Ep. 240 Beyond the usual: Exploring some lesser‑known fruits for the garden | #GoodGrowing
Curious about adding something a little different to your backyard orchard? On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we dive into the flavorful world of lesser-known fruits you can grow right here in Illinois. From early‑ripening honeyberries and fall-bearing primocane blackberries to compact bush cherries and Illinois-born PRI apples, we explore unique fruit crops that offer exciting alternatives to the usual.
Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XAVtrBFKB40
Skip to what you want to know:
01:30 – Welcome, Grant McCarty! Illinois Beginning Orchard Academy.
03:22 – Some not-so-successful crops for Grant in northern Illinois.
07:35 – Where in Illinois can we reliably grow/harvest peaches?
09:53 – Honeyberries. How to grow and what do they taste like?
14:52 – Are honeyberries problematic like many other honeysuckles?
17:32 – Primocane fruiting blackberries.
21:38 – Is the care of primocane blooming blackberries different than other blackberries?
23:45 – Is there a link to Illini Hardy blackberry?
27:20 – Bush cherries. How are they different than cherry trees?
33:57 – Apples. What are PRI apples?
38:51 – High-density apples
44:31 – Any PRI resources out there?
48:10 – Wrap-up, what’s up next week, and goodbye!
More information:
Contact us!
Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu
Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu
Grant McCarty: gmccarty@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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Creators and Guests
Host
Chris Enroth
University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator serving Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren Counties
Host
Ken Johnson
University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator serving Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Morgan, and Scott Counties
Guest
Grant McCarty
University of Illinois Local Foods and Small Farms Educator serving Jo Daviess, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties
