Garden Variety
Every Friday throughout the growing season
Whether you're a master gardener, just getting started or somewhere in between — there's always something new to learn in your garden. That's where Garden Variety comes in. On each episode, we talk with horticulturists, foresters and other experts. We 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 collaboration between Iowa Public Radio and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Latest Episodes
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Have you got your Christmas tree yet? If you haven't, there's still enough time to check out your local ditch. In this bonus episode, we hear from one caller about his holiday tradition of sourcing his tree from the side of the road. -
As winter holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah and the solstice bring light into the darkest time of year, we’re taking a closer look at the plants tied to those traditions — beyond poinsettias and Christmas trees.
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When you buy a Christmas tree at a farm, tree lot, or store, you’re buying an agricultural product. More than 35 million Christmas trees are harvested every year in the United States, and there are approximately 200 Christmas tree growers in Iowa. DNR Forester Mark Vitosh is here to give us some insight into the industry that brings so many people joy this time of year. To further grow your gardening knowledge, sign up for our Garden Variety newsletter.
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Our horticulture experts brainstorm solutions for a well-intended caller who gifted his wife a tropical plant in a Midwestern climate.
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Storage, sauce and cider. There are a number of ways that we can continue to savor the tastes of apple season into the winter months.
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It's time to get your berries ready for the cold. Your future self, and your strawberries, will thank you.
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Non-native insects can compete with some native species for resources, but they rarely cause extinction of native insect species.
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As it gets colder outside, you may notice some creepy crawly household invaders inside. Here's what you should do