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 Outreach.

Listen in PodNod RSS feed Show website

200 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes200

Newest first

Sep 26, 2025 · 13 min
Vine and dandy
The best ways to protect your tomatoes from disease
Sep 19, 2025 · 13 min
Flower you doing?
How to store tender perennials over the colder months.
Sep 12, 2025
Mighty morphing flower rangers
Learn about these cool season annuals to keep your garden bright.
Sep 5, 2025 · 13 min
Lawning for the perfect yard
September is here. The growing season is still going, but temperatures are…
Aug 29, 2025 · 12 min
Wait until the time is ripe to harvest your fruit
The visible fruits of your labor are hard to resist, but patience pays off.
Aug 22, 2025 · 13 min
Don't judge a crop by its cover
Farmers who use cover crops see all kinds of benefits, improvements in soil…
Aug 15, 2025 · 13 min
How to avoid an identi-tree crisis
Iowa Department of Natural Resources forester Mark Vitosh shares his tips and…
Aug 8, 2025 · 12 min
Glow your own way
You won't believe your eyes — how millions of fireflies light up the world.
Aug 1, 2025 · 13 min
Switch it up with switchgrass
Find out which ornamental grasses could thrive in your yard.
Jul 25, 2025 · 13 min
Try out this gardening root-ine
Iowa State University horticulture specialist shares how rootstocks help grow…
Jul 18, 2025 · 13 min
The ultimate power plants
Iowa State University horticulture experts discuss the practice of combining…
Jul 11, 2025 · 12 min
Better than all the pest
Learn how plants and insects can peacefully coexist in your garden.
Jun 20, 2025 · 10 min
Tools for the turf war
A horticulture specialist gives you lawn care advice.
Jun 13, 2025 · 13 min
Conducting tree-age before it's too late
Over the last 15 years the emerald ash borer has transformed Iowa's landscape.…
Jun 6, 2025 · 12 min
Now that's un-bean-lievable!
A plant expert shares how to care for beans and other legumes in your garden.
May 30, 2025 · 13 min
A conifer-sation with a plant expert
How to give Iowa conifers a chance to survive and thrive.
May 23, 2025 · 13 min
These blooms are iris-sistable
Late spring and early summer blooming perennials — peonies, shasta daisies and…
May 16, 2025 · 12 min
Kiwi berries? Fur-get about it
If you're up for a wee challenge, kiwi berries are a delicious fruit you can…
May 9, 2025 · 13 min
Import-ant advice for your home and garden
With blooming flowers comes both helpful and detrimental ant antics.
May 2, 2025 · 13 min
Become a succession boss
Summer is fast approaching, which means it’s time to cultivate your vegetable…

Garden Variety

Vine and dandy

Flower you doing?

Mighty morphing flower rangers

Lawning for the perfect yard

Wait until the time is ripe to harvest your fruit

Don't judge a crop by its cover

How to avoid an identi-tree crisis

Glow your own way

Switch it up with switchgrass

Try out this gardening root-ine

The ultimate power plants

Better than all the pest

Tools for the turf war

Conducting tree-age before it's too late

Now that's un-bean-lievable!

A conifer-sation with a plant expert

These blooms are iris-sistable

Kiwi berries? Fur-get about it

Import-ant advice for your home and garden

Become a succession boss