The season may be winding down, but Don's inbox is still blooming bright with yard and garden successes from around the region. In this episode, Don and John open up the mailbag to admire your gardening wins and answer a few questions about lawn seeding, late-season pests and more.
While our yards and gardens can be a fulfilling source of delicious products, we can't forget that there's plenty to be found out in our parks and in the wild. In this episode, Don and John are joined by Candace Stock, a chef whose Indigenous cuisine has been enjoyed throughout the region, for a crash course on foraging for exciting flavors. Stock will also discuss an upcoming event for those interested in growing fruit trees for both food and conservation. For more information, visit our websit...
Shambling horrors! Grasping tendrils! Creeping terror! In this episode, the call is coming from inside the shed as Don and John root out the spooky side of gardening, like the things that won't die, the things that choke out the light and flowers fit for the Bride of Frankenstein. Listen to this episode of GROANING Together... if you dare!
How did a wet spring and a dry fall impact our growing season, and what can we look forward to during our upcoming La Niña winter? In this episode, Don and John are joined by regular guest John Wheeler, chief meteorologist at WDAY TV, to recap this year's garden and share some wisdom on every gardener's second favorite topic: the weather.
As we pick the last of the zuccini and mow just one more time, it's a good time to take stock of the growing season. What worked, and what didn't? In this episode, Don and John share their observations from the 2024 growing season, with plenty of insights on how you can plan your garden better and react to shifting conditions. If you have your own insights or questions, be sure to share them with Don via email at donald.kinzler@ndsu.edu.
It's been a mild, dry fall in the upper Midwest, and your garden is still likely producing some goods for harvest...but, just in case you need reminding, winter is coming. In this episode, Don and John talk about getting your yard and garden put to bed for the winter and the essential tasks to get done so you're not scrambling when temperatures plunge.
We've had a warm start to the fall, but make no mistake: Harvest time is coming fast. In this episode, Don and John discuss how to store your hard-earned harvest, specifically carrots, potatoes and other root vegetables.
It's not too early to think about setting your yard and garden up for success next spring, even as we're not quite done with this year's harvest. In this episode, Don and John go over a few of the pruning, seeding and fertilizing tasks that can be done in early autumn to give you a head start on next year.
There are ample opportunities for fall color displays all over our region—and they're absolutely worth the drive, of course—but what if you want fall colors in your own yard? In this episode, Don and John discuss some of the best options for trees and shrubs that bring the delight of fall color right to you.
You can almost feel the snap of fall in the air, and that means it's the best time of year for one crucial task: dividing some of your yard's most beautiful plants. In this episode, Don and John go over the processes for digging and dividing your peonies, irises and day lilies, a critical task if you want a luscious yard teeming with these dramatic perennials.
Summer sings its last sweet refrain during the Labor Day holiday weekend, and that comes with a few items for your lawn and garden checklist. In this episode, Don and John mark the last big summer weekend with a variety of annual chores that will set you up for success in the year ahead, including stamping out some weeds and giving your lawn a little extra attention.
There's nothing quite as show-stopping as a healthy, blooming hydrangea bursting with color in your yard. But where to start? In this episode, Don and John go over the basics of hydrangeas: How to choose the right variety, where to plant them and how to give them the best care.
While we associate planting with the rush and excitement of spring, you still have lots of options later in the season, including shrubs and some spring bloomers. In this epsiode, Don and John take a look at fall planting and give you some reasons to hit up the garden centers for late-season delights.
If you love the idea of canning but are hesitant to make the leap, this show's for you. In this episode, Don and John are joined by Rita Ussatis, Family and Community Wellness Extension Agent at NDSU. Rita has been canning, and teaching about canning, for years and she has plenty of wisdom to get you started.
Once you start your own garden, it's easy to see how natural it is to save money and time by saving your own seeds. In this episode, Don and John discuss some of the benefits of keeping your seeds and give you some things to consider along the way.
July is ending and we're well into the dog days of summer. Don Kinzler and John Lamb discuss the things to look for and what to do to keep your plants and flowers healthy in the hot weather. In this episode, Don also tells the story of his recent absence from the podcast.
A fulfilling part of growing your own garden is sharing it with those you love, and better photos make that easier. In this episode, John sits down with Britta Trygstad, aka Britta The Photographer, to talk about some simple tactics you can use to get better photos of your garden to document it and share it with the world. Learn more about Trygstad on her website: https://brittathephotographer.com/
Spoiler: The most common culprit with trees that die unexpectedly is improper care. In this episode, Don and John explore the Mystery of the Murdered Tree and teach us all a basic lesson in tree care that might prevent the unthinkable from happening to your trees and shrubs.
Summer is a great time for your garden...unless your plants aren't quite growing the way they should. In this episode, Don and John look at the most common issues that begin to pop up this time of year, including blossom end rot, fungus and pests.
For something as deep and complex as gardening, it's vital to have others around to teach you new things and give you new ideas. In this episode, Don and John are joined by Rachel Sailer, organizer of the 2nd Annual Red River Valley Garden Tour. The tour allows any gardener to take a peek at the yards of experienced gardeners and find new inspiration. Sailer is a master gardener and operations manager at Baker Garden and Gift. The Red River Valley Garden Tour is July 17 and 18, and it will featu...
As we enter the thick of summer, you've no doubt been busy in your garden. But this time of year marks a time when you can take it a little easier. In this episode, Don and John discuss the tasks you can stop doing once we hit July, like fertilizing and pruning,
Apples and apple trees are more commonly associated with cooler autumn days and heaping buckets full of delicious apples. But if you want that sweet apple crop, there's no time like summer to give them some extra attention. In this episode, Don and John go over some of the tasks you should be thinking about with your apple trees, or what to do if you're thinking of getting an apple tree started in your yard.
Peonies and irises are an enthusiastic addition to your yard or garden thanks to their early summer start and showy blossoms. In this episode, Don and John go over the basics of caring for peonies and irises, including an easy way to get ants off your peony blossoms before bringing them indoors.
Arguably, no other flower carries as much meaning and history as a rose, which makes them a popular choice for a gardener. But roses can also present a thorny (forgive the pun) challenge. In this episode, Don and John go over the basics of growing and caring for your roses, from sourcing the best roses to pruning them safely.
In this episode, WDAY Chief Meteorologist John Wheeler joins Don and John for a look at possible weather patterns for the upper Midwest as we head into the summer growing season. Plus, he talks about setting up new raised garden plots and gives us a simple pepper sauce recipe.
We all know fertilizing is an important part of maintaining healthy trees and shrubs along with a healthy yard and garden. But when should we fertilize, how much should we use, and what kinds of fertilizers work the best? In this episode, Don and John tackle the important question of fertilizing and discuss why May and June are the best times to get it done.
There isn't anything quite as satisfying as a full, lush lawn. And nothing is as frustrating as a lawn that doesn't look healthy, no matter how hard you try. In this episode, Don and John go over some of the most common concerns facing those who care for lawns, including yellow patches, thinning spots, weeds, fertilizing and mowing.
We're hot on the heels of planting season, meaning it's time to head out to our local garden centers to find the right plants and shrubs for our yards and gardens. What should we know before we go? In this episode, Don and John share their collected wisdom to keep in your back pocket before you find yourself enthralled with what a garden center has to offer.
Gardening is all about strong connections, like our connection to the Earth and the connections with one another shown in the love and knowledge we pass down from one generation to the next. In this episode, Don and John pay tribute to the moms (and dads and grandparents) who shared their hard-won gardening experience with us. Our listeners share their fondest memories, too, from picking potato bugs to learning big lessons about life.
Every stage in the development of your garden is important, but nothing matches the excitement of getting your plants into the ground once spring comes around. In this episode, Don and John go over spring planting methods that will give your plants their best shot at a successful growing season. === "Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast" is a show for gardeners in the upper Midwest based in Fargo, North Dakota. Don Kinzler is a horticulturist with NDSU Extension in Cass County, a lifelong garde...
