Good Growing

In this part two episode of our series on native plants, our special guests Martha Smith, Austin Little, and Layne Knoche answer listener-submitted questions about native plants.

Want to watch the podcast? You can on YouTube https://youtu.be/9YJfLhH07vA

Should we be planting nativars? What about the genetics spreading in the wild?

Is it okay to dig up native plants you find in the wild?

What native plants are recommended to plant in very dry and sandy soil?

If you remove bush honeysuckle do you need to replant something to keep it from coming back?

What can be planted in a shaded hillside that has erosion problems?

Our dogwood tree leaves dried and turned brown last year. What's going on with these trees?

How can we reduce all the aphids on the milkweed plants without hurting the monarch caterpillars?

Harvesting wild native plants https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/ethics/index.shtml

Alternatives to Invasive Plants (book) https://www.amazon.com/Native-Alternatives-Invasive-Plants-Greener/dp/1889538779

The debate on natives vs nativars continues https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/garden-scoop/2019-12-28-native-vs-nativar

Contact the hosts

Ken Johnson [email protected]

Katie Parker [email protected]

Chris Enroth [email protected]

Check out Part One of our talk on native plants with Austin Little, Layne Knoche, and Martha Smith. All talented landscape designers, each guest shares their top three favorite native plants. You won't want want to miss this one as you plan ahead for this growing season.

Want to watch the podcast? You can on YouTube https://youtu.be/UqvnZc_Y7rY

What is a native plant and why should people incorporate these into the landscape?

Austin's picks

American persimmon

Oakleaf hydrangea

Gray dogwood

American beautyberry

Martha's picks

White fringe tree

Black tupelo

Butterflyweed

Layne's picks

Slender mountain mint

Swamp milkweed

Red chokeberry

In this week's Good Growing podcast we chat with Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle, an Illinois Extension horticulture educator. We get into the thick of it as we talk seed catalogs and tips for navigating your way through the inundation of marketing from seed companies in these winter months. Plus your questions!

What’s the difference between hybrids and GMOs? How can I avoid purchasing GMO seeds? What about certified organic seed?

Should I throw away seed from last year?

What are all these different abbreviations next to the plant names in the catalog?

Is it legal to save seed from a vegetable that I ordered from a seed catalog?

Is there a way to get free seed?

Bush or vining type? Determinate and indeterminate? What is best if I just want a small tomato plant?

Seed viability chart from Iowa State Extension https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/1999/4-2-1999/veggielife.html

Want to watch the podcast? You can on YouTube

https://youtu.be/shGknomSQFw

Contact the hosts

Ken Johnson [email protected]

Katie Parker [email protected]

Chris Enroth [email protected]

In this week's Good Growing podcast we chat once again with Gemini Bhalsod, an Illinois Extension horticulture educator for Cook County. Gemini and the group dive into seed production and why we are already seeing shortages for the 2021 growing season. We also discuss how you can plan your garden for saving your seed this year. Plus your questions!

Tomato seeds from last year have mold on them. Can they be saved?

Is it too late to plant milkweed seed in January?

Can I save seed from a sweet pepper plant being overwintered that is producing fruit now?

Can I sow lawn seed in the winter?

What can teachers plant now (January) which will grow in time for the kids to see flowers or harvest?

Want to watch the podcast? You can on YouTube

https://youtu.be/Uh09yv6Anao

Contact the hosts

Ken Johnson [email protected]

Katie Parker [email protected]

Chris Enroth [email protected]

In this week's episode, the Good Growing team sits down with Dean Kim Kidwell to talk about all things Illinois Extension and College of ACES (Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences). Dean Kidwell leads the College of ACES on the University of Illinois campus and oversees the efforts of Illinois Extension across the state. With so much on her plate, we cover lots of ground including the connection between Extension and ACES and how that translates to bridging the University of Illinois to our local communities.

We also chat about Dean Kidwell's background as a University of Illinois student and life before taking the role of an administrator as a wheat breeder. Dean Kidwell also announces some big news for Illinois Extension and the University of Illinois campus.

Interested in learning more about a degree in ACES? Check out their website and schedule a time to visit. https://aces.illinois.edu/

Want to watch the podcast? You can on YouTube

https://youtu.be/5BTH6dZ6-fc

Contact the hosts

Ken Johnson [email protected]

Katie Parker [email protected]

Chris Enroth [email protected]

In this week’s episode of the Good Growing podcast, we talk with corn and soybean farmer Matt Duesterhaus about what’s life like for a farmer in Central Illinois. Matt talks about what led him to farming, what it takes to farm from money to knowledge, and what was farming like during 2020. Plus Matt answers your questions during our Ask a Farmer segment. Come learn about the people that cultivate our land to put food on our tables in this week's episode.

Your Questions:

Illinois seems to lag behind other states when it comes to cover crop use. Why and will we start seeing more cover crops being used?

I’ve heard fall tillage described as “recreational tillage” or something bored farmers do in the fall. Why do we see so much tilling occur in the fall?

What’s in those big white tanks in the fall? What’s it used for?

What are the planes spraying on the fields in the summer?

What are Illinois farmers doing to help protect the land to ensure we can keep farming into the future?

Dicamba has been making the news these last few years. What do farmers think of this? Is it a good tool? Is it destined to lead to resistance?

Want to watch the podcast? You can on YouTube https://youtu.be/LNV6z68nU1s

Contact the hosts

Ken Johnson [email protected]

Katie Parker [email protected]

Chris Enroth [email protected]

On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we chat with entomology specialist Sarah Hughson about pantry pests. Sarah dives into what to do about moths in your cereal and “maggots” in your flour. Still hungry? We also dig into cockroaches and ants. Put down the spatula because you won’t want to miss this episode! Plus your questions:

What are those small moths flying around the kitchen and how do we get rid of them?

Should you be spraying your pantry with bug killer? (Spoiler: it’s not a good idea)

Will carpenter ants in a dead tree stump outside come into my house?

I keep getting worms in my apples on my backyard apple trees. How can I get worm-free apples?

I bought some Rid-X now I have tiny bugs crawling everywhere! Are they from the Rid-X?

Questions about pesticides? Need to become a licensed pesticide applicator in Illinois? Check out the Pesticide Safety and Education website. https://extension.illinois.edu/psep/psep-homepage

Register now for the 85th annual Pest Management Conference host by Purdue University https://www.extension.entm.purdue.edu/urbanconference/

Geared toward commercial growers, but still chocked full of good information for any tree fruit gardener the 2019-2020 Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide https://ag.purdue.edu/hla/Hort/pages/sfg_sprayguide.aspx

Check out Ken’s article on common pantry pests https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/common_pantry_pests.pdf

Want to watch the podcast? You can on YouTube https://youtu.be/TYHS4MdgFnU

Contact the hosts

Ken Johnson [email protected]

Katie Parker [email protected]

Chris Enroth [email protected]

Good Growing loves trees and we are excited to promote the Urban Tree Conference. A month-long conference in an online format for January 2021.

The Urban Tree Conference is host by the University of Illinois Extension. Conference dates: January 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22.

Register soon! go.illinois.edu/urbantree

On this week’s Good Growing podcast we sit down once again with Energy and Environment educator Peggy Doty. We catch up from our last meeting as we ponder what happened to Bruno the Bear who wandered throughout Illinois this past summer. Peggy also talks about wildlife and some of the problems humans may encounter when an animal happens in to our yards. Peggy says with more people working from home we are noticing more wild animals in our yards, but they were always there, we just weren’t looking. We talk about what is the most destructive wild animal and ways to minimize their efforts to eat our landscapes. We talk conservation efforts that can be done in the backyard, habitat loss, and if animal bridges over busy roads really work. Plus, your questions:

1. Does feeding wildlife disrupt natural patterns?

2. Do raccoons hibernate?

3. How can we stop deer from rubbing on our trees and eating our shrubs?

4. Is it possible to feed the birds, but not the mice?

5. What can be done to stop raccoons from using a backyard as a latrine?

6. Will a mouse live trapped in the house and freed outside come back inside?

7. Should you pass on a doe to bag a buck?

Check out Illinois Extension’s Living with Wildlife webpage https://www.wildlifeillinois.org/

Want to watch the Good Growing podcast? Head over to our YouTube channel to see us in person! https://youtu.be/dnUGXhLm1vA

On this week's Good Growing podcast we sit down with Robert Richardson, president of the Illinois Christmas Tree Growers Association. Robert is also an accomplished Christmas tree grower north of the Chicago area. During the show, Robert gives the scoop on the high demand for fresh-cut Christmas trees in 2020. We learn what all goes into growing a Christmas tree and the years of patience it requires. We also get into Richard's important work with Trees for Troops. Plus your questions answered:

What are the most commonly grown Christmas trees in Illinois?

Should you boil your water first before putting it in the tree stand?

Does Aspirin or bleach in the water help tree last longer?

What are some important tips to keeping a cut tree looking good the entire holiday season?

When I'm done with the Christmas tree can I burn it?

I want to grow my own live Christmas tree, but will digging it up damage the roots?

Illinois Christmas Tree Growers Association https://ilchristmastrees.com/

Trees for Troops https://www.christmasspiritfoundation.org/

Illinois Extension Christmas Trees and More https://web.extension.illinois.edu/trees/index.cfm

Contact the hosts

Ken Johnson [email protected]

Katie Parker [email protected]

Chris Enroth [email protected]