Good Growing

Talking all things horticulture, ecology, and design.
Good growing text over soil and gardening tools background

Latest Episode

Tired of being a mosquito magnet? In this episode of the Good Growing podcast, horticulture educators Chris Enroth and Ken Johnson bust common mosquito myths and dive into what really works to keep those pesky biters at bay.

Talking designing pollinator gardens, dividing iris, lilac problems, and more! #GoodGrowing

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...

Ep. 80 Fall lawn care tasks and tips with Richard Hentschel #goodgrowing

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://...

Ep 79. - Talking hemp, CBD, regulations, and more with Phillip Alberti #GoodGrowing

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...

Ep. 78 Tips for growing sweet corn - pests, harvesting and more! #GoodGrowing

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...

Ep. 77 Tips for Container Gardening #GoodGrowing

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...

Ep. 76 Algae blooms, pond weeds, and more with Duane Friend #GoodGrowing

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...

Ep. 75 Wet weather problems in the garden

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....

Ep. 74 Talking summertime tomato growing

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...

Ep. 73 Talking solar power for the home with Erin Garrett

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...

Ep. 72 Talking field botany & rare plants with Sara Johnson

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...