Good Growing

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

Latest Episode

 It’s the most wonderful time of the year, if you’re battling invasive bush honeysuckle! In this Garden Bite, Chris from the Good Growing podcast walks you through effective late-fall control methods.

Ep. 16 Landscape Design Tips with Martha Smith & Murder Wasps

This week Martha Smith joins the Good Growing team to talk all about landscape design. Martha is a horticulture educator with University of Illinois Extension and has previous experience as a landscape designer. During this episode the group talks about: What's blooming in their yards What does...

Ep. 15 All about tomatoes! With guest Andrew Holsinger

In this week's episode of the Good Growing podcast, horticulture Andrew Holsinger joins the gang to talk all about tomatoes. Tomato topics discussed: Physiological leaf roll vs. herbicide injury Flower drop Cracking tomato skin Novelty tomatoes Staking tomatoes Growing tomatoes in containers...

Ep. 14 Growing Mushrooms with Michelle Berg Vogel & Your Gardening Questions

In today's episode of the Good Growing Podcast Michelle Berg Vogel joins Ken, Katie, and Chris to talk about growing your very own mushrooms at home. Plus tips for hunting the elusive morel mushroom. All this plus your home gardening questions answered. On this episode we answer the following...

Ep. 13 Answering Insect Questions with Kelly Allsup

Join the Good Growing crew as they answer your insect questions. Ken, Katie, and Chris welcome special guest Kelly Allsup, horticulture educator with the University of Illinois Extension. Kelly's passion is insects and shares her knowledge with the podcast to answer your insect questions. Following...

Ep. 12 Your Home Gardening Questions Answered with Ken and Katie

On this spring episode of the Good Growing podcast we answer questions we received from Illinois home gardeners. Ken Johnson, horticulture educator, and Katie Parker, local foods & small farms educator, join Chris to answer the following questions: 1. Dealing with squash bugs 2. What to do...

Ep. 11 The Truth about the Woolly Bear Caterpillars with Chris Enroth

Most people know few insects by name. One of the more popular, at least this time of year, is the woolly bear or woolly worm caterpillar. This caterpillar is the larval form of the Isabella Tiger Moth (Pyrrharctia Isabella). A white to orange to yellow moth that frequents lights at night in...

Ep. 10 Compost Tea - Miracle Product or Snake Oil with Chris Enroth

Will compost tea save the world? Not according to current science. Science and the compost tea industry disagree on the effects of compost tea. Listen in as horticulture educator Chris Enroth saves you time, money, and electricity by keeping compost in the landscape. Leave the tea in the...

Ep. 9 Cover Crops with Duane Friend

On this episode of the Good Growing Podcast, Extension educator Duane Friends pops by to chat about cover crops. Duane explains the importance of using cover crops, how they are a great tool for soil management, choosing cover crops, and more! Got questions? Contact Duane friend@illinois.edu...

Ep. 8 Dealing with a Mouse in the House

On this episode of the Good Growing podcast, Chris shares his recent experience with a mouse in his house. He gives tips and tricks for dealing with these unwanted guests in the middle of winter. Check out Illinois Extension's website Living with Wildlife https://extension.illinois.edu/...

Dealing with Storm Damaged Trees Part 2

In part two of this two-part episode, Chris chats with University of Illinois Extension horticulture educators Andrew Holsinger and Ryan Pankau about storm damaged trees. Ryan shares his experiences as an arborist cleaning up after storms, how to make your trees more resilient to storms, and...