x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

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

Small but might-tree

Garden Variety ·

2026/04/17

A towering oak, a giant sycamore, a stately walnut-big trees are awe-inspiring, but sometimes the landscape needs a little tree. Today, Iowa State University Horticulturist Jeff Iles gives his picks for trees on the smaller side.

en

9:07

BONUS: The pep talk you need to start a backyard prairie

Garden Variety ·

2026/04/14

We can't save the whole world on our own, but we can save our own backyard. 'National Geographic' photographer Joel Sartore has spent his career championing biodiversity and promoting conservation. His Photo Ark project aims to photograph every species living in captivity. So far, he has photographed nearly 18,000 of them. But Joel said he feels just as good about planting prairie in his yard as he feels about his work with 'National Geographic.' In this bonus episode, he shares how everyone can

en

13:01

Get a thrillium from trillium

Garden Variety ·

2026/04/10

The earliest blossoms of spring are here. Iowa State University Horticulturists Aaron Steil and Cindy Haynes talk about columbine, bleeding heart, lungwort and their other favorite spring blooming perennials.

en

12:57

Pest in show

Garden Variety ·

2026/04/03

When you encounter an insect in a surprising place it can be alarming, particularly if you’re one of the many people who has an uncomfortable relationship with insects. Entomologist Zach Schumm of Iowa State University joins to give us the tools we need to decide if an insect is a pest or something we should leave in peace.

en

12:40

Grow with what you know

Garden Variety ·

2026/03/27

Catalog descriptions and garden center tags can make every cultivar sound like the best one, but firsthand experience can make all the difference. Horticulture specialist Dan Fillius of Iowa State University shares the cultivars he loves to plant and what makes them stand out in a home garden.

en

13:07

Spot and treat those plant spots early

Garden Variety ·

2026/03/20

When plants start growing and insects start buzzing, plant diseases aren't far behind. There's no way to protect your garden from everything that can go wrong, but there are things you can do to prevent some common diseases. Chelsea Harbach of the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic at Iowa State University joins to discuss disease prevention.

en

12:48

Stumped on which tree to pick?

Garden Variety ·

2026/03/13

When you plant a tree, the hope is that it will remain healthy and strong for decades but the recommendations for what to plant often change faster than the trees themselves, sometimes creating frustration and even controversy. On this Horticulture Day, we talk with Jeff Iles, professor of horticulture at Iowa State University, about how recommended plant and tree lists are created and why they sometimes spark debate.

en

10:38

The root to great fruit

Garden Variety ·

2026/03/06

Spring is the perfect time to start planting fruit trees, bushes, vines and brambles. While it may take some time before you can enjoy the fruits of your labor, choosing the right cultivars can make all the difference in creating a successful home harvest. Randall Vos, an Iowa State University Extension horticulture specialist, talks about how to select the best cultivars for your garden.

en

13:08

The bugs are back in town

Garden Variety ·

2026/02/20

A few days of sunny weather in late winter or early spring, and the bugs are immediately back. It raises questions like, how do these tiny creatures survive in subzero conditions? We explore that question with Laura Iles, director of the North Central Integrated Pest Management Center.

en

12:44

Fine pruning your fruit trees

Garden Variety ·

2026/02/06

Our relationship with fruit trees is a little different than our relationship with other trees. Iowa State University’s Suzanne Slack shares advice about when and how to prune fruit trees, vines and bushes.

en

5:51

BONUS: Exploding trees? Please!

Garden Variety ·

2026/01/30

Extremely cold temperatures can put pressure and tension on trees as the outside freezes faster than the inside. This can cause cracks in the tree. Frost cracking has been around forever, but only recently has the idea of “exploding trees” gone viral. In this bonus episode, DNR Forester Mark Vitosh joins us to bust some myths and give advice on what to do if your tree does crack.

en

12:58

Prune with purpose

Garden Variety ·

2026/01/23

Some trees, like oaks, need to be pruned during the dormant season to avoid diseases — though you'll likely want to wait for warmer winter days. Mark Vitosh, district forester with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, joins the show to talk about winter tree maintenance.

en

11:27

Getting to the root of African violets

Garden Variety ·

2026/01/09

African violets are beautiful, endlessly varied and just finicky enough to make growing them a rewarding challenge. Iowa State University horticulturists Cindy Haynes and Aaron Steil talk all things African Violets and share gardening New Year’s resolutions.

en

2:41

BONUS: A ditch tree for free

Garden Variety ·

2025/12/22

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.

en

12:56

Mistletoe, holly, and all plants jolly

Garden Variety ·

2025/12/19

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.

en

10:35

A look at the Christmas indus-tree

Garden Variety ·

2025/12/05

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.

en

4:13

BONUS: Trouble in tropical plant paradise

Garden Variety ·

2025/12/01

Our horticulture experts brainstorm solutions for a well-intended caller who gifted his wife a tropical plant in a Midwestern climate.

en

12:54

Follow these cider house rules

Garden Variety ·

2025/11/21

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.

en

12:47

Berry good winter prep

Garden Variety ·

2025/11/14

It's time to get your berries ready for the cold. Your future self, and your strawberries, will thank you.

en

5:04

BONUS: Respect your insects

Garden Variety ·

2025/11/11

Non-native insects can compete with some native species for resources, but they rarely cause extinction of native insect species.

en

191 results

Similar Podcasts

Expres Ráno

Expres FM

詭哭郎嚎

郎祖筠 & FMTaiwan製作團隊

Ron en Erik Podcast

Ron en Erik

Poor Man"s Pinball Podcast

Poor Men Ian and Drew

WeAreChange on Odysee

WeAreChange