Good Growing

Welcome back to the Good Growing Podcast! In today’s episode, we’re sharing a special throwback conversation with Dr. Michael Ward, ornithologist at the University of Illinois. We’re answering real homeowner questions about backyard birds—everything from bird feeders to territorial cardinals to preventing window collisions.
If you’re wondering what to feed birds, how to clean feeders, why birds hit windows, or how to attract more colorful birds to your yard, this episode is packed with expert insights to help you create a healthier, more bird‑friendly backyard.
Watch this on YouTube https://youtu.be/jKHrH_eeGFo
The full conversation with Dr. Ward https://youtu.be/HxZ3HiI69hs 
Skip to what you want to know:
01:30 How do we discourage barn swallows from building nests underneath overhangs?
03:52 Should we feed birds bread, crackers, and other human food?
05:10 Is there anything we can do to stop birds from hitting our windows?
07:33 What can we do about a territorial cardinal? 
08:47 Should we feed birds all year? When is the best time to feed birds?
10:33 I only get sparrows at my feeders. How do I attract more types of birds?
12:22 Do we need to provide birds with water in the winter, or do they use snow?
13:18 How often and with what should we clean birdfeeders?
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.

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

It’s a new year, which means a new gardening season will be here before we know it. Check out this week’s Good Growing Podcast as we look back on our most popular episodes and standout moments from 2025. From battling mosquitoes to celebrating pollinator plants like milkweed and mountain mint, we revisit the topics that sparked the most conversation. Plus, we share some of our plans for 2026, from expanding native plantings to growing food and flowers for community donation, and more!
 
Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-1T-xDTG_W0
 
Skip to what you want to know:  
  01:30 – Most popular podcasts of 2025
  09:07 – Our favorite episodes and things we learned
  17:43 – Reflecting on the 2025 growing season
  30:53 – Looking ahead to the 2026 growing season
  46:41 – Wrap-up, what’s up next week, and goodbye!
 
Popular episodes and videos:
Clustered Mountain Mint - Perennial Plant of the Year
Get to Know Asclepias (Milkweed) 2025 plant of the year
Gardenbite: The life and bites of buffalo gnats
Summer Mosquito Control: What Really Works to Keep Bites Away
Vegetable gardening in small spaces
Compost your way: Passive and active composting styles
Chamomile: Discover 2025's herb of the year
Peonies: Beauty, history, and backyard blooms
The cranberry story: Native roots and modern agriculture
Discovering Dogwoods: From trees to shrubs and even groundcovers!
Answering your spring gardening questions
Fall gardening questions answered
Spring beauty in the landscape
 
 
 
Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: [email protected]
Ken Johnson: [email protected]
Emily Swihart: [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.
 
 
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

Join us for a deep dive into the fascinating world of American persimmons (Diospyros virginiana)! In this episode of the Good Growing Podcast, Chris, Ken, and special guest Nick Frillman explore everything from tree identification and growing tips to wildlife connections and seed stratification.
We’ll bust common myths—like whether persimmons need frost to ripen—and uncover quirky folklore, including the famous fork, knife, or spoon winter prediction.
Skip to what you want to know:
00:33 Hey Ken!
01:28 Where can we find persimmon growing naturally in Illinois?
05:31 Sprouting persimmon seeds.
07:51 What animals are eating and moving the seeds around Illinois?
08:49 Folklore: Do persimmons require a frost to ripen?
10:15 Can persimmon seeds predict the future winter weather?
15:07 Other persimmon myths/facts
16:56 Persimmon is the sweetest fruit native to Illinois.
17:54 Where can we go to learn more about persimmons?
19:18 Svannah Institute persimmon breeding
19:29 University of Connecticut Climate Smart Orchard Handout
19:50 Thank yous and Happy New Year!
Growing and Enjoying Pawpaw and Persimmon with Patrick Byers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy6aZdQ5Fok
Cliff England - persimmon breeder
James (Jim) Claypool - persimmon breeder (deceased)
Cornell - http://www.hort.cornell.edu/fruit/mfruit/persimmons.html
Savanna Institute - https://www.savannainstitute.org/persimmon/ 
Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: [email protected]
Ken Johnson: [email protected] 
Nick Frillman [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.
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

From pines and spruces to firs and cedars, evergreens are an important part of many landscapes in Illinois. Join us as we explore what makes these plants unique, how they thrive in tough conditions, and why they’re holiday favorites. Plus, we share some tips for caring for evergreens, choosing the right species for your landscape, and creative ways to repurpose your Christmas tree.
Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5y6VlnF24go
 
Skip to what you want to know:  
  00:34 – Welcome. Talking evergreens and episode 300!
  03:02 – Definition time: evergreen, conifer, deciduous conifer, etc.
  06:51 – What is the benefit of retaining leaves (being evergreen)?
  08:59 – Common evergreens in Illinois landscapes
    09:17 – Pines
    10:52 – Spruce and fir trees
      14:58 – Unusual fir Christmas tree problems no scent and weak limbs
      17:26 – Is a Douglas-fir a true fir tree?
    19:15 – When a pinecone isn't a pinecone, differentiating conifer cones
    21:10 – Cypress family - bald cypress, arborvitae, eastern red cedar
    25:38 – Holly
    26:50 – Yew
  30:45 – Planting evergreens
  36:02 – Christmas trees as fire hazards
  38:26 – Christmas trees after the holidays
  41:46 – Scientific names
  43:27 – Wrap-up, what’s up next week, and goodbye!

 
More information:
Is It Pine, Spruce, or Fir? - https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/anr-80
 
 
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.
 
 
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

Persimmons are sweet, native to Illinois, and sometimes astringent! In this episode of Good Growing, Chris Enroth and Ken Johnson sit down with Nick Frillman, Local Foods and Small Farms Educator, to uncover everything you need to know about persimmons. From American vs. Asian cultivars to tips for growing them in Illinois, we cover cultivars, pollination, pruning, and harvesting tricks to avoid that dreaded cottonmouth. 
Skip to what you want to know:
00:39 Hey Ken! Have we ever eaten a persimmon?
01:42 Welcome Nick!
03:24 What is the difference between the Asian and American persimmon?
08:10 Which type of persimmon is grown in Illinois?
12:01 What is the comparison of astringent vs. non-astringent persimmon?
16:47 What do we need to know about sourcing persimmon trees?
19:45 What are some improved cultivars of persimmon available for sale?
20:09 https://nafex.org/
21:46 How are these trees sold? Bareroot or potted?
22:45 American persimmons sold for deer hunting
23:54 Where do persimmons need to be planted?  
24:28 Chris Evans winter tree ID webinar https://youtu.be/PuAlyp9PamA?si=bdcAOXUjY-NUIe09&t=3176
25:52 How does pollination work with persimmons? 
30:39 What type of pruning is needed to grow persimmons?
33:31 What other maintenance needs to occur when growing persimmons? Fertilizer? Irrigation?
35:01 What pests can be problems with persimmons?
36:39 How do you know when persimmons are ripe and ready to pick?
41:16 What about the dropped persimmon fruit on the ground?
44:39 How should we store persimmons?
48:03 The difference in flavor and texture of American and Asian persimmons
50:03 What are some processing methods for preserving persimmons?
53:03 Thank yous and coming up next week!
Chris Evans winter tree ID webinar https://youtu.be/PuAlyp9PamA?si=bdcAOXUjY-NUIe09&t=3176
Growing and Enjoying Pawpaw and Persimmon with Patrick Byers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy6aZdQ5Fok
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.
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