Grow it, Minnesota

What does it take to grow a delicious apple in cold climates? In this episode, we check in with orchardist Bob Osborne, author of the new book, Hardy Apples: Growing Apples in Cold Climates (Firefly Books, 2022). We talk about what an apple tree needs to grow well, grafting, pests and diseases, pruning and favorite apples for northern gardeners. Bob Osborne is the owner of Corn Hill Nursery in beautiful New Brunswick, Canada.More about BobBob's top apple pick: FrostBiteMary's favorite appleU ...

Let's talk lawn! With the popularity of no-mow May, bee lawns and other alternatives to traditional Kentucky bluegrass turf, it seems a good time to bring in a lawn expert. James Wolfin of Twin City Seed is a proponent of lower-input lawns and has great information on how to have a good-looking lawn without a lot of work. More about James WolfinTwin City SeedWhat's a Bee Lawn?Lawn Care Tips from the U of MinnesotaNo Mow May campaignThe Benefits of Fine Fescues4 Ways to Remove Turf GrassM...

No interview today, just some information about the weather — our late spring, what to worry about and what not to worry about, seed germination and soil temperature. It's a shorter episode and I hope it encourages you to remain calm and garden on. Some links for more information: Seed Germination and Soil Temps (with small chart) Seed Germination and Soil Temp (larger chart) How to Build a Cold FrameHow to Build a Low TunnelThe Compressed Season of Northern Minnesota ...

Listeners may remember Meg Cowden of SeedtoFork.com from a previous episode on early seed starting. She's back to talk about succession planting and her new book, Plant Grow Harvest Repeat (Timber Press, 2022). Meg's book is filled with charts, plant lists, solid advice and inspiration for any gardener who wants to grow an abundant food and fruit garden, with plenty of flowers as well. We talk about the importance of starting seeds over a longer stretch (always be sowing is ...

We're talking all about blueberries today and some of the challenges of growing them in the alkaline soil that many Minnesota gardens have. My guest is Melissa Wilsford of Rustic Hills Garden Co., a landscaping firm based in the Twin Cities, that specializes in creating edible landscapes. One of her favorite groundcover plants is the blueberry! To grow blueberries well, you need an acid soil with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5. Melissa talks about how to amend your soil to lower the pH, how to grow ...

This episode features podcaster, blogger and author Teresa J. Speight of Cottage in the Court. Her new books (she has two coming out this spring!) are Black Flora: Profiles of Inspiring Black Flower Farmers + Florists (Bloom Imprint, 2022) and The Urban Garden: 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the City (Cool Springs Press, 2022) with co-author Kathy Jentz of Washington Gardener magazine.Teresa is an inspiring gardener and communicator. We talk about her work as a com...

Today's guest is Heather Holm, author, speaker and horticulturist, who is an expert on pollinating insects, including bees and wasps. In this episode, we talk about habitat restoration, how home gardeners can bring in more pollinators, why the spring and fall are so important to pollinators and cultivars of native plants. Check out these resources: Heather's books: WASPS: A Guide for Eastern North America (2021)Pollinators of Native Plants (2014)BEES: An Identification and Native Plant F...

Author Acadia Tucker talks about her latest book, Tiny Victory Gardens: Growing Food Without a Yard (Stone Pier Press, 2021), including how to decide which containers to use, advice for making your own potting soil and even how to grow a consistent supply of salad greens in containers, indoors, in winter. Good stuff!More about Acadia and her gardening books. Why grow tomatoes in containers?Tiny vegetables are a hot trend!Follow Acadia on InstagramFollow Mary on InstagramFollow...

Author and soil scientist Lee Reich loves to experiment in the garden, and one of his first experiments as a young gardener was growing figs in Madison, Wis. In his new book, Growing Figs in Cold Climates: A Complete Guide (New Society Publishers, 2021), he offers northern gardeners tips on choosing varieties, pruning and how to get fig trees through the winter. Listen to how he does it.Growing Figs in Cold ClimatesLee's websiteLee's book reviewed in the New York TimesGrow it, Minnesota...

Welcome to another season of Grow it, Minnesota!In this episode, author Cathy Rees talks about her new book, Winterland: Create a Beautiful Garden for Every Season (Princeton Architectural Press, 2021). She explains what to think about as you design a garden and landscape that will offer beauty and more all year. We talk about the importance of texture, structure and light as well as ways to create habitat and enjoy watching birds and other critters in winter. Helpful Links:Winter...