Good Growing

How far can running bamboo run?
Bamboo may look exotic and tropical, but did you know some species can thrive right here in Illinois? In this Gardenbite episode, Chris Enroth dives into the fascinating—and sometimes frustrating—world of bamboo. From Illinois' own native giant cane to the notorious running bamboo that has sparked neighbor disputes and landscaping headaches, learn what makes these giant grasses so unique. 
Skip to what you want to know:
00:51 Does bamboo grow in Illinois?
02:02 Illinois has a native bamboo species!
05:29 The different types of bamboo: pachymorph and leptomorphs
11:04 Methods for containing bamboo
18:44 How do you control bamboo?
Bamboo rhizome barrier installation video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf7S80itdso
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

Coneflowers are beloved native plants, but sometimes you may end up with strange-looking flowers. Check out this week's Good Growing Podcast to learn about two common causes of distorted coneflower blooms: aster yellows and coneflower rosette mites. Learn how to recognize the symptoms of each, understand how they affect your plants, and discover management strategies to help keep your garden looking its best.
 
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uENkERouAR8
 

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

As Americans prepare to celebrate the July 4th weekend, Good Growing takes a look at the Founding Fathers as gardeners. In this episode, we explore the lesser-known side of our nation’s founders. In addition to being authors and signers of the Declaration of Independence and political leaders, many were lifelong, passionate gardeners, especially Thomas Jefferson. Listen to learn more about how his interest in gardening influenced his political thoughts, what was planted at his home, and how he recorded the vegetable trials he oversaw. 
 
Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SwNTIIRZiIY 

Skip to what you want to know:  
  03:23 – Welcome, Ken and Emily 
  05:26 – Founding fathers as gardeners
  11:53 – The farm vs the garden
  15:07 – Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello
  21:15 – Monticello garden terrace
  26:46 – Thomas Jefferson’s Garden Book
  43:10 – Using food in the kitchen
  47:06 – A messy garden for Thomas Jefferson
  49:10 – End of life
  55:02 – Founding Fathers Fun Facts  
  1:04:22 – Wrap-up, what’s up next week, and goodbye!
 
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

In this episode of the Good Growing podcast, we explore the concept of edible landscaping, where ornamental plants double as food sources.
Emily, Ken, and Chris will discuss how to design a landscape that combines aesthetic appeal with edible function. Learn the core principles of edible landscape design, including plant selection, diversity, seasonality, and incorporating perennials alongside annual crops.
We’ll share real-world examples from our own yards, highlighting native plants, shrubs, trees, and herbaceous perennials that offer both visual interest and edible benefits.
Reminder: Always properly identify plants and research proper preparation for cooking and eating them. Some plants we talk about in this episode do have toxic properties if improperly harvested or prepared.
Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/edDfPi_i3Fw
Skip to what you want to know:
00:46 Hey Ken and Emily!
01:45 Defining the topic for this week. Edible landscape plants...Edimentals
03:33 Edimentals is not foraging
04:50 Principles of an edible landscape
15:13 What are some edible landscaping plants?
15:34 Ken's picks
16:03 Leadplant
17:31 Purple poppy mallow
18:21 Ken's Sweet potato and yam article https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2019-11-25-whats-difference-between-sweet-potatoes-and-yams
18:54 Common milkweed
21:07 Jerusalem artichoke
23:25 Hackberry
25:16 Chris' edible landscape plants
25:31 Blueberry
27:44 Hazelnut
28:50 Rhubarb
30:03 Swiss chard
32:34 Emily's picks
32:42 Serviceberry
35:29 Elderberry
37:04 Elderberry syrup recipe https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/elderberry_syrup.pdf
37:19 Aronia
39:08 Spiderwort
40:28 Lambs quarter
45:32 Can you eat native grass seeds?
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

Love them or fear them, hot peppers bring the heat to gardens and kitchens alike. Join us as we dive into the spicy world of peppers with Dr. Jack McCoy. Learn about what makes peppers hot, why some people love to eat them, how to grow them, ways to use your harvest, and more!
 
Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/llkA3W2adiY

Skip to what you want to know:  
  00:28 – Welcome. Do we like to eat hot peppers? 
  03:33 – Jack, tell us about what you are currently teaching/working on at U of I.
  04:48 – Student Sustainable Farm at University of Illinois
  10:19 – Jack, how did you get into hot peppers?
  13:22 – Why is there so much interest in hot peppers?
  17:04 – Why are hot peppers hot? Why did they evolve to be hot?
  20:08 – How do capsaicin levels relate to Scoville units?
  23:47 – Which came first, hot or sweet peppers? Are they all the same? 
  25:53 – How do we grow peppers?
  30:05 – Suggestions for starting pepper seeds indoors
  33:15 – Do peppers need any kind of special fertilization or irrigation routines?
  34:18 – Is there anything that happens during the growing season that affects the pepper's heat?
  39:44 – What pests do we need to watch out for?
  44:31 – Do we need to protect ourselves when harvesting hot peppers? 
  47:50 – Any peppers to recommend for chiliheads? What about beginners? 
  50:43 – Favorite way to use hot peppers
  54:30 – There seems to be a hot pepper arms race, is there a limit to how hot peppers can be?
  56:01 – What's the hottest pepper we’ve ever eaten?
  1:01:41 – Wrap-up, what’s up next week, and goodbye!
 
Allerton Supper Club
 
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