Good Growing Chris Enroth

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 nimblewill36:57 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/grassesGrasses at a Glance Video Series https://go.illinois.edu/GrassVideosGrasses at a Glance blog https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/grasses-glanceSpotlight on Natural Resources Podcast https://extension.illinois.edu/podcasts/spotlight-natural-resources
Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Erin Garrett emedvecz@illinois.edu
Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe 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 Wild2:49 Welcome Dr. Andy Davis3:51 The Thoughtful Monarch Facebook page6:17 Andy's background8:15 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.org32:15 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.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 
Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe 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 updates5:57 Good Growing Grow Along update. Seeds are on the way!6:44 Time to talk about lawns7:07 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.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 
Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe 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.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 
Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe 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