Good Growing

Have you been having problems in your garden this year? We certainly have! On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we discuss some of the most common problems we’ve been seeing in gardens so far this year, including problems with coneflowers, oak wilt, fire blight, and blossom end rot. Plus, where have all the Japanese beetles gone? Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7O96jjEbZ3o Skip to what you want to know: 00:40 – Welcome, Ken! Garden updates and purple tomatoes! 07:40 – Coneflower rosette mite damage vs aster yellows 13:50 – Oak wilt 15:20 – Identifying red oak group and white oak group 18:00 – Oak wilt symptoms 19:55 – Submitting samples 22:05 – Spread by root grafts 25:05 – Fungicide treatment? 27:35 – Fire blight in ornamental pear 33:05 – Blossom end rot in tomatoes 36:58 – Where are all the Japanese beetles? 40:08 – Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye! University of Illinois Plant Clinic: https://extension.illinois.edu/plant-clinic Talking summertime tomato growing with #GoodGrowing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmkBN8tqLOs What causes blossom end rot of tomatoes?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK1UUJXpTrc Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 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 on the Good Growing podcast, Ken and Chris sift through a survey that asks homeowners about water-saving products that can be used during water restrictions. The duo go down the list of products suggested by the survey and discuss whether these items would truly help save water and benefit your plants during a severe drought. After debating the merits of the survey’s products, Ken and Chris provide some horticulturally sound water-saving tips for our Midwest yards and gardens. Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/oO3BYDiOzww Skip to what you want to know: 03:02 The survey we are discussing today regarding water-saving products from the lawn and garden. Impacts from water restrictions. 07:36 Going through the survey results. 12:26 Natural fertilizers. Water Saving Product? 16:08 Soil Wetting Agents. Water Saving Product? 21:49 Compost. Water Saving Product? 25:28 Liquid lawn fertilizers and soil moisture monitors. Water Saving Product? 30:35 Artificial Turf. Water Saving Product? 33:53 Soil amendments. Water Saving Product? 36:56 Granular lawn fertilizer. Water Saving Product? 40:35 Herbicides and fungicides. Water Saving Product? 42:17 Polymer pellets (hydrogels). Water Saving Product? 47:11 Recommendations for saving water in Illinois gardens and landscapes. 47:32 Soil amendments based on soil test results. 48:27 Planting vegetables in blocks rather than rows. 48:35 Siting plants based on their water requirements. 49:51 Select plants adapted to your site conditions. 50:12 Shade cloth in vegetable gardens. 51:00 Enhance and protect shade trees. 52:55 Eliminate non-functional turf. 53:32 Break up impervious pavement surfaces. 54:55 Water collection devices. 56:02 What about graywater in Illinois? 56:48 Watering properly and efficiently. 57:59 Drip irrigation or soaker hoses. 58:51 Prioritizing what plants get watered and which are on their own. 01:02:07 Thank yous! See ya next week! Mulch episode https://youtu.be/sqw4Cwr7wjo Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 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 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

While we tend to focus on the positives of plants, not all plants work well in all gardens or for all gardens. Whether they are too aggressive, require too much time and maintenance, or we just don’t like them, there are a variety of reasons we may not want to grow certain plants. On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we discuss some of the plants we’ve grown in our gardens that we wouldn’t plant again and some that we would think twice about planting. It’s not all bad, though; we also discuss some plants we will always plant in our gardens. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XHqaxZPzlVU Skip to what you want to know: 00:35 – Welcome, Ken and Emily! How are the gardens doing? 03:55 – Why we chose these plants 05:00 – Never again plants 05:15 – Early sunflower 09:25 – Malva sylvestris 'Zebrina' 10:45 – Pink celery 12:50 – Cauliflower 16:20 – Maple trees 23:53 – Daylilies (ditch lilies) 28:25 – Mountain mint 30:50 – Common milkweed 32:40 – Think twice before planting again 30:50 – River oats 35:05 – Arborvitae 37:55 – Vegetable garden 41:20 – Passionflower 43:05 – Sweet corn 43:20 – Roses 45:40 – Stock and snapdragons 48:15 – Lamb’s-ear 49:42 – Peanuts 51:15 – Lemon seeds 54:12 – Whorled milkweed 56:40 – Must plant every year plants 57:10 – Sunflower, snapdragons, cover crops 58:40 – Kale, trees 59:35 – Something new, garlic, tomatoes, gladiolus 1:03:12 – Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye! Norway Maple Woes: Why it’s on my Do Not Plant list: https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2024-07-05-norway-maple-woes-why-its-my-do-not-plant-list Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Emily Swihart: eswihart@illinois.edu 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

Our Gardenbite for this week goes back to 2021 where Ken and Katie answered all of Chris' sweet corn growing questions. Right now we are starting to see sweet corn getting ready to pick in Illinois. How do we know when sweet corn should be harvested? Plus, what about some common sweet corn pests that tend to show up in July like raccoons and corn earworms? Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 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 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

Each year we at Good Growing decide to try growing some new (to us) vegetables. This year we want to invite you to grow along with us. This video is for those who signed up to receive seed for our Grow Along. In this video Emily, Ken, and Chris check in and share how this year's crops are doing in their gardens and our plans for culturing these plants through the summer. We want to hear back from you! You should have gotten an email with a survey link if you received Grow Along seed from us. Did you get your seed in the ground? What was the germination rate? (We are finding out that it's not so great for certain crops!) And more! Please use the survey link sent to you in the most recent email that included a link to this episode. We are treating this as a quasi-trial of these crops. So we are asking for some specific details on your growing conditions. If this year works out, we may make these "trials" more official. Got questions? Contact us at Chris Enroth cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson kjohnso@illinois.edu Emily Swihart eswihart@illinois.edu 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

Milkweeds have become a popular garden plant in the last several years. They are most commonly planted to help support monarch butterflies because milkweeds are the sole food source for monarch caterpillars. If you’ve ever gone out to check your milkweed plants for monarch caterpillars, you may have been surprised to find other insects living and feeding on your milkweed plants. After all, milkweeds are toxic to other animals. However, some insects have evolved to be able to feed on milkweed and, like monarch caterpillars, have become milkweed specialists. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cLvl96PpqOg Photos Red milkweed beetle Red Milkweed Beetle - Tetraopes tetrophtCC BY 2.0Judy Gallagherhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1514284Swamp milkweed leaf beetle CC BY 4.0)iNaturalistiNaturalistMilkweed bugs – Ken Johnson, University of Illinois Extension Milkweed tussock moth CC BY 4.0)iNaturalist255/366 Milkweed Tussock Moth - EuchaeteCC BY 2.0Judy GallagherCC BY 4.0)iNaturalistOleander aphids - Ken Johnson, University of Illinois Extension Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 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 on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris answer early summer gardening questions. From landscapes and lawns to tomatoes and ticks, we share recent questions we have been getting into our local Extension offices. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CFPmxJvc_kk Skip to what you want to know: 00:31 Hey Ken! 01:12 It's a hot one out there for only being June. 02:55 What is causing all the tips of my branches to fall off or hang in the tree? 06:52 Can you take the protective netting off your trees and shrubs now that the cicadas are gone? 08:35 What's wrong with my tomatoes!? Why are the leaves curling? 15:38 How do you control weeds in an asparagus patch? 19:12 My lawn is thin. What type of fertilizer should I put down now to have a better lawn? 21:52 I have carpenter bees nesting in my barn. What can I do to stop them? 24:35 Where can I get ticks tested to see if they are carrying a disease? Additional resources mentioned during the show: Causes of rolling wilted tomato leaves https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2018-06-20-causes-rolling-wilted-tomato-leaves Carpenter bees: Destroyers of wood or beneficial pollinators? https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2023-05-05-carpenter-bees-destroyers-wood-or-beneficial-pollinators CDC tick testing decisions https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/after-a-tick-bite/index.html Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 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 ever gone on vacation only to come back to an out-of-control landscape or, even worse, dead plants? Check out this week’s Good Growing Podcast to learn about some steps we can take to get our landscapes ready for when we’re on vacation. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JiC1RavU3kk Skip to what you want to know: 00:30 – Welcome, Ken and Emily! 01:45 – What kind of gardens do we have? 04:30 – What should we be thinking about when planning our gardens and vacations? 08:27 – Getting plants water 11:22 – How can we prepare our potted plants? 14:05 – How does Emily ensure plants are getting water? 17:32 – How do you ‘train’ someone looking after your garden? 23:36 – What can we do about pests, diseases, and weeds before we leave? 27:10 – Vacation vs. leaving for a few months 28:30 – Getting your lawn ready 30:50 – Taking equipment in for maintenance while you’re gone 33:04 – Preparing houseplants for vacation 37:15 – Be careful of too much water 38:42 – Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye! How Should I Water My Plants blog post: https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2017-10-11-how-should-i-water-my-plants How to hand water your landscape plants Gardenbite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUwhrFc0kkM Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Emily Swihart: eswihart@illinois.edu 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 on the Good Growing podcast we bring you a short gardenbite explaining what causes blossom end rot and why throwing eggshells in the planting hole at the beginning of the growing season might not be doing anything to help. Nick Frillman talks about calcium, tomatoes, and the best advice to prevent blossom end rot. Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 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 Erin Garrett about native grasses and how to use them in our landscapes. Erin is a Natural Resources, Energy, and Environment educator with University of Illinois Extension who is a wealth of knowledge on native grasses and all things native plants! We dive into how these grasses function in a prairie and how that translates to your yard. Plus suggestions for what native grasses might work best to transform your landscape! Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/EaFf5zziNiQ Skip to what you want to know: 0:31 Hey Ken! Remembering cicada pizza and growing sedges from seed. 5:01 Welcome Erin! Superman Festival in Metropolis, Illinois. Cicadas are LOUD! 8:43 The role of grasses in prairie. 12:57 Are native grasses different from the ornamental grasses we plant in our yards? 15:20 Seems like a lot of non-native lawn grasses are cool-season grass. Do we have any native cool-season grasses? 16:53 What are the benefits of growing native grasses? 19:12 Are there any drawbacks to using native plants in the landscape? 22:16 What species of native grasses are recommended for the home landscape? 28:03 When planting native grasses with flowers, does it help to plant the flowers first and then later the grasses? Plus talking seed ratios of grasses and forbs (wildflowers) 30:13 Buffalograss is a native grass that grows low and is used for lawns in some areas. Is buffalograss a good lawn alternative in Illinois? 34:21 Fun with nimblewill 36:57 What tips does Erin have for creating backyard meadows or prairies? 44:18 Where can people go to find out more information about native grasses? 46:55 Thank yous and coming up next week. Illinois Extension Grasses Website https://extension.illinois.edu/grasses Grasses at a Glance Video Series https://go.illinois.edu/GrassVideos Grasses at a Glance blog https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/grasses-glance Spotlight on Natural Resources Podcast https://extension.illinois.edu/podcasts/spotlight-natural-resources Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Erin Garrett emedvecz@illinois.edu 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

Are you an adventurous eater or interested in eating insects? You’re in luck! Many places in Illinois are awash in periodical cicadas, and while we usually think of them as food for birds and small mammals, humans can eat them too. Check out this week’s Good Growing Podcast to learn how you can get in on the cicada-eating action. From Pesto Pizza to Cicada Sundaes, we’ve got you covered on how to collect, prepare, and enjoy periodical cicadas. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/U_0K70ajACM Skip to what you want to know: 00:35 – Welcome, Ken! We are excited about eating cicadas! 02:00 – Welcome, Kristin and Kacie! 03:07 – How to collect periodical cicadas for eating. 06:35 – Any considerations or things to look out for when collecting periodical cicadas for eating? 08:25 – Kristin, any hesitations, and how did you come up with the recipes? 11:00 – Periodical Pesto Pizz-zz-zz-za 13:02 – Eating the blanched cicadas, what did they taste like? 14:25 – More on the Periodical Pesto Pizz-zz-zz-za 15:05 – Battered Cicadas with Spicy Lime Aioli 17:37 – Cicada Sundae’s 18:45 – Roasting cicadas 20:02 – What we’re our favorite recipes? 24:02 – Are there any benefits to eating insects? 26:37 – Are periodical cicadas a practical food source? What insects are? 29:10 – Where are insects eaten around the world? Getting over the cultural stigma of eating insects. 34:10 – How would we rate the meal? 36:48 – Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye! Cicada recipes: https://go.illinois.edu/CicadaRecipes Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Kristin Bogdonas: kmbogdo@illinois.edu Kacie Athey: kathey@illinois.edu 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 on the Good Growing podcast we learn about monarch butterfly science from a leading scientist in the field of monarch butterflies, Dr. Andy Davis from University of Georgia. We learn some hard truths and ask do the monarch butterflies really need to be saved? What roles should humans have in monarch butterfly protection? All this and more (like cicadas and Joro spiders) in this week’s Good Growing podcast. Plus check out Brodie Dunn’s newest podcast Voice of the Wild. Brodie plays us short clips of recorded wildlife sounds and talks about what we are hearing. Voice of the Wild covers mostly birds, but Brodie’s latest episode is about the American sycamore tree. https://extension.illinois.edu/podcasts/voice-wild Dr. Davis’ blog https://www.monarchscience.org/ Engage with monarch scientists on the Thoughtful Monarch Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/565065511941624 Skip to what you want to know: 0:35 Hey Ken! Latest cicada report. What's happening in Jacksonville? 2:05 Brodie Dunn's new podcast, Voice of the Wild 2:49 Welcome Dr. Andy Davis 3:51 The Thoughtful Monarch Facebook page 6:17 Andy's background 8:15 Will we see fewer monarchs this summer in the US and Canada because of the low overwintering counts in Mexico? 16:00 What about the possibility of monarch butterflies being listed as an endangered species? 19:36 The problem with rearing monarchs. 31:08 www.monarchscience.org 32:15 The gap between science and the public. 33:54 What about rearing monarchs in schools to teach kids about insects? 38:57 What are some of the issues with growing tropical milkweed? 46:20 What can people do if they stop rearing monarchs and planting tropical milkweed? How can they redirect their energy into something that may benefit monarch butterflies? 48:18 Some interesting behavior of the non-native Joro spider and monarch butterflies. 52:42 Once Joro spiders get to Illinois will they cause ecological havoc? Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 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 look at some common lawncare questions. What can you do about growing grass in the shade? Does crabgrass preventer go down when the forsythia bloom? And more! Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/ZM0sWiPKlTs Skip to what you want to know: 0:50 Hey Ken! What's bocce ball? 1:54 Weather and garden updates 5:57 Good Growing Grow Along update. Seeds are on the way! 6:44 Time to talk about lawns 7:07 If you mow lower, does that mean you mow less often? 8:28 How high should we mow our cool-season lawns? 11:22 Can fertilizer help recover from mowing stress? But what exactly IS fertilizer to plants? 12:41 The one-third rule of mowing. 14:43 Why don't more people bag their clippings to reduce thatch? 18:24 Should we apply our spring weed'n'feed when the forsythia blooms? 24:31 How do I get grass to grow in the shade of a tree? 24:31 I keep planting Kentucky 31 bluegrass, but it looks terrible. What do I need to do differently, to make it grow well? Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 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

Do you want to grow your own fruit but have limited space? Growing fruit in a container may be the solution for you! On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we welcome back Bruce Black to talk about how we can grow fruit in containers, what fruit works best in containers, and more. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Khh6gbA5-yM Skip to what you want to know: 00:32 – Welcome, Ken! Update on Cicada Watch 2024. 02:30 – Welcome, Bruce! Sauk Valley Community College partnership and Gardening in the Air 07:35 – What are some advantages of growing fruit in containers? 10:28 – Can we plant ‘normal’ sized fruit plants in pots? 13:27 – Ballerina (columnar) apple trees 15:45 – What other fruits can we grow in containers? 18:14 – Container fruit cultivars 18:25 – Apples 20:37 – Blueberries and brambles (raspberries and blackberries) 24:55 – Strawberries and pineberries 27:30 – What type of container should we use? What are chilling hours? 31:15 – Where should we place our container fruit? Winter protection. 35:36 – What should we fill our pots with? Fertilizing, watering, and lowering pH for blueberries. 41:30 – Pest management for container fruits 43:40 – Final recommendations, pollination, and resources 48:20 – Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye! Gardening in the Air: https://extension.illinois.edu/plants/gardening-air Container Gardening infosheet: https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/how_to_grow_fruits_vegetables_herbs_in_containers.pdf Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Bruce Black: brucejb@illinois.edu 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 on the Good Growing Podcast Ken has to work hard to contain his excitement for the upcoming periodical cicada emergence. Meanwhile, Chris has been building defenses to protect his newly planted baby trees. What do you need to know about the upcoming emergence of periodical cicadas? While our established trees will be okay, Ken and Chris will talk about how to protect our smaller newly planted trees from cicada egg laying. Plus, everyone seems to highlight the potential damage to woody plants, but a periodical cicada emergence is truly a sight to behold. Ken tells us the benefits of having billions, if not trillions, of cicadas pop out of the ground. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RADnUB7GXXI Skip to what you want to know: 0:35 Hey Ken! How's the garden coming along this spring? 3:40 What's the difference between a periodical cicada and an annual cicada? 7:40 When will it be peak cicada? Will it be earlier than expected with our mild winter? 10:31 Does double brood emergence mean double the cicadas in one area? 12:04 Do periodical cicadas occur in other places in the world? 13:07 How many cicadas should we expect in a given area? 15:39 Do cicadas eat anything after they emerge as adults? Is there anything we need to protect from them? 17:09 Cicada egg-laying damages our trees. 26:28 Is there any benefit to periodical cicadas? 30:00 If all these animals can eat cicadas, can humans eat them too? Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 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

Do you enjoy spending your evenings outdoors? On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we talk about how you can create a garden to be enjoyed at night. Learn about night-blooming plants that can be incorporated into a ‘night/moon’ garden, landscape lighting, insects that come out at night, and more! Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xWbZlTZbgPI Skip to what you want to know: 00:28 – Welcome, Ken! Enjoying the unseasonably warm weather? 03:15 – Gardening by the moon, does it work? 06:55 – What are some plants can be grown for ‘night’ or ‘moon’ gardens? 07:52 – Flowering tobacco 08:40 – Dragon fruit and night-blooming cereus 09:36 – What is pollinating these flowers? 11:00 – More plants for the night 11:00 – Angel’s trumpet 14:35 – Evening-primrose (Oenothera ) 16:38 – Four o’clock 18:10 – Caladium 18:46 – Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’ 19:26 – Dusty miller 20:05 – Moonflower 23:46 – Incorporating landscape lighting 26:56 – Some drawbacks of lights at night 31:00 – Insects at night 34:18 – Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye! Talking Bats in Illinois with Dr. Joy O'Keefe: https://youtu.be/9fLLNtNHkpI Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 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 on the Good Growing Podcast we rewind back to when we sat down in person with Duane Friend to discuss pond management. For this Gardenbite episode, we look specifically at aerators in ponds, duckweed, and having taller vegetation around ponds and in the drainage channels leading into the pond. You can find the entire episode at the following link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt4E6uke72E Watch this on YouTube https://youtu.be/SFNec6M8J-w Skip to what you want to know: 1:20 Aerators in ponds. Do they work? What about aerating ponds during the winter? 4:18 Can you prevent duckweed from returning to your pond year after year? 7:27 What about using vegetation to improve water quality for ponds?

Have you had problems with bagworms in your landscape? Bagworms are troublesome insects that can make evergreens and other plants rather unsightly. Learn about the lifecycle of bagworms and how we can manage them, including how planting flowers can help. Want to see pictures? Check out the YouTube version: https://youtu.be/kZNKiu-x7rk USA National Phenological Network: https://www.usanpn.org/data/maps/forecasts/bagworm Conservation biological control in urban landscapes: Manipulating parasitoids of bagworm (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) with flowering forbs: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1049964405000733 Photo Credits: Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisAdam KranzCC0 1.0Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisaskalotlCC0 1.0Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisDaniel EstabrooksCC0 1.0Lacy L. Hyche, Auburn University, Bugwood.orgThyridopteryx ephemeraeformisChrissy McClarren and Andy ReagoCC0 1.0Jerry A. Payne, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.orgThyridopteryx ephemeraeformisAdam KranzCC0 1.0Gerald J. Lenhard, Louisiana State University, Bugwood.org Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 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 on the Good Growing Podcast Ken and Chris talk about perennial vegetables that we can grow here in Illinois. Many of the preparation and care instructions match with each crop and we describe those during our first crop, asparagus! We also chat about rhubarb, artichoke, chives, and horseradish. Are there others? What perennial veggies do you grow? Learn more about growing veggies at our website: https://extension.illinois.edu/gardening Previous episode on growing horseradish: https://youtu.be/PXKp-MLkHAk Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/Q9PYXesCPXE Skip to what you want to know: 0:27 Hey Ken! 4:14 Diving into perennial vegetables 4:44 Asparagus - What do we like about asparagus? Smelly pee and astronauts. 6:19 What do you get when you order asparagus? Seed vs. living crowns 8:13 Preparing a site for planting asparagus. 12:51 How to plant asparagus. 14:04 When can you start harvesting asparagus? 17:15 Should you cut or break the asparagus spears when harvesting? 18:32 Weed control in asparagus (and pretty all other types of perennial vegetables) 21:21 Asparagus fall color. 21:57 Asparagus pests 23:04 Asparagus cultivars 24:57 Rhubarb 27:07 Rhubarb care 29:05 Should you remove the rhubarb flowers 31:55 Can you eat rhubarb after a frost? 34:07 Artichoke 39:27 Chives 40:56 Horseradish 45:48 What perennial veggies did we miss? Thank you's and coming up next week Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 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 started your seeds yet? On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we talk about how you can start your own seeds. Learn about the benefits of starting your own seeds, where to start them, the equipment you’ll need, how we can reduce the amount of plastic we use to start seeds, troubleshooting, and more! Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lNCwDYkdS50 Skip to what you want to know: 00:28 – Welcome, Ken! Have we started our seeds? 01:50 – What are people searching for on social media when it comes to seed starting? 05:00 – Why would we want to start our own seed? 09:50 – Where should we start seeds? 14:55 – What materials will we need to start seeds? 15:10 – Containers 18:20 – Humidity domes? 19:55 – Fans? 21:30 – Heat mats? 24:00 – Lighting 31:00 – Growing media, peat, coconut coir, etc. 36:30 – Ways to reduce the amount of plastic in seed starting. Soil blockers, peat and paper pots, etc. 50:15 – Problems that arise with seed starting. Leggy plants, damping-off, fungus gnats, and algae 59:00 – Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye! When should I start my seeds?: https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2023-02-10-when-should-i-start-my-seeds Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 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