Top stations Podcasts Live sports Near you Genres Topics

Podcasts ArtsGarden Variety

Listen to this podcast in the app for free:

radio.net

Sleep timer

Save favorites

Download for free in the App Store

Garden Variety

Iowa Public Radio

Arts Education

Latest episode

181 episodes

The bugs are back in town
02/20/2026 | 13 mins.
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.
Fine pruning your fruit trees
02/06/2026 | 12 mins.
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.
BONUS: Exploding trees? Please!
01/30/2026 | 5 mins.
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.
Prune with purpose
01/23/2026 | 12 mins.
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.
Getting to the root of African violets
01/09/2026 | 11 mins.
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.

More Arts podcasts

About Garden Variety

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.

Podcast website

Arts Education Health & Wellness Leisure Science Earth Sciences Food Home & Garden Tutorials Natural Sciences Self-Improvement