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PODCAST

Garden Variety

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

leisure home & garden

All Episodes

12:42

Clove is all you need

Garden Variety ·

2026/10/02

It’s a staple in almost every kitchen, but if you’re going to grow your own garlic you have to do some planning ahead. On this episode, Iowa State University horticulture professor and chair Ajay Nair guides us through planting, caring for and harvesting garlic.

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12:50

Best advice on the web

Garden Variety ·

2026/09/25

Autumn is here and before winter arrives, insects and arachnids have some important work to get done. In the meantime, we can enjoy the beautiful handiwork of orb weaver spiders which is especially visible this time of year. On this episode, entomologist Zach Schumm of the Iowa State University Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic joins us to talk about orb weaver spiders. He discusses their beautiful work and how they prepare for winter.

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12:58

Blame it on the rain

Garden Variety ·

2026/09/18

Some Iowans spent a lot of the summer wishing for rain, others spent the summer wishing the rain would stop. Later summer deluges are raising some concerns about what a strong El Nino means for the next few months. Agricultural climatology specialist Madelynn Wuestenberg joins us on this episode with her insight.

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10:41

Cool temperatures, cooler advice

Garden Variety ·

2026/09/11

How to prepare for the first frost of the season (hint: start now)

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13:02

The crickets are humming

Garden Variety ·

2026/09/04

If you step outside into the quiet of a summer afternoon or evening right now, you'll probably hear a merry cacophony of insect sounds. We talk with Laura Iles, director of the North Central Integrated Pest Management Center about the singing insects of late summer in Iowa.

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12:47

Invasive maneuvers

Garden Variety ·

2026/08/28

The woods may be lovely, dark and deep, but most Iowa woodlands are plagued with invasive species. On this episode, we talk with DNR District Forester Mark Vitosh about the non-native invasive plants that we should be concerned about in Iowa forests and some management techniques.

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12:53

Lawn and order

Garden Variety ·

2026/08/21

One of the perennial questions we field is when to plant grass seed. The answer is right now. On this episode we talk with Iowa State University turfgrass specialist Adam Thoms about seeding and overseeding your lawn. We also talk about the fall lawn chores you should have on your horizon.

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4:45

BONUS: Weeding out the competition

Garden Variety ·

2026/08/19

It’s state fair season and the Iowa State Fair has a competition for everything from biggest boar to longest beard to the best pie. But one contest puts people’s knowledge of backyard weeds to the test. We hear from the participants at the Iowa State Fair Weed Identification Contest.

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12:53

Feeling symp-tomato-ic?

Garden Variety ·

2026/08/14

Eating a ripe tomato fresh from the garden is one of the true pleasures of summer, but growing tomatoes can be challenging — especially if your plants get hit by disease. In this episode, we talk about tomatoes and their many diseases with Chelsea Harbach, plant disease diagnostician with the Iowa State University Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic.

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12:50

The rule of mum

Garden Variety ·

2026/08/07

While some of us are making the most of the last few weeks of summer, other folks are ready to move on to fall. Demand for iconic autumnal plants and colors starts earlier every year. On this episode, we talk with ISU Extension Horticulture Specialist Randall Vos about producing fall plants on demand.

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12:45

Happily ever aster

Garden Variety ·

2026/07/31

If your yard and landscape look worse for the wear after a few weeks extreme heat, maybe it's time to think about a refresh. On this episode, Iowa State University Extension Horticulture Specialist Aaron Steil joins us. He tells us about the beautiful perennials that thrive in the heat of summer.

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12:48

What's on the vege-table?

Garden Variety ·

2026/07/24

We are at the height of the season for homegrown produce. Iowa State University Extension Horticulture Specialist Dan Filius guides us through the bounty of this time of year and share some advice for harvesting and storing potatoes, onions and garlic.

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13:04

It's like a heat wave burning in my hort

Garden Variety ·

2026/07/17

Warm season crops like tomatoes and green beans need consistent warmth to thrive, and it may seem like they love the heat, but when it gets too hot some of our favorite vegetables go on strike. On this episode, we talk with entomologist Laura Iles about how heat affects pollination and pollinators.

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12:54

Help your trees feel oak-kay again

Garden Variety ·

2026/07/10

Thanks to storms and severe weather, tree limbs are down while tree stress is up. But there are ways to help the timber in your area and to keep damage from happening. We talk with Iowa State University professor of horticulture Jeff Iles about helping trees with storm damage, as well as preventative measures to consider before the next round of severe weather.

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13:02

These native plants are fan-grass-tic!

Garden Variety ·

2026/06/26

Native plants improve biodiversity and help local insects and wildlife thrive. Dani Gehr sits in for Charity Nebbe, and she talks with Iowa State Extension horticulture specialist Ray Kruse about what natives have succeeded in his garden and what plants he's needed to pull.

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12:48

Getting bark to basics

Garden Variety ·

2026/06/19

Advice for trees and perennials in need.

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12:54

Grape vines think alike

Garden Variety ·

2026/06/12

There are a lot of different factors that can derail a fruit crop, even after your blossoms have survived the last frost. It was a tough spring for many fruit crops, but if you are lucky enough to have some fruit on your tree, there are a few things you can do to help them thrive. Iowa State Extension Horticulture Specialist Randall Vos joins us to discuss what we should be doing when it comes to summer fruit management.

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12:55

Closer I am to vine

Garden Variety ·

2026/06/05

Often called the "queen of climbers," clematis are known for their beautiful blooms and ability to add height to your garden. These vining members of the buttercup family make a beautiful addition to almost any yard and they are in full bloom right now. Cindy Haynes, professor of Horticulture at Iowa State University and Aaron Steil, Iowa State University Extension Horticulture Specialist join the program to tell us about growing and caring for clematis.

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13:08

Grow with the flow

Garden Variety ·

2026/05/29

When you flip through the pages of your favorite garden catalog, your eye might be caught by any number of new varieties of your favorite plants. All of the new plants at your garden center or in that garden catalog have to be tried and tested before they make it to market. Horticulturist Jessie Liebenguth of Reiman Gardens joins the show to talk about how new plant varieties are tested, and we'll find out about some of her favorites.

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12:59

Diversi-tree is key

Garden Variety ·

2026/05/22

The oak is the state tree of Iowa. It’s a keystone species that provides habitat for a variety of wildlife species, including over 500 species of butterflies and moths. But Iowa’s oak woodlands are disappearing at an alarming rate. Iowa Department of Natural Resources District Forester Mark Vitosh said planting a diversity of trees is crucial for a resilient canopy.

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214 results

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