Good Growing
Talking all things horticulture, ecology, and design.

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Coneflowers are beloved native plants, but sometimes you may end up with strange-looking flowers. Check out this week's Good Growing Podcast to learn about two common causes of distorted coneflower blooms: aster yellows and coneflower rosette mites.
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Gardenbite: Weird looking coneflower flowers: Aster yellows and rosette mites | #GoodGrowing

Coneflowers are beloved native plants, but sometimes you may end up with strange-looking flowers. Check out this week's Good Growing Podcast to learn about two common causes of distorted coneflower blooms: aster yellows and coneflower rosette mites. Learn how to recognize the symptoms of each...
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Ep. 258 Gardens of the Founding Fathers |#GoodGrowing

As Americans prepare to celebrate the July 4th weekend, Good Growing takes a look at the Founding Fathers as gardeners. In this episode, we explore the lesser-known side of our nation’s founders. In addition to being authors and signers of the Declaration of Independence and political...
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Ep. 257 Design principles and plants for edible landscapes | #GoodGrowing

In this episode of the Good Growing podcast, we explore the concept of edible landscaping, where ornamental plants double as food sources.
Emily, Ken, and Chris will discuss how to design a landscape that combines aesthetic appeal with edible function...
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Ep. 256 From mild to wild: Exploring hot peppers | #GoodGrowing

Love them or fear them, hot peppers bring the heat to gardens and kitchens alike. Join us as we dive into the spicy world of peppers with Dr. Jack McCoy. Learn about what makes peppers hot, why some people love to eat them, how to grow them, ways to use your harvest, and more!
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Ep. 255 Big bluestem in the garden | #GoodGrowing

Big bluestem is one of the iconic grasses of the tallgrass prairie, and it's having a moment as this year's Perennial Plant of the Year! Check out this week's Good Growing Podcast as we explore what makes this native grass so special, from how to identify it, to where it grows, and how it...
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Gardenbite: How to Keep Tomatoes Healthy in Summer Heat: Pruning, Support, and Mulch | #GoodGrowing

In this Gardenbite episode of the Good Growing podcast, we dig into essential early summer tomato care to help keep your plants healthy, productive, and under control. From staking and trellising methods like cages and the Florida weave to managing vigorous indeterminate varieties, we explore...
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Ep. 254 How We Became Horticulturists: Real Stories & Career Paths in Plant Science | #GoodGrowing

How do you actually become a horticulturist? Is it a straight path—or a winding trail full of unexpected turns?

In this episode of the Good Growing Podcast, Chris, Ken, and Emily dig into their own origin stories—sharing how childhood curiosity, career detours, and a little bit of luck...
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Ep. 253 Garden Q&A: Is it Poison Hemlock? Weird Pepper Myths, Bluebird Drama, and more! | #GoodGrowing

Got weird plants in your yard? Strange damage on your trees? Or birds attacking your truck? You’re not alone! In this Good Growing Podcast Q&A episode, we tackle real gardening questions asked at Illinois Extension offices and by podcast listeners.

We start with a recurring question...
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Ep. 252 Growing together: Three Sisters gardening | #GoodGrowing

 
This week on the Good Growing Podcast, we dig into the Three Sisters gardening method, an Indigenous planting system that brings corn, beans, and squash together in a mutually beneficial way. Learn about the history and cultural significance behind the Three...
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Ep. 251 Celebrating the Year of the Azalea and Talking How to Grow Them | #GoodGrowing

The National Garden Bureau has named 2026 the Year of the Azalea! Ken, Emily, and Chris are digging into what makes these colorful (and sometimes finicky) plants so popular.

In this episode of the Good Growing podcast, we break down everything you need to know about azaleas—from their...
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