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Ep. 270: Falling for Apples | #GoodGrowing episode artwork

Oct 16, 2026 55 min

Ep. 270: Falling for Apples | #GoodGrowing

from Good Growing Hosted by University of Illinois Extension

Fall is the perfect time to focus on apples. In this week’s episode of Good Growing, Ken Johnson and Emily Swihart are joined by Illinois Extension Local Foods and Small Farms Educator Grant McCarty to discuss fall apple tree care, harvesting times, storage tips, common orchard challenges, and exciting varieties for home growers. Watch us on YouTube: Skip to what you want to know: 03:38 – Welcome, Grant! Recap of weather and harvest. 08:22 – Thinning defined. 10:55 – Apple tree care in the fall. 13:25 – Knowing when apples are ripe. 17:56 – Tips for storing apples. 21:37 – Late-season pests and disease. 25:57 – The challenge of small apples. 27:58 – When to plant apples. 29:40 – What does “rootstock” mean? 34:54 – Cross-pollination 38:56 – Grafting 45:36 – Red Delicious discussion 47:52 – Finding orchards 51:53 – Soup Talk 54:00 – Wrap-up, what’s up next week, and goodbye! Contact us! Chris Enroth: [email protected] Ken Johnson: [email protected] Emily Swihart: [email protected] Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk -- You can find us on most podcast platforms. iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377 Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/ Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/ Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902 Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us

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Ep. 270: Falling for Apples | #GoodGrowing

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