Good Growing

Chris Enroth

Talking all things horticulture, ecology, and design.

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Top 10 Good Growing Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Good Growing episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Good Growing for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Good Growing episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Ep. 85 Favorite flowering plants with Elizabeth Wahle #GoodGrowing

Good Growing

10/08/21 • 40 min

On this week’s Good Growing podcast, we talk with Commercial Agriculture Educator Elizabeth Wahle about some of her favorite plants. In addition to some of her favorite plants, we discuss her process of selecting plants, how she handles wildlife in her garden, and more! Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GMK4U0tKnvk Plants we discuss: Crocus, Cornelian Cherry Dogwood (Cornus mas), Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Hellebore (Helleborus), Dogtooth Violet (Erythronium), Herbaceous Peonies (Paeonia), Kentucky Lady Slipper (Cypripedium kentuckiense), Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica), Bee Balm 'Jacob Cline' (Monarda), Purple Coneflower 'Fragrant Angel' (Echinacea purpurea), Bottle Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii), Tatarian Aster 'Jin Dai' (Aster tataricus) 02:15 - Welcome Elizabeth 03:53 - Where do you find your plant material and how do you choose what to grow? 08:10 Favorite blooming plants in early spring 09:05 - Crocus 09:20 - Cornelian cherry dogwood 10:05 - Bloodroot 11:00 - Hellebore 12:03 - Do you have problems with wildlife? What do you do about them? 14:58 - When is the best time to plant spring blooming plants? 16:53 - How do you keep your peonies from flopping? 20:15 - Are lady slippers difficult to grow? Any tips? 24:45 - Thoughts on Indian Pink? Does it attract humming birds? 27:23 - Jacob Cline bee balm, whats so special? 29:15 - Fragrant angel coneflower, why did you pick it and does it stay true to form? 32:57 - Bottle gentian has unique flowers, how does it get pollinated? 34:24 - Saffron crocus, do you harvest saffron from yours? 36:10 - Tartarian aster 'Jin Dai' 38:22 - Wrap-up, thank yous, what's up next week, and goodbye Mt. Cuba Center Garden Trials - https://mtcubacenter.org/research/trial-garden/ Chicago Botanic Garden Plant Evaluations - https://www.chicagobotanic.org/collections/ornamental_plant_research/plant_evaluation Check out the Good Growing Blog extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing --- Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.

Gardenbite - Rubber Mulch in the Landscape

Good Growing

03/10/22 • 8 min

This week Illinois Extension horticulture educator Chris Enroth dives into the world of shredded rubber mulch. He'll talk pros and cons of this automotive byproduct. Want to learn more about mulch? Who doesn't! Chris dives into the multitude of mulches in this blog. https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2022-01-20-common-mulches-used-vegetable-garden Check out the Good Growing Blog: go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: 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.

Gardenbite - Harvesting Vegetables

Good Growing

07/07/22 • 9 min

We're heading into the heart of harvest season! Illinois Extension horticulture educator Ken Johnson talks about how and when to harvest vegetables, so they are at their peak. Read the blog post: https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2020-07-15-harvesting-garden-vegetables Check out the Good Growing Blog: go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: 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.

Ep. 113 - Growing horseradish with Elizabeth Wahle | #goodgrowing

Good Growing

08/05/22 • 37 min

On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we talk about horseradish with commercial agriculture educator Elizabeth Wahle. We discuss where it’s grown commercially, how to grow it at home, our favorite ways to use horseradish, and more! Watch our smiling faces on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PXKp-MLkHAk 00:28 – Where has Ken been? 03:10 – Welcome Elizabeth 4:45 – What is horseradish? An herb, spice, vegetable? 5:36 – Where is horseradish grown commercially 6:40 – Why is Illinois the largest producer? 7:50 – Can we grow it at home? What are the growing requirements? 11:06 – If we want to grow horseradish, what should we look for? 14:50 – Are there any pests we should be aware of? 16:00 – Any diseases? 17:35 – Is weed control important? 18:43 – Is it true that horseradish is hard to get rid of? 20:45 – Can horseradish be grown in containers? 22:20 – When do you know when to harvest? 23:36 – How would you store indoors? 25:20 – If you leave horseradish in the ground and don’t harvest it, does the root keep getting bigger? 26:20 – Do we need to worry about flowering and seed production? 27:52 – Is this the same species as broccoli, turnip, Brussels sprouts, etc.? 28:30 - What characteristics are breeders looking for? 30:47 – How do you use horseradish? 35:00 – 2022 Illinois Pumpkin Field Day 36:15 – Thank you’s, what’s coming up, and goodbye Pumpkin Field Day - https://extension.illinois.edu/events/2022-09-01-pumpkin-field-day-2022 Check out the Good Growing Blog: go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: 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. SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573 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

Ep. 121 Spooktacular: Dangerous and Deadly Plants | #GoodGrowing

Good Growing

10/28/22 • 32 min

What do an ant and a rubber tree have to say about toxic plants? Apparently, more than one would think! This week Ken and Chris dress up in celebration of Halloween and talk about plants that could make you sick or *gulp* kill you! Did somebody eat something they shouldn't? Contact the Poison Control Hotline at (800) 222-1222 Those experiencing symptoms after eating a toxic substance should contact their physician, go to the emergency room, or call 911. See us all dressed up in our "costumes" on YouTube https://youtu.be/gNpuJnoHmqM Skip to what you want to know: 0:33 Hello Ant-man and rubber tree 2:02 We are not people doctors - this is not medical advice! 3:15 How plants use chemicals to protect themselves 6:17 First deadly plant Doll's Eyes 9:18 Daffodils - not so deadly but can hurt you 11:53 Deadly nightshade aka Devil's cherries aka belladonna 15:18 Azalea and rhododendrons 20:04 Giant Hogweed 23:54 Caster bean plant and poison hemlock 25:19 The Manchineel Tree 30:55 Thanks and what's coming up next week Read the doctor's account of poisoning from the Manchineel tree https://www.bmj.com/content/321/7258/428 Check out the Good Growing Blog: go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: 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. SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573 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

Ep. 136 Garden Q&A: All about soil and compost | #GoodGrowing

Good Growing

04/14/23 • 34 min

This week on the Good Growing podcast we dive into the world of soil and compost. Ken and Chris answer your questions asked by actual home gardeners. Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/KR9CLt2izW4 Skip to what you want to know: Hey Ken! Spring, weather, and our new intro music Amending Soil Questions -3:09 Can you recommend a user-friendly home soil test for me to buy that will guide me through the amendment process? -6:33 How to amend heavy clay soil? -8:29 What kind of sand is best to add to a small garden? -9:41 When is the best time to add manure or other fertilizers? -12:15 How deeply should we mix in organic matter like manure? -13:26 Is it harmful to have too much organic matter? Like over 5%? -15:00 Are coffee grounds good to put in the garden, if so, how much? -17:20 Is Calcium from eggshells is that a good source and how to make it readily available? Composting -18:29 Can I put kitchen scraps directly into the garden, or does it need to sit in a composter for a little while before it goes into the garden? -20:35 How long do you compost table scraps in leaves before introducing them to garden soil? Old potting soil -21:48 What do you do with the used soil from pots? -24:39 Perlite is often used as a soil medium in transplant containers. But since it is not biodegradable, is this bad for our garden soil? -26:24 Can you plant directing in the bags that soil comes in?? -29:29 Should we bother with cover crops in raised beds/container gardens? Soil Testing video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv7iocI90os Illinois Extension Soil Testing website https://extension.illinois.edu/soil/soil-testing 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. SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573 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

Ep. 131 New Flowers for 2023 | #GoodGrowing

Good Growing

02/17/23 • 50 min

On this week's Good Growing podcast, we welcome horticulture educator Emily Swihart to share the new and strange seed we have ordered for our flower gardens for the 2023 growing season. We tease talking about sunflowers for the yard, but we don't get to them this week. So, look for that episode next week (we promise!). Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/q_HGNwhTvqE Skip to what you want to know: 00:35 – Welcome Ken, and has Chris bought his seeds? 01:08 – What seeds has Ken started? 01:55 – Welcome Emily, has she started seeds? 02:25 – Has Chris been keeping up with his New Year’s Resolution? What are we growing this year? 04:05 – Ken – Cupid’s dart 05:50 – Emily – Calendula 09:40 – Chris – Sedges 14:40 – Poppies and flowering tobacco 17:25 – Emily – Snapdragons and supporting cut flowers 22:45 – Chris – Mayapple 25:40 – Ken – African daisy, Hibiscus, Cardinal climber, Stock 27:52 – Emily – Strawflower, Gomphrena 31:10 – Weird-shaped flowers, Amaranth and Celosia 33:16 – Chris – Rudbeckia 'American Gold Rush' (Black-eyed Susan) 36:12 – Ken – Cotton, snapdragon, cosmos, zinnia, sunflower, and more 38:06 – saving zinnia seeds 39:15 – Emily’s zinnias 39:55 – Cosmos 41:55 – Emily – Mrs. Burns' Lemon basil and ageratum 43:35 – Chris – Lungwort 45:38 – Chris - Lipstick Blonde Hosta 47:55 – Asking questions about our gardens 48:33 – Wrap-up, thank yous, and good bye! Stay tuned for our show where we talk about sunflowers for 2023. What new vegetables are we growing in 2023 - https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573/new-veggies-for-2023-goodgrowing Contact us! Chris Enroth: [email protected] Ken Johnson: [email protected] Emily Swihart: [email protected] Check out the Good Growing Blog: htps://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. SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-555304573 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

Ep. 159 Mistletoe Show: Learn about this holiday parasitic plant | #GoodGrowing

Good Growing

12/14/23 • 34 min

Join us on a horticultural journey through the world of mistletoe. In this episode, we explore the fascinating history and cultural significance of this parasitic plant. From its unique biology to its horticultural applications, we cover everything you need to know about mistletoe. We also discuss the plant’s role in the ecosystem and where you can find it in Illinois and beyond. Tune in to discover why mistletoe is more than just a holiday decoration!

Skip to what you want to know:
0:29 Hey Ken
2:18 Digging into the legends behind mistletoe. Druids, Vikings, and other symbolism.
7:30 Where do you find mistletoe? What are the differences?
9:40 Mistletoe in Illinois and North America
12:02 What does mistletoe translate to mean?
12:36 What is mistletoe? Is mistletoe a parasite? How does it grow?
18:16 How does mistletoe interact with the environment. Is mistletoe good for the ecology of a site?
25:43 How do you control mistletoe if you don’t want it in your tree?
28:55 Chris learns about kissing under the mistletoe and how it’d done.
30:28 Is mistletoe used for anything besides kissing random people?
32:36 Where does mistletoe sold in stores come from?
33:19 Thank yous and coming up next week!

Check out this article on Mistletoe: Pathology, systematics, ecology, and management https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/epdf/10.1094/PDIS-92-7-0988

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

Ep. 160 Spice up your holiday with these holiday spices | #GoodGrowing

Good Growing

12/22/23 • 53 min

Join Ken and Chris on a journey around the world as they explore the fascinating history of quintessential holiday spices. In this episode of the Good Growing Podcast, you will learn about the origins of nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, peppermint, allspice, and ginger, and how they made their way to our spice cabinets. You will also discover what parts of the plants are harvested to produce these spices. And, if you’re a fan of the Spice Girls, you won’t want to miss Chris’s attempt to name them all!

Skip to what you want to know:
0:35 Hey Ken, Spice Girls and how Taylor Swift impacted the Christmas tree grower industry
3:13 What’s the difference between a spice and an herb?
4:27 The history of the Spice Trade.
8:19 Nutmeg, what is it, where was it found, how is it used?
9:19 Nutmeg vs. mace
11:48 Harvesting nutmeg
14:40 The history of what the Dutch did to the people of the Banda Islands in the name of nutmeg
16:50 Cinnamon, what is it, where does it come from?
19:00 The different types of cinnamon
21:30 The human labor involved in getting cinnamon to the table.
22:50 Can we grow any cinnamon tree in Illinois?
24:08 Cloves, what is it and where does it come from?
26:15 How are cloves harvested and processed?
29:11 What is an orange pomanders? And other historic clove uses.
32:47 Allspice, what is it and where does it come from?
35:18 What is allspice used for in cooking? Cincinnati-style chili?
36:48 Harvesting and processing of allspice.
37:37 Growing allspice and the other spices we’ve talked about so far at home.
39:34 Peppermint, how is this different from other mints?
42:33 A cautionary tale of growing mints in the ground.
45:11 Ginger, both a spice and an herb!
47:00 Ken’s experience growing ginger this past year and what how he uses it in the kitchen.
48:25 The commercial growing of ginger and the process of growing it in Illinois vs. the tropics.
51:35 Thank yous, happy spicey holidays, and coming up next week.

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

Ep. 170 Gardening at night: Creating gardens to enjoy at night | #GoodGrowing

Good Growing

04/19/24 • 36 min

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