even educational) We’re seeing lots of escaped ornamental pear trees flowering along our woodland. Should we cut it down now? How do we get rid of this? We’ve heard a lot about night-blooming plants and how it may help pollinators like moths. What do you recommend? We have both full sun and full shade landscape beds we’d like to plant. We would like to grow sweet potatoes this year, but we have no idea where to start. Plus, what is a sweet potato slip? An old oak had branches resting on a powerline. I just trimmed them off then realized it is probably too late in the year. The saw was clean -- never used on oak before. Branches were 4 to 6 inches in diameter. Did I mess up and if so, is there something I can do about it? I know they don't recommend coating with a coating sealer. I don't know why I think about these things after I do them. Does planting multiple seeds per pot is making their tomatoes taller. Is competition a factor? Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/PaQkWxeG77k --- Any products mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion of these products.

On this week's Good Growing podcast the groups sit down with Dennis Bowman to talk about using drones in agriculture. How much do you know about drones? 8:52 We have a true or false pop quiz with Ken and Katie to test their knowledge about drones. 4:30 What is the difference between GPS and GIS. Plus, Dennis answers your ag questions! Using Drones in Ag 9:38 Can anyone buy and start flying a drone? 15:24 What type of drone does Dennis fly? 17:42 Is it legal to leave while your drone flies a pre-mapped pattern? 19:16 Do drones take measurements using sensors, just like in Star Trek? 25:20 Where does most of the work take place when flying drones in agriculture? In the field or at the computer? 29:18 What amount of area can a drone cover on one battery charge? 30:36 How detailed can you get with drones? Down to a single plant? 33:20 It is legal in Illinois to use drones to spray pesticides? 37:29 Will new technology will reduce future pesticide loads in the environment? 38:50 Is being an ag drone pilot a viable career opportunity? Your Questions: 40:43 Is it legal for a drone to be flying over my property? 42:32 What are the plants that cause farm fields to turn purple in the spring? 43:28 We have noticed lots of vole damage in our alfalfa field this spring. What can be done to control it? 44:37 During the warm early March weather, we tilled the field. Since then we’ve had lots of rain and large portions had standing water on it. Does it need to be turned over again? Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/8uD5blfrTvg Any products mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion of these products.

On this week's Good Growing podcast hosts Ken, Katie, and Chris share what's going on in their vegetable gardens and what yard chores are on their to-do list. Is it time for spring cleanup? Ken notices some bees are out and looking for nesting locations and gives tips on providing that habitat while cleaning out some dead plants. Katie talks about lawn care and what we should be doing this early in the spring. Plus your questions answered! What kind of maintenance should be happening for fruit trees in early spring? What can be done about mole and vole damage to yards? Bees are emerging in our basement from a wood table! What can we do to keep that from happening? Bees are swarming the bird feeder. Why? What can a person with bee allergies do to stop it? What are some tips to sustainably maintain our lawns? Should we be doing grub control in the spring? Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/LvNlLfp_KiQ

On this week's Good Growin podcast we chat about the team's upcoming Good Growing Garden Day all about pollinators. Andrew Holsinger joins us to dive into the topics we will discuss during the Garden Day webinar covering hummingbirds, pollinating insects, wildflowers, and native trees. Plus, we answer questions on these topics. More information on the event page https://extension.illinois.edu/events/2021-03-27-good-growing-garden-day-pollinators-webinar Register for the Good Growing Pollinator Day go.illinois.edu/GardenDayPollinators When is the best time to put out hummingbird feeders? When can I start cleaning up my garden if I want to try and protect overwintering pollinators? Establishing a pollinator plot from seed versus potted plants. How should I plant native trees and shrubs in my landscape for the most significant impact on pollinators? How can I attract more hummingbirds to my yard? I have a butterfly house in my garden, but I never find butterflies in it. What can I do to attract them to it? What flowers that attract pollinators are recommended for part shade or under trees? What can I do to make sure I get the best native woody plant for my site? Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/rk2_VGj6S0k

This week the Good Growing team chats with Illinois Extension educator Duane Friend about cover crops and soil organic matter. They discuss a recent article about how the Midwest is quickly losing carbon-rich topsoil and if that rings true for Illinois. Duane gives possible remedies to help conserve soil and how cover crops can play a role and how cover crops can be used in the home garden. Plus your questions: There is a funky smell in the air near the farm fields. Is this rotting cover crops? What to do when your brand new home is left with lousy soil. Can cover crops be planted in the spring before planting tomatoes? Can cover crops become weeds? Is there a way to kill cover crops without using herbicides? I started using cover crops, but now I have voles in my garden. What can I do!? Tilling my garden for years has caused the soil to settle. Will using cover crops stop the settling? Check out Duane's upcoming webinar on Farm Pond Management https://extension.illinois.edu/events/2021-03-30-rural-pond-management-webinar Duane also has a new blog All About Weather https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/all-about-weather Want to watch the podcast? You can on YouTube https://youtu.be/3b-03cLAfr4

Do you want to get started with beekeeping? Spring is the time to get your hive up and running. Our guest this week, Illinois Extension horticulture educator Jennifer Fishburn, gets into the details of how to start a beehive. Plus, listener questions: Can beehives be kept in town? When should you start a hive? What do you need to set up a hive and keep from getting stung? What type of budget are we talking about for a beginning beekeeper? Do you need to provide things other than what's in the hive? Water about water? How do you harvest the honey? How to transition mostly grass CRP into bee-friendly flowers? Is micro clover a good groundcover for bees? How do you keep your bee colony healthy? Should beehives be kept in the shade? Want to watch the podcast? You can on YouTube https://youtu.be/8hSLNLxn1jw

In this week's Good Growing episode we chat with Illinois Extension forestry specialist Chris Evans about maple syrup and how you can make maple syrup in your own backyard. Chris also answers listener-submitted questions on forestry. Want to watch the podcast? You can on YouTube https://youtu.be/j8MmgCrfVeM Maple syrup questions: Did the prolonged cold-snap affect maple syrup production? Does being in Southern Illinois affect maple sap? Can you use other species besides sugar maple? How was maple syrup harvested historically? What kind of investment are we talking for a homeowner wanting to harvest sap for syrup? Is this like canning where we have to keep things sterile? Is climate change at play here? Will we lose the sugar maple in Illinois? Forestry questions: If someone would like to begin a profitable timber investment for their kids where do they start? A landowner has cleared out a black walnut patch from his woods and would like to plant edible walnuts. What does he need to know about planting edible walnuts? A vegetable grower has some old Austrian pines that are dying and need to rebuild their windbreak. They would like to include plants that may also contribute to their farm with edible crops for harvest. How can you determine the value of trees? How do you find someone local to harvest the trees? Lots of great resources can be found at Illinois Extension's forestry webpage https://extension.illinois.edu/forestry

We are talking all about birds on this week's Good Growing podcast. We chat with Dr. Michael Ward on the plight of birds. Are the declining populations dire? Why are Midwestern migrating birds being found in shark stomachs in the Gulf of Mexico? Dr. Ward tells what is being done across the borders, in Illinois agricultural lands, and how we can help in our backyards. Plus, Citizen Science opportunities anyone can do. Dr. Ward is a senior ornithologist at Illinois Natural History Survey and associate professor at the University of Illinois. He recently won the distinguished Runge Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award. Dr. Ward also answers listener questions: What to do about barn swallows nesting above a patio? Can you feed birds people food like stale bread and crackers? What can be done to stop birds from hitting the window? Should we feed birds all year? How do we attract more than just sparrows to our feeders? Should we clean our birdfeeders?

In this part two episode of our series on native plants, our special guests Martha Smith, Austin Little, and Layne Knoche answer listener-submitted questions about native plants. Want to watch the podcast? You can on YouTube https://youtu.be/9YJfLhH07vA Should we be planting nativars? What about the genetics spreading in the wild? Is it okay to dig up native plants you find in the wild? What native plants are recommended to plant in very dry and sandy soil? If you remove bush honeysuckle do you need to replant something to keep it from coming back? What can be planted in a shaded hillside that has erosion problems? Our dogwood tree leaves dried and turned brown last year. What's going on with these trees? How can we reduce all the aphids on the milkweed plants without hurting the monarch caterpillars? Harvesting wild native plants https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/ethics/index.shtml Alternatives to Invasive Plants (book) https://www.amazon.com/Native-Alternatives-Invasive-Plants-Greener/dp/1889538779 The debate on natives vs nativars continues https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/garden-scoop/2019-12-28-native-vs-nativar Contact the hosts Ken Johnson [email protected] Katie Parker [email protected] Chris Enroth [email protected]

Check out Part One of our talk on native plants with Austin Little, Layne Knoche, and Martha Smith. All talented landscape designers, each guest shares their top three favorite native plants. You won't want want to miss this one as you plan ahead for this growing season. Want to watch the podcast? You can on YouTube https://youtu.be/UqvnZc_Y7rY What is a native plant and why should people incorporate these into the landscape? Austin's picks American persimmon Oakleaf hydrangea Gray dogwood American beautyberry Martha's picks White fringe tree Black tupelo Butterflyweed Layne's picks Slender mountain mint Swamp milkweed Red chokeberry

In this week's Good Growing podcast we chat with Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle, an Illinois Extension horticulture educator. We get into the thick of it as we talk seed catalogs and tips for navigating your way through the inundation of marketing from seed companies in these winter months. Plus your questions! What’s the difference between hybrids and GMOs? How can I avoid purchasing GMO seeds? What about certified organic seed? Should I throw away seed from last year? What are all these different abbreviations next to the plant names in the catalog? Is it legal to save seed from a vegetable that I ordered from a seed catalog? Is there a way to get free seed? Bush or vining type? Determinate and indeterminate? What is best if I just want a small tomato plant? Seed viability chart from Iowa State Extension https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/1999/4-2-1999/veggielife.html Want to watch the podcast? You can on YouTube https://youtu.be/shGknomSQFw Contact the hosts Ken Johnson [email protected] Katie Parker [email protected] Chris Enroth [email protected]

In this week's Good Growing podcast we chat once again with Gemini Bhalsod, an Illinois Extension horticulture educator for Cook County. Gemini and the group dive into seed production and why we are already seeing shortages for the 2021 growing season. We also discuss how you can plan your garden for saving your seed this year. Plus your questions! Tomato seeds from last year have mold on them. Can they be saved? Is it too late to plant milkweed seed in January? Can I save seed from a sweet pepper plant being overwintered that is producing fruit now? Can I sow lawn seed in the winter? What can teachers plant now (January) which will grow in time for the kids to see flowers or harvest? Want to watch the podcast? You can on YouTube https://youtu.be/Uh09yv6Anao Contact the hosts Ken Johnson [email protected] Katie Parker [email protected] Chris Enroth [email protected]

In this week's episode, the Good Growing team sits down with Dean Kim Kidwell to talk about all things Illinois Extension and College of ACES (Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences). Dean Kidwell leads the College of ACES on the University of Illinois campus and oversees the efforts of Illinois Extension across the state. With so much on her plate, we cover lots of ground including the connection between Extension and ACES and how that translates to bridging the University of Illinois to our local communities. We also chat about Dean Kidwell's background as a University of Illinois student and life before taking the role of an administrator as a wheat breeder. Dean Kidwell also announces some big news for Illinois Extension and the University of Illinois campus. Interested in learning more about a degree in ACES? Check out their website and schedule a time to visit. https://aces.illinois.edu/ Want to watch the podcast? You can on YouTube https://youtu.be/5BTH6dZ6-fc Contact the hosts Ken Johnson [email protected] Katie Parker [email protected] Chris Enroth [email protected]

In this week’s episode of the Good Growing podcast, we talk with corn and soybean farmer Matt Duesterhaus about what’s life like for a farmer in Central Illinois. Matt talks about what led him to farming, what it takes to farm from money to knowledge, and what was farming like during 2020. Plus Matt answers your questions during our Ask a Farmer segment. Come learn about the people that cultivate our land to put food on our tables in this week's episode. Your Questions: Illinois seems to lag behind other states when it comes to cover crop use. Why and will we start seeing more cover crops being used? I’ve heard fall tillage described as “recreational tillage” or something bored farmers do in the fall. Why do we see so much tilling occur in the fall? What’s in those big white tanks in the fall? What’s it used for? What are the planes spraying on the fields in the summer? What are Illinois farmers doing to help protect the land to ensure we can keep farming into the future? Dicamba has been making the news these last few years. What do farmers think of this? Is it a good tool? Is it destined to lead to resistance? Want to watch the podcast? You can on YouTube https://youtu.be/LNV6z68nU1s Contact the hosts Ken Johnson [email protected] Katie Parker [email protected] Chris Enroth [email protected]

On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we chat with entomology specialist Sarah Hughson about pantry pests. Sarah dives into what to do about moths in your cereal and “maggots” in your flour. Still hungry? We also dig into cockroaches and ants. Put down the spatula because you won’t want to miss this episode! Plus your questions: What are those small moths flying around the kitchen and how do we get rid of them? Should you be spraying your pantry with bug killer? (Spoiler: it’s not a good idea) Will carpenter ants in a dead tree stump outside come into my house? I keep getting worms in my apples on my backyard apple trees. How can I get worm-free apples? I bought some Rid-X now I have tiny bugs crawling everywhere! Are they from the Rid-X? Questions about pesticides? Need to become a licensed pesticide applicator in Illinois? Check out the Pesticide Safety and Education website. https://extension.illinois.edu/psep/psep-homepage Register now for the 85th annual Pest Management Conference host by Purdue University https://www.extension.entm.purdue.edu/urbanconference/ Geared toward commercial growers, but still chocked full of good information for any tree fruit gardener the 2019-2020 Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide https://ag.purdue.edu/hla/Hort/pages/sfg_sprayguide.aspx Check out Ken’s article on common pantry pests https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/common_pantry_pests.pdf Want to watch the podcast? You can on YouTube https://youtu.be/TYHS4MdgFnU Contact the hosts Ken Johnson [email protected] Katie Parker [email protected] Chris Enroth [email protected]

Good Growing loves trees and we are excited to promote the Urban Tree Conference. A month-long conference in an online format for January 2021. The Urban Tree Conference is host by the University of Illinois Extension. Conference dates: January 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22. Register soon! go.illinois.edu/urbantree