Good Growing

Big bluestem is one of the iconic grasses of the tallgrass prairie, and it's having a moment as this year's Perennial Plant of the Year! Check out this week's Good Growing Podcast as we explore what makes this native grass so special, from how to identify it, to where it grows, and how it supports wildlife. Plus, we dig into the 'Blackhawks' cultivar, discuss how to use big bluestem in your landscape, share tips for choosing between wild types and cultivated varieties, and more!

In this Gardenbite episode of the Good Growing podcast, we dig into essential early summer tomato care to help keep your plants healthy, productive, and under control. From staking and trellising methods like cages and the Florida weave to managing vigorous indeterminate varieties, we explore practical ways to support growing plants and prevent a backyard takeover.
We also break down the pros and cons of pruning tomato suckers, when fertilizing may (or may not) be necessary, and how mulching can improve soil moisture retention, reduce weeds, and support overall plant health. Along the way, we share real-world experiences, lessons learned, and simple strategies you can apply in your own garden this season.
Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/f89Jy0U8MOQ
Skip to what you want to know:
00:57 Staking/trellising tomatoes 
05:09 Pruning "suckers" on the tomato plant 
06:08 Tomato fertilizer 
06:43 Mulching tomatoes
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.

Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk 
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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

How do you actually become a horticulturist? Is it a straight path—or a winding trail full of unexpected turns?
In this episode of the Good Growing Podcast, Chris, Ken, and Emily dig into their own origin stories—sharing how childhood curiosity, career detours, and a little bit of luck led them into the world of horticulture. From digging holes and growing strawberries to working at Disney greenhouses, studying landscape architecture, and navigating the Great Recession job market, their journeys prove there’s no single path into this field. Enjoy our “how it all began” stories!
Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/Vqz4wZSE6hU
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.
Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk 
--
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

Got weird plants in your yard? Strange damage on your trees? Or birds attacking your truck? You’re not alone! In this Good Growing Podcast Q&A episode, we tackle real gardening questions asked at Illinois Extension offices and by podcast listeners.
We start with a recurring question this time of year, a Poison Hemlock alert—how to identify this highly toxic plant, how it compares to lookalikes like Queen Anne’s lace, and what to do if you find it on your property. Then we dig into peach tree leaf curl, why there’s nothing you can do mid-season (sorry!), and how to prevent it next year. Plus, much more!
Watch us on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKvEiM_7REM
Skip to what you want to know: 
01:35 What's going on in our landscapes this time of year?  
04:46 Kicking off this week's questions: What is this plant? Picture This says it is poison hemlock. 
   06:25 How to identify poison hemlock.   
   08:32 Toxic effects of poison hemlock   
   10:09 Controlling poison hemlock     
16:58 Can we plant Chinese wisteria in Illinois?   
18:57 What are the basics of fruit tree grafting?   
26:26 Why do bluebirds attack my truck?   
31:45 Sick peach tree. Is it peach leaf curl?   
35:11 How do you find a good landscape contractor?  
43:30 What's wrong with my linden trees? They aren't leafing out, and the leaves that are there are deformed.   
54:41 Are peppers with three lobes on the bottom considered males and peppers with four to five lobes considered female?  
01:30 Thank yous and coming up next week. 
Invasive Poison Hemlock https://extension.illinois.edu/invasives/invasive-poison-hemlock
Poison Hemlock Handout https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/2025-05/accessibledocuments/poison-hemlock.pdf
Invasive Wild Parsnip https://extension.illinois.edu/invasives/invasive-wild-parsnip
Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu
Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 
Emily Swihart eswihart@illinois.edu
Like what you hear? Subscribe for more gardening tips, plant talk, and seasonal inspiration from University of Illinois Extension.
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.
Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk 
--
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

This week on the Good Growing Podcast, we dig into the Three Sisters gardening method, an Indigenous planting system that brings corn, beans, and squash together in a mutually beneficial way. Learn about the history and cultural significance behind the Three Sisters, how these three crops support one another in the garden, tips for trying it yourself at home, and more!  
 
Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/EZmR9h-dhmQ 
 
 
Skip to what you want to know:  
  00:36 – Have we ever tried the Three Sisters Gardening technique?
  03:07 – Land acknowledgment 
  09:20 – The origin of the Three Sisters 
  16:31 – What is Three Sisters agriculture/gardening?
  20:41 – Growing the Three Sisters
  31:50 – Is it an effective way to grow?
  39:53 – Eating the harvest
  50:05 – The Honorable Harvest
  57:26 – Wrap-up, what’s up next week, and goodbye!
 
 
More information
The Mohawk story of creation: Lee Claremont, TEDx Penticton
 
Historical Indigenous Food Preparation Using Produce of the Three Sisters Intercropping System
 
An Evaluation of the Productivity of the Native American 'Three Sisters' Agriculture System in Northern Wisconsin
 
Yield, growth, and labor demands of growing maize, beans, and squash in monoculture versus the Three Sisters 
 
Root foraging elicits niche complementarity-dependent yield advantage in the ancient ‘three sisters’ (maize/bean/squash) polyculture 
 
Uncovering Cahokia’s Food History & Forgotten Farmscapes 
 
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.
 
 
Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk
 
--
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