Good Growing

Has the warm weather got you thinking about gardening, perhaps gardening for pollinators? Learn about how you can create a habitat for pollinators in your own landscape, from the types of plants, habitat for nesting and egg-laying, pest management, and more! 

Contact us! 

Chris Enroth: [email protected]

Ken Johnson: [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.

--

You can find us on most podcast platforms.  

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 

This week we take a look at a clip from 2021 when the Good Growing team sat down with three horticulturists/landscape designers to learn about their favorite native plants. We asked each one to come up with their top three favorites. In this clip, retired Illinois Extension educator Martha Smith showcases her three favorite native plants that she has growing in her yard.

Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/58IDd070g-Q

Skip to what you want to know:
1:22 American fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) a.k.a White fringetree
4:50 Black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) a.k.a. Blackgum
8:17 Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
11:57 Discussion on Martha's picks including:
   -Butterfly milkweeds performance in hellstrips
   -EAB on fringetree
   -How the container size and shape can influence the success of planting butterfly milkweed

See this episode in its entirety which includes Layne's and Austin's favorite natives: https://youtu.be/UqvnZc_Y7rY

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.

--
You can find us on most podcast platforms.  
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

Do you like growing new things in the garden? Then come grow along with us! On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we roll out our newest project, the Good Growing Grow Along. We’ve selected six new plants/cultivars to grow in our gardens, and you can grow them along with us. We also discuss some new plants that have been in the news lately.

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/sUH6D73-fFg 

Skip to what you want to know:  

  00:30 – Welcome, Ken and Emily!

  01:45 – What’s new in the plant world in 2024? – glowing petunias

  06:50 – What’s new in the plant world in 2024? – purple tomatoes

  13:00 – Is there a benefit to growing new things in the garden?

  18:03 – Introducing the Good Growing Grow Along!   

     22:00 – Runner Bean ‘Black Knight’

     23:50 – Okra ‘Candle Fire’

     27:45 – Mizuna ‘Japanese Pink’

     30:45 – Acorn Squash ‘Honey Bun’

     33:20 – Cucumber ‘Lemon Cuke’

     37:05 – Southern Pea (Cow Pea) ‘Hog Brain’

  41:20 – How do I participate in the Good Growing Grow Along?

  47:00 – Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye!

Join us for the Good Growing Grow Along: https://go.illinois.edu/GrowAlong 

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.

--

You can find us on most podcast platforms.  

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 

This week is the second half of our conversation with Zack Grant about urban farming and dealing with contaminated soils. Zack details techniques that urban farmers and gardeners can use to avoid growing in contaminated soils. We also dive into the importance of soil testing and how to pick a soil lab and use the results to guide your amendment decisions. Throughout this process, Zack keeps bringing up the key point that often we can overdo it with amendments. He mentions how compost can become a major water polluter if used too ambitiously. 

Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/wY4MmIUjftA 

Skip to what you want to know:

0:55 What materials do you use to cap and fill on top of contaminated soil? 
   - Landscape fabric, woodchips, 50/50 soil/compost mix
5:30 Based on the budget and scale of your site, how do you approach contaminated soils?
6:27 What options are available when considering cap and fill. 
7:29 Diagrams of cap and fill techniques.
9:11 Issue of the use of compost and nutrient runoff concerns. 
14:15 Soil testing - where can people go to learn about soil testing and how to do it.  https://extension.illinois.edu/soil/soil-testing
17:47 Importance of soil testing and how we use it to manage soil fertility and reduce pollution. 
23:41 Applying scientific research to the varying agricultural systems.
27:49 Take-home message covering the past two episodes.
29:34 Thank yous and coming up next week. Big surprise!

Soil Scientist, Andrew McQuire's Blog recommended by Zack https://extension.wsu.edu/grant/andrew-mcguires-homepage/

Check out SoSuCo’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sosuco_urban_ag/
SoSuCo YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYr1qobBXdo&list=PLffsjFIQsK0ZG_Sx29hoGsrVlzh_IxzB_

Is there lead in your soil? New Chicago-area map tells you https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/there-lead-your-soil-new-chicago-area-map-tells-you

Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: [email protected]
Ken Johnson: [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.
--
You can find us on most podcast platforms.  
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

This week on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris chat with local foods and small farms educator Zack Grant about urban farming and dealing with contaminated soils. Zack describes what it's like to grow in urban conditions and how we inevitably encounter soil contamination. Plus we dive into his research on soil lead contamination and what contamination levels look like across Cook County. 

Check us out on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ugAPOKIcr7w

Skip to what you want to know:
0:28 - Hey Ken! What type of soils are we dealing with at our homes? Could it be contaminated?
3:10 – Welcome Zack Grant! Zack’s Extension demo site SoSuCo (Southside Suburban Cook County). What type of soil does Zack grow in Cook County? 
8:44 – What is urban agriculture and what type of crops are grown in these environments?
11:04 - Getting to know SoSuCo. The different demonstration plots and seeing what Zack grows there.
17:56 – Zack’s vlog Urban Ag Connect and the challenges of trying to get research-based info out in the social media world.
20:58 – How do urban soils differ from other soils? What is the primary concern?
26:58 – What about arsenic in rural areas?
30:24 – Talking about on-site (in situ) remediation of cap and fill
31:44 – Bioremediation, does it work to use plants to remove heavy metals from soil?
33:43 – Talking about Zack's soil lead contamination project with Dr. Andrew Margenot. How they used a portable x-ray device to scan soils to determine chemical composition and contamination levels.
40:15 – Results of lead soil testing in Cook County. And what thresholds of lead are okay to work in?
44:09 – What are the risks when growing in contaminated soil? What are the pathways for exposure?
45:34 – What are best practices to minimize exposure?
46:22 – Are there other datasets for other soil contaminates?

Check out SoSuCo’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sosuco_urban_ag/
SoSuCo YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYr1qobBXdo&list=PLffsjFIQsK0ZG_Sx29hoGsrVlzh_IxzB_

Is there lead in your soil? New Chicago-area map tells you https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/there-lead-your-soil-new-chicago-area-map-tells-you

Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: [email protected]
Ken Johnson: [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.
--
You can find us on most podcast platforms.  
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

Have you been stuck indoors with children this winter? Are they driving you crazy? You’re in luck! On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Brittnay Haag joins us to talk about different garden and nature activities we can do with our kids, both indoors and out.

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vn8HDTxy8DM

Skip to what you want to know:  

  00:45 – Welcome, Ken, what’s the strange orange ball in the sky?

  02:50 – Welcome, Brittnay. What does Chris think of when he hears McLean County?

  04:20 – Why is it important for kids to go outside?

  06:08 – Getting kids to help in the garden.

  08:14 – Gardening activities for the indoors during the winter  

  13:20 – What about outdoors? Outdoor winter activities for kids. 

  20:45 – Valentine's Day is coming up: gift ideas that kids can make.

  27:20 – Fun with birds! Observing and feeding

  33:00 - Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye!

How to make homemade seed cards: https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2021-02-11-how-make-homemade-seed-cards-valentines-day  

Great Backyard Bird Count: https://www.birdcount.org/

Create a Winter Bird Haven: https://youtu.be/_yLih1FYRfM 

Make a toilet paper roll bird feeder: https://youtu.be/EQcbfivmyvQ

How to Make a Bird Food Garland with Popcorn, Cranberries, and More: https://youtu.be/IyozQ-KuCVA

Make your own suet log bird feeder: https://youtu.be/3Rr0ZssYbBM 

Contact us! 

Chris Enroth: [email protected]

Ken Johnson: [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.

--

You can find us on most podcast platforms.  

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 

This week’s episode of the Good Growing Podcast features Ken and Chris in conversation with Brodie Dunn and Timo Wayman. The discussion revolves around a new research project on bee hotels that includes a citizen science component. Brodie and Timo share their insights on what they hope to discover through this scientific endeavor, and whether bee hotels are beneficial or detrimental to bees. Tune in to learn how you can contribute to this scientific cause and become a citizen scientist.

Skip to what you want to know:

0:28 Hey Ken! Bugs are cool now and what kind of bee hotels do we have?
2:48 Welcome Timo and Brodie from the most podcast-y location we've ever had on the show!
4:07 What drew Timo to studying insects?
7:10 What are bee hotels and how do the help bees?
11:44 Do only bees use bee hotels? What about wasps and other insects?
Problems with bees hotels.
   13:34 Predation from natural enemies if bees and wasps like the cuckoo wasp (cleptoparasites).
   15:19 Diseases showing up in bee hotels.
   16:40 What about invasive bees using bee hotels?
   19:10 How much research is out there regarding bee hotels?
27:31 How do bees utilize bee hotels?
30:06 Is there a recommendation on where to put a bee hotel in the landscape?
31:32 How do the bee babies get out of the galleries drilled into the wood?
34:11 What could someone look for when buying a bee hotel? Should people buy bee hotels!?
35:22 Talking about the bee hotel research. How can Illinoisians contribute to increasing our knowledge?
44:29 How can people learn more about this project or contact Timo?

go.Illinois.edu/BeeHotel

Urban environments have species-specific associations with invasive insect herbivores https://doi.org/10.1093/jue/juac011 

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

--
You can find us on most podcast platforms.  
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

Have you been longing to get outside and play in the dirt? Then vermicomposting may be for you! Learn about how to compost indoors with worms, from containers to use, how to prepare the growing media and food, how to harvest your worm compost, and more!

Contact us! 

Chris Enroth: [email protected]

Ken Johnson: [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.

--

You can find us on most podcast platforms.  

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 

This week’s episode of the Good Growing Podcast is all about snow and ice. Ken and Chris discuss how to deal with snow and ice on trees and shrubs, problems to avoid with rock salt, tips for using deicers, and much more. Tune in to the Good Growing Podcast to learn more about how to protect your plants from the winter weather. Thank you for listening!

Skip to what you want to know:

0:34 Hey Ken! Winter has finally arrived in Illinois. Are we ready for the upcoming cold snap?
1:51 How do we handle ice and snow weighing down tree limbs?
4:35 What trees are better adapted to dealing with ice and snow? Needled evergreens vs. deciduous.
6:07 Talking how branch angles influence the strength of limbs. What branch angle is best?
8:02 Protecting columnar, upright trees and shrubs.
9:20 Where is the best spot to place piles of shoveled/plowed snow?
11:48 The pitfall of shoveling salt-laden snow into one spot.
12:11 Talking deicing salts. What are they and how it can damage plants.
13:35 Salt’s effect on soils.
15:58 Salt spray and how plants near roads are often affected.
17:58 Discussion of salt tolerant plant lists.
19:22 Alternative to rock salt (sodium chloride).
24:20 Tips on using deicing salts.
27:15 The benefits of snow.
31:00 Thank you’s, goodbye, and coming up next week.

Salt Tolerant Plant List https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0145/8808/4272/files/A3877.pdf

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

--
You can find us on most podcast platforms.  
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

It’s that time of year - time to start thinking about pruning your deciduous trees and shrubs. While many of our landscape trees and shrubs don’t necessarily need yearly pruning, the same can’t be said for fruit trees. Learn about why we should prune fruit trees yearly, the different types of pruning cuts we use, and more! 

Contact us! 

Chris Enroth: [email protected]

Ken Johnson: [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.

--

You can find us on most podcast platforms.  

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