Ken Johnson
University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator serving Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Morgan, and Scott Counties
Appears in 315 Episodes
Gardenbite: Tips for selecting and transporting holiday plants| #GoodGrowing
The holiday season is here, which means evergreens, poinsettias, amaryllis, and other holiday plants have arrived in stores. Plants are often at the center of our holi...
Gardenbite: Voles in the landscape & mice in the house | #GoodGrowing
This week, we have a Gardenbite excerpt from our webinar, in which we discussed wildlife damage in the home landscape. In this clip, Chris details two common rodents i...
Ep. 192 Season extension: Ways we can expand the growing season | #GoodGrowing
When cold weather arrives, it brings the end of the vegetable gardening season for many of us. That doesn’t have to be the case though. On this week’s Good Growing Pod...
Ep. 191 Late Season Garden Updates & Fall Horticultural Questions Answered | #GoodGrowing
This week on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris marvel at all the stuff they are still harvesting in their gardens. A touch of frost hasn't seemed to stop the toma...
Ep. 190 Halloween spooktacular: Creepy crawlies | #GoodGrowing
It’s time for another Good Growing Halloween Spooktacular! We’re all dressed up again this year to talk about some creepy crawlies that have had or are still having an...
Ep. 189 Getting garden tools ready for winter | #GoodGrowing
Now that the garden season is starting to wind down, it’s a good time to start thinking about getting our tools ready for winter. This week on the Good Growing Podcast...
Ep. 188 Fall Cleanup in the Yard and Garden | #GoodGrowing
This week on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris discuss why we clean up our gardens in the fall. Cutting down perennials, raking leaves, and pulling out spent vege...
Good Growing Grow Along final check-in for 2024 | #GoodGrowing
It’s time for our last Grow Along check-in for 2024. Each year we at Good Growing decide to try growing some new (to us) vegetables. This year we invited you to grow a...
Ep. 187 Fall garden to-do list | #GoodGrowing
October has arrived, and while it may not feel like it at times, so has fall. This week on the Good Growing Podcast, we discuss some of the different things on our fal...
Gardenbite: Fall Flavors - Apple vs Pumpkin | #goodgrowing
This week on the Good Growing Podcast, Chris compares the essential fall flavors of apple and pumpkin. If you had to choose, what side would you fall on? Team Apple? O...
Gardenbite: Toothache plant: What is it and how to grow it | #GoodGrowing
This week on the Good Growing Podcast, we’re trying something new: toothache plant. Learn more about this interesting plant, what happens when you eat it, and how you ...
Gardenbite: The Science Behind Fall Color | #GoodGrowing
Have you ever wondered what causes the reds, yellows, oranges, and maroons of autumn? There are lots of different plant pigments beyond the green color of chloroplast....
Ep. 186 Managing weeds in the fall | #GoodGrowing
Have the weeds been popping up all over the place in your landscape? You’re in luck, fall is a great time to manage weeds. On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we disc...
Ep. 185 Growing Hazelnuts in Illinois | #GoodGrowing
This week on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris talk about hazelnuts. Chris remembers hazelnut shrubs growing in the woods from his childhood, we compare European ...
Ep. 184 Understanding the Power of Cover Crops: Tips for Home Gardeners
This week on the Good Growing Podcast: Join Ken and Chris as they delve into the fascinating world of cover crops! More and more home gardeners are discovering the ben...
Ep. 183 Old-time garden remedies | #GoodGrowing
There are a lot of garden remedies that have been used throughout the years, and some of them are still recommended today. Do they work? Should we still be using them?...
Ep. 182 What’s Bugging Our Gardens and Trees in 2024 | #GoodGrowing
In this episode, we dive into the latest challenges facing gardeners and landscapers. From toppling trees to the potential for itchy mites dropping from the sky, Ken a...
Good Growing Grow Along second check-in
It’s time for another Grow Along check-in. Each year we at Good Growing decide to try growing some new (to us) vegetables. This year we invited you to grow along with ...
Gardenbite: Fall Tree Planting | #GoodGrowing
Many of us skipped planting trees this spring to avoid damage from periodical cicadas. But now that we’re approaching fall, we have an opportunity to plant some trees....
Ep. 181 Plant problems we are seeing in 2024 | #GoodGrowing
Have you been having problems in your garden this year? We certainly have! On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we discuss some of the most common problems we’ve been ...
