Garden Variety: Recent Episodes
Iowa Public Radio
Whether you're a master gardener, just getting started or somewhere in between - there's always something new to learn in your garden and landscape. On each episode we'll talk with horticulturists, foresters and other experts. We'll learn about vegetable gardens, lawns, native plants, trees and more. Garden Variety is the podcast for all the things you'd like to grow or grow better.
Garden Variety is a horticulture podcast from Iowa Public Radio and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Over the last 15 years the emerald ash borer has transformed Iowa's landscape. This isn't the first time a species of tree has been all but wiped out by a threat.
Late spring and early summer blooming perennials — peonies, shasta daisies and siberian irises — are on display.
If you're up for a wee challenge, kiwi berries are a delicious fruit you can grow at home.
It's springtime, and with it comes pesky plant diseases. On this episode, we discuss how to keep your garden healthy.
Now that things are getting green, people are eager to work outside. But, before you fire up your lawn mower, some tips for best mowing practices.
The idea of pollinator-friendly gardens may be relatively new, but pollinators have been an important part of gardening ever since plant cultivation began.
With fruit trees, we have expectations and needs. On this episode, we discuss techniques to best care for fruit trees.
Iowa is famous for having some of the richest soil in the world, but that doesn't tell you much about the quality of the soil in your yard or garden.
More cut flowers are purchased on Valentine’s Day than on any other day of the year. We learn how to make the most out of your cut flowers.
From pumpkins to basil, hear about the new plant varieties our horticulture experts are excited plant this spring.
It's that time of year many search for the perfect evergreen tree to bring into their home.
Fresh figs are grown and eaten in many parts of the world, and you can grow them in Iowa.
This fall, an Iowa City resident discovered the first rusty patch bumble bee nest in the state since the species was listed as endangered in 2017.
If you feel cold, your plants feel cold, too. Extra steps are needed to protect your landscape plants through the winter months.
Pumpkin spice may be all over the place right now, but one of the best flavors of fall in Iowa is a crisp, sweet, locally grown apple.
Some Iowans have noticed a reduction of pollinators in their neighborhoods and gardens this summer, as the state has experienced severe weather this season.
Experts discuss how to care for summer blooming shrubs — hydrangea, button bush and so many others
Within a healthy ecosystem nature creates a balance between predator and prey, resources and consumers.
Long, warm days with plenty of moisture and sunshine are ideal for plant growth, but they are also ideal for the growth of various plant diseases.
BLT's, caprese salad or just sliced and salted... With tomatoes, the possibilities are endless!
From functional to fancy, container gardening can take many different forms. They are pretty, colorful, and great options for people with limited mobility.
The USDA plant hardiness zone map has been updated. Here's what that means for your garden.
In this bonus episode of Garden Variety, Charity talks with University of Iowa biology professor Andrew Forbes about all things cicada.
In this bonus episode of Garden Variety, Charity talks with ISU expert Jan Thompson about how the attitude toward Bradford Pear trees has shifted. Then, Charity talks with ISU expert Cathy McMullen about garlic mustard—and how to control it.
The king of crab apples shares some of his favorite spring blooming trees and talk about why magnolias seem to be having an off year
Leaving plant debris in your perennial garden all winter long provides texture and habitat, but now it’s time to do some spring cleaning as the weather warms.
As the weather warms up and insects emerge, you might find yourself with some unwanted houseguests crawling around.
It will be a while before you can pick your homegrown harvest, but we can offer some guidance when it comes to picking the right fruit trees.
Many landowners and stewards in Iowa battle invasives on a regular basis, sometimes spending hours weeding plants like honeysuckle and garlic mustard.
To get a larger plant selection conveniently sent to your home, there is an online market of bulbs, seeds and plants. But how do you know you are ordering quality plants?
In this bonus episode of Garden Variety, learn about the Philadelphia Flower Show from designer Kelly Norris.
Instead of going to the grocery store this season, grow flowers for your Valentine from home.
A horticulture expert shares ways to create your own indoor hydroponics system without breaking the bank.
Horticulture experts discuss their favorite seed catalogs and picking the right plants for your garden.
In this bonus episode of Garden Variety, go behind the scenes to learn about how Horticulture Day started!
The holidays inspire many of us to bring new plants into our homes. Here's how to best care for them
Host Charity Nebbe talks with horticulturist Chris Currey about the long history of the poinsettia.
More and more people are planting gardens with pollinators in mind. How about planting something nice for birds?
Ajay Nair, professor of Horticulture at Iowa State University, discusses the finer points of growing our own carrots.
Though they may look scary, horticulture and insect experts say Iowans do not need to be afraid of the spiders that may enter their homes this fall.
In this bonus episode of Garden Variety, ISU experts answer your questions on global warming, spring prep, and more!
Prairie and savanna biologist Pauline Drobney and horticulturist Kelly Norris offer advice on planting and maintaining native plants and grasses.
Fall is here, and beautiful colors are creeping across the landscape. On this episode, it's a conversation about fall colors!
Summer is over, but it's prime time for mums and asters. Here's how to help them flourish
Social wasps might make you think of wasps that are invasive, but it refers to the fact that certain kinds of wasps like to live in groups.
Japanese beetles are emerging once again and, as usual, they’re hungry. Here’s what you need to know about everyone’s least-favorite invasive species.
We often remember to water the plants in our landscape when it's dry, but don't neglect the trees in your yard.
Some people start gardens solely for fresh tomatoes, but disease can keep your plants from thriving. Here's how to avoid and address tomato diseases.
What’s one of the best summer fruits to bite into? You’re right — melon. And it’s even better if it comes from your garden.
Many of the vegetables found in your favorite international cuisine can be grown in your home garden.
Ferns predate the dinosaurs — they’ve survived for hundreds of millions of years, and the odds are good that they can survive in your yard.
Commercial fruit crop specialist Randall Vos offers advice on protecting fruit from frost damage and disease.
Harvest is still months away, but apple trees all over the state are blooming. Here’s how to care for them.
On this Garden Variety bonus episode, Charity heads into the woods with master mushroom hunter Mark Vitosh.
We celebrate one of the shining jewels of springtime — tulips! — with horticulture specialists.
Turf grass is so last season. Host Charity Nebbe discusses environmentally friendly lawn alternatives with horticulture experts.
Host Charity Nebbe and ISU Extension horticulturist Aaron Steil talk about spring flowering shrubs.
Grass specialist Adam Thoms discusses spring lawn chores and how to know when it’s time to mow.
Your garden may be resting under a new blanket of snow, but planting time for cool season crops is just around the corner.
Roses are red, and African Violets can be many different colors. Listen for advice on taking great care of them.
According to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone maps Iowa is in Zone 5. Here's what that means and how that knowledge can help your garden.
Indoor plants can also attract unwanted visitors. An entomologist joins the show to tell us how to keep houseplants pest-free.
A wildlife specialist discusses how gardeners, homeowners and landscapers can support bird populations throughout the year.
We're discussing late fall and winter forest stewardship — like IDing invasive species — and why winter is the best time to enjoy the woods.
While the cold has claimed outdoor plants for the season, holiday cactus is just getting ready to bloom.
An entomologist joins the show to tell us how insects survive the winter and how it’s possible for so many species to show up instantly the moment warm temperatures return.
Discussing decorative and delicious gourds with an ISU extension commercial vegetable and specialty crop specialist.
When the growing season ends and most plants have died back, ornamental grasses often still stand tall, providing color, texture and habitat in yards and gardens.
Pumpkin spice gets all the hype, but the first apples of fall deserve some love! Here are some tips for getting some great fruit to keep the doctor far away.
Talking about late season perennials that bring color and beauty to landscapes as the days grow shorter.
It's been a tough year for some of Iowa's trees. Conifer connoisseurs offer evergreen advice.
We're talking lawn care: seeding, re-seeding, core aeration and other late summer tasks.
A fruit crop specialist to discuss growing berries and some of the alternative berries that thrive in Iowa.
Vegetable production specialist Ajay Nair talks about growing corn — the kind meant for your plate.
An Iowa DNR District Forester joins the show to discuss problems your trees may face, including oak and hackberry tatters.
On this episode of Garden Variety we provide guidance on selecting saplings and caring for newly planted trees.
It's harvest time for broccoli and cauliflower. On this episode of Garden Variety, all the best advice on caring for and harvesting these cool season crops.
Just gonna have to be a different plant — Brenton Arboretum's Melissa Burdick discusses the how to deal with the change of the landscape over time.
Ed Lyon, director of Reiman Gardens in Ames, helps you find the right groundcover plants for you.
On this bonus episode of the Garden Variety podcast, Charity Nebbe speaks with Doug Tallamy about the landscapes we’ve created, what the cost may be to many species and how each one of us can make a difference.
ISU entomologist Donald Lewis joins Garden Variety to talk solutions to your ant problems.
On this episode of Garden Variety, Charity speaks with ISU Extension horticulture specialist Dan Fillius about growing sweet potatoes.
On this episode of Garden Variety, Charity and ISU horticulturists Aaron Steil and Cindy Haynes discuss best practices for caring for peonies, irises and other spring-blooming perennials.
On this episode of Garden Variety, Charity speaks with Suzanne Slack of Iowa State University Extension about how to get your orchard off to a good growing season and handle all the problems that can leave you stumped.
(Get it? like fungi?) On this Garden Variety bonus episode, Charity heads into the woods with master mushroom hunter Mark Vitosh.
Welcome to Garden Variety, the horticulture podcast for all the things you’d like to grow or grow better.
Whether you’re a master gardener, just getting started or somewhere in between, there's always something new to learn in your garden and landscape. That’s where “Garden Variety,” a horticulture podcast from Iowa Public Radio and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, comes in. On each episode, host Charity Nebbe will talk with horticulturists, foresters and other experts. We’ll learn about vegetable gardens, lawns, native plants, trees and more!“Garden Variety” is the podcast for all the things you’d like to grow or grow better. Coming soon!