Grow it, Minnesota – Details, episodes & analysis

What does it take to grow a delicious apple in cold climates? In this episode, we check in with orchardist Bob Osborne, author of the new book, Hardy Apples: Growing Apples in Cold Climates (Firefly Books, 2022). We talk about what an apple tree needs to grow well, grafting, pests and diseases, pruning and favorite apples for northern gardeners. Bob Osborne is the owner of Corn Hill Nursery in beautiful New Brunswick, Canada.

• More about Bob
• Bob's top apple pick: FrostBite
• Mary's favorite apple
• U of Minnesota apple growing tips
• Video on spring apple pruning
• Follow Mary on Instagram
• An interesting story about bees and apples
• Mary's website

Let's talk lawn! With the popularity of no-mow May, bee lawns and other alternatives to traditional Kentucky bluegrass turf, it seems a good time to bring in a lawn expert. James Wolfin of Twin City Seed is a proponent of lower-input lawns and has great information on how to have a good-looking lawn without a lot of work. 

• More about James Wolfin
• Twin City Seed
• What's a Bee Lawn?
• Lawn Care Tips from the U of Minnesota
• No Mow May campaign
• The Benefits of Fine Fescues
• 4 Ways to Remove Turf Grass
• Mary's website
•  Follow Mary on Instagram

With the drought in Minnesota moving from moderate to extreme, gardeners are wondering how to take care of their trees. In this episode, arborist Jake McDougall of Davey Tree Service talks about how to tell if your tree is experiencing drought stress, best ways to water and the value of mulch for keeping moisture on trees.  We touch on a few tree pests and some of Jake's picks for resilient trees in our climate.

To Learn More: 

• Climate Hardy Trees for the North
• More Trees for Climate Change
• Effective Watering Strategies for Northern Gardeners
• More about Davey Tree Service
• The Northern Gardener: From Apples to Zinnias
• Follow Grow it, Minnesota on Instagram
• Follow Mary on Instagram

David Zlesak, plant breeder and professor at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, is my guest today, talking about the American Rose Trials for Sustainability or A.R.T.S. program. In this program, roses are evaluated all over the country for their ability to thrive without fertilizer, pesticides or fungicides. Regional winners are named each year and there are more than 20 roses that are "Local Artists" for Minnesota.

David talks about the program, his favorite roses, tips for planting roses (hint: go deep) and our favorite rose nemisis, the Japanese beetle. If you love roses or think you would like to plant them but worry they are too hard, this is the episode for you.

A.R.T.S. Program in Minnesota (Plus Rose List)
More Sustainable Roses for the North
All Local Artist Roses for the North

Duluth Rose Garden
Lyndale Park Rose Garden

Mary's Blog
Follow Mary on Instagram
Follow Grow it, Minnesota on Facebook

Learn all about growing herbs indoors from author Susan Betz, whose latest book is Herbal Houseplants: Grow Beautiful Herbs Indoors (Cool Springs Press, 2021). Susan talks about the special needs of indoors plants, understanding why some plants have shorter seasons, the value of sending houseplants outdoors for a summer vacation and more. Susan is an herb expert and a generous gardener.

Links and Resources

• Herbal Houseplants book
• Susan's website
• Follow Susan on Instagram
• Richter's Herbs
• Renee's Gardens Herbs
• African Power Cress
• 'Mt. Carbide' Lemon Leaf Plectranthus
• My Northern Garden
• The Northern Gardener: From Apples to Zinnias
• Follow Mary on Instagram

Author and blogger Jen McGuinness talks about her new book, Micro Food Gardening (Cool Spring Press, 2021). The book includes information on how to grow food in containers, indoors or out, and it features 30 micro food gardening projects, from a cake stand for growing strawberries to how to grow basil in a muffin pan! Jen is known all over the internet as Frau Zinnie. You can follow her blog or check out her photos on Instagram.

To Learn More:
Small varieties Jen recommends: 

• Little Prince eggplant
• Cayanetta F1 pepper
• Hahms Gelge Micro Dwarf tomato
• Micro Tom tomato
• Purple Lady bok choy

Mary's blog
Mary's book
Follow Mary on Instagram

Longtime Minnesota plantsman and author Mike Heger joined me to talk about bulbs, particularly those that grow well in the summer. Mike covered the basics of bulbs and talked about planting and caring for bulbs that grow well in a northern climate. He even mentioned a few favorite bulb cultivars.

To Learn More

MSHS Summer Bulb Sale (order by April 16, 2021)
Growing Perennials in Cold Climates
Mike's Favorite Rabbit Repellent

More about Martagon Lilies
Planting and Care Tips for Summer Bulbs
Growing Gladiolus in Minnesota
Growing Dahlias in Minnesota

Mary's Blog
The Northern Gardener: From Apples to Zinnias

Maddie Poling of Sacred Space Gardens joins me to talk about rain gardens: why they are important, how and where to install one, which plants to choose for sun and shade and more. Maddie's company provides sustainable garden services to commercial and residential customers, including designing and installing rain gardens.

To Learn More . . .
Maddie's Videos on Rain Gardening
Rain Garden Alliance
Favorite Minnesota Native Plant Nursery
Plant List for Rain Gardens of All Types

My Northern Garden blog
The Northern Gardener book
Northern Gardener magazine

Amy Kainz—known as Milkweed and Daisies on Instagram—is a Central Minnesota gardener who started growing flowers from seeds to save money. Amy offers great tips on starting seeds indoors and out to expand your garden and how beginning gardeners should approach the process. Her one-half acre garden is a Certified Monarch Way Station, too.

How to Become a Certified Monarch Waystation
Prairie Moon Nursery (Amy's and Mary's favorite source for native plants)
Botanical Interests Seeds (Amy's go-to seed source)
Cold Stratification of Seeds

7 Easy Annuals to Grow from Seed
Tips for Creating a Monarch-Friendly Garden
A Short Essay on Pansies
Mary's Instagram
Mary's Blog
Northern Gardener magazine

Community gardener, blogger and local food activist Michelle Bruhn of Forks in the Dirt joins Mary for a conversation about companion planting. Michelle is teaching an online class on the topic later this month. You can also enter a book giveaway of Jessica Walliser's new book, Plant Partners, by commenting on the Grow it, Minnesota Facebook page or Instagram page. Check out the links below for more information on companion planting.

To Learn More
Michelle’s Favorite Cover Crop
Perennial Plants and Pollinators for the Vegetable Garden
More About the Three-Sisters Garden
Companion Planting Class, March 15
Forks in the Dirt
Follow Michelle on Instagram

From My Northern Garden
How Some Plants Add Nitrogen to the Soil
Bringing Insects into the Vegetable Garden (video)
Mary's Book