As summer gives way to fall, insects are busy preparing for winter in a variety of ways. Tune in to this week’s Good Growing Podcast as we explore which insects migrate, which stay put, and how they survive the cold months ahead. Plus, learn what gardeners can do this fall, from leaving leaves to delaying cleanup, to help support beneficial insects in the landscape.

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zDhAISO3wlA

Skip to what you want to know:  

  03:24 – What insects are we seeing more of in fall?

  11:35 – How do insects survive the winter months?

  24:27 – Creating overwinter habitat for insects

  37:16 – Fall landscape clean-up with insects in mind

  44:28 – Should we clean up vegetable gardens?

  47:08 – Insects coming indoors in the fall

  53:44 – Wrap-up, what’s up next week, and goodbye!

Insects on the move – dragonfly migration

Migratory Insects of North America

How do insects survive cold weather?

Removing autumn leaves in residential yards reduces the spring emergence of overwintering insects

Evolutionary impacts of winter climate change on insects

Contact us! 

Chris Enroth: [email protected]

Ken Johnson: [email protected]

Emily Swihart: [email protected]

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

As autumn approaches, one of the standout flowers that is beginning to bloom is goldenrod. Dozens of species are native to the Midwest, and more than 100 species can be found throughout the United States. To help us sift through which species is suited for which landscape, the Good Growing team reviews two recently published goldenrod trials, one from the Chicago Botanic Garden and one from Mt. Cuba Center, and discusses the results. Join Chris Enroth, Ken Johnson, and Emily Swihart to learn more about this late-season stunner.

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NzDJxNoGxRk

Contact us! 

Chris Enroth: [email protected]

Ken Johnson: [email protected]

Emily Swihart: [email protected]

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

Tomatoes may be the most popular garden crop, but they can also be the most frustrating. If your tomatoes are cracking, developing black spots on the bottom, refusing to ripen, or showing strange yellow shoulders, you're not alone. In this episode, Chris and Ken dig into the most common tomato fruit disorders caused by weather, watering, heat, and nutrient imbalances. We also discuss late-season tomato care, including topping plants, ripening green tomatoes indoors, and cleaning up the garden to reduce problems next year. 

Skip to what you want to know:
00:42 Hey Ken! Where are we making our tomato problem observations this year?  
04:09 Ken has tomato fruitworm (corn earworm), and he's proud of it.  
05:33 What's a psychological disorder?  
08:06 Tomato fruit cracking  
11:45 Tomato yellow shoulder  
13:27 White core of tomatoes  
16:00 Blossom-end rot  
21:00 Tomatoes are not ripening, or there are no tomatoes even though there are flowers  
29:50 Late-season tomato maintenance  
30:14 Topping tomatoes  
33:22 Tomato plant full of green tomatoes with a frost imminent  
35:17 Cleaning up the tomatoes from the garden at the end of the season

Troubles with Tomatoes https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2020-05-01-troubles-tomatoes

Stalled Green Tomatoes: Why won’t they turn red? https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2025-08-29-stalled-green-tomatoes-why-wont-they-turn-red

Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: [email protected]
Ken Johnson: [email protected] 
Emily Swihart: [email protected] 

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

Orchids have a reputation for being difficult to grow, but they may be easier than you think! Check out this week’s Good Growing Podcast, where we are joined by horticulture educator and longtime orchid enthusiast Jack Schooley. Learn about common orchid myths, good orchids for beginners, watering and light requirements, getting orchids to rebloom, and troubleshooting common problems. Plus, discover whether watering orchids with ice cubes is a good idea and how there really is an orchid for everyone!

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SSO87aYwcJo 

Skip to what you want to know:  

  01:56 – Welcome Jack! Tell us a little about your background. How did you get into growing orchids?

  05:34 – Orchids have a reputation for being difficult to grow. Is that true? What are some of the biggest misconceptions people have about orchids? 

  10:19 – For someone buying their first orchid, what type(s) would you recommend?

  12:42 – What should people look for when purchasing an orchid? 

  15:53 – Do we grow orchids like regular houseplants? What makes orchids different from other houseplants?

  21:34 – Watering orchids, should we use ice cubes?

  24:07 – Humidity

  27:57 – Where should we locate orchids indoors? 

  30:39 – Repotting orchids. What kind of pot should be used (do they need to be clear)? When do you know when to repot?

  34:57 – How do we get orchids to rebloom?

  43:15 – Common orchid problems

  50:59 – What is the most common reason orchids fail to thrive long-term?

  52:32 – Top three orchid growing tips 

  56:29 – Wrap-up, what’s up next week, and goodbye!

Contact us! 

Chris Enroth: [email protected]

Ken Johnson: [email protected]

Emily Swihart: [email protected]

Jack Schooley: [email protected]

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’s Good Growing Podcast explores some common horticultural “rules of thumb” that might make garden and landscape care easier and more successful. Learn about the origins, benefits, and limitations of common guidelines. Many of the guides we discuss are frequently used on the Good Growing Podcast or in Extension programs, so if you have ever scratched your head after hearing an odd phrase from one of Illinois Extension’s Horticulture Educators, listen, and we will help you decipher some of our favorite “rules of thumb”.

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1Wap-lCNC-4

Contact us! 

Chris Enroth: [email protected]

Ken Johnson: [email protected]

Emily Swihart: [email protected]

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

Rain gardens are one of the most effective tools homeowners can use to manage stormwater, reduce runoff, and add beauty to the landscape. In this episode of the Good Growing Podcast, Chris, Emily, and Ken explore how rain gardens work, why they matter, and how they can help keep excess water out of storm sewers and local waterways.

Plus, hear about upcoming rain garden educational programs and community installation projects happening across Illinois Extension.

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/k3_SuHDWQ18

Skip to what you want to know:

02:17 Topic of the day: Rain gardens. Why are they important?
06:02 Describing the urban stormwater system
10:05 Other stormwater management tools besides rain gardens
13:53 What is a rain garden? The difference between detention and retention
15:29 Where should and shouldn't rain gardens be in a home landscape?
16:13 Defining a rain garden: it's a depression in the ground! Yay, we said what it was finally!
25:17 Sizing your rain garden
36:42 Rain Garden installation tips
51:34 Planting design for a rain garden
58:34 Illinois Groundwork link
1:01:48 Rain garden maintenance
1:02:35 Mosquitoes and rain gardens
1:04:54 Thank yous and coming up next week!

Register for our Rainscaping Classes https://extension.illinois.edu/events/2026-09-21-rainscaping

Illinois Ground Work Plant Finder Tool https://illinoisgroundwork.org/resources/plant-finder/

Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: [email protected]
Ken Johnson: [email protected] 
Emily Swihart: [email protected] 

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

Summer is in full swing, and with the heat comes plenty of garden and lawn questions! Join us as we tackle some of the most common summertime issues, including crabgrass taking over lawns, brown patches of turf, cracked tomatoes, swarms of beetles, and more!

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/x-5ENejfrTE

Skip to what you want to know:  

  01:10 – What to do about crabgrass in lawns? 

  06:33 – Lawn is dying, what do I do?  

  10:00 – What is tearing apart my sassafras tree? 

  13:40 – Why are my tomatoes cracking?

  17:04 – Why are hot peppers hot? Why did they evolve to be hot?

  16:18 – Green June Beetle ruined the park concert...

  24:28 – Wrap-up, what’s up next week, and goodbye!

Contact us! 

Chris Enroth: [email protected]

Ken Johnson: [email protected]

Emily Swihart: [email protected]

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

Take your landscape from random to remarkable. In this Gardenbite episode, Illinois Extension horticulture educator Emily Swihart explores how color theory can help you create a more cohesive, attractive, and intentional garden. Learn the difference between analogous color schemes that create calm, harmonious plantings and complementary color combinations that deliver bold contrast and visual impact. From choosing a favorite plant as your design anchor to selecting flowers and foliage that work together, Emily shares practical tips for using color with confidence. Whether you're planning a new garden bed or refreshing an existing landscape, this episode will help you stop guessing and start designing with purpose.

Topics covered:

What analogous and complementary color schemes are
How to use the color wheel to guide plant selections
Ways to create a cohesive garden design
Tips for balancing bold color combinations
How foliage color and plant texture enhance your landscape
A simple step-by-step approach to designing with color

Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: [email protected]
Ken Johnson: [email protected] 
Emily Swihart: [email protected] 

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

How far can running bamboo run?

Bamboo may look exotic and tropical, but did you know some species can thrive right here in Illinois? In this Gardenbite episode, Chris Enroth dives into the fascinating—and sometimes frustrating—world of bamboo. From Illinois' own native giant cane to the notorious running bamboo that has sparked neighbor disputes and landscaping headaches, learn what makes these giant grasses so unique. 

Skip to what you want to know:
00:51 Does bamboo grow in Illinois?
02:02 Illinois has a native bamboo species!
05:29 The different types of bamboo: pachymorph and leptomorphs
11:04 Methods for containing bamboo
18:44 How do you control bamboo?

Bamboo rhizome barrier installation video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf7S80itdso

Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: [email protected]
Ken Johnson: [email protected] 
Emily Swihart: [email protected] 

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

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, understand how they affect your plants, and discover management strategies to help keep your garden looking its best.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uENkERouAR8

Contact us! 

Chris Enroth: [email protected]

Ken Johnson: [email protected]

Emily Swihart: [email protected]

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