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Artwork for Garden Variety

Garden Variety

Iowa Public Radio
Iowa State University
Horticulture
Cicadas
Sweet Corn
Strawberries
Hanging Baskets
Ecology
Iowa
Home Gardening
Watering Practices
Periodical Cicadas
Fertilization
Mulching
Iowa State University Extension
Agriculture
Gardening
Pollinators
Entomology
Fruit Crop Cultivation
Botrytis

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... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes185Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationLeisureHow ToHome & Garden

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Artwork for Garden Variety

Latest Episodes

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 D... more

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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 ha... more

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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 Centra... more

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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.

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Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Randall Vos
Iowa State University Extension Horticulture Specialist
Iowa State University Extension
Episode: The root to great fruit
Laura Iles
Entomologist and Director of the North Central Integrated Pest Management Center
North Central Integrated Pest Management Center
Episode: The bugs are back in town
Quincy Law
Assistant Professor of Horticulture and Turf Grass Specialist
Iowa State University
Episode: Tools for the turf war
Zach Schumm
Entomologist and insect diagnostician
Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic at Iowa State University
Episode: Import-ant advice for your home and garden
Chelsea Harbach
Plant Disease Diagnostician with the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic
Iowa State University
Episode: Diseases with the gall to kill our plants
Amy Toth
Professor of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology at Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Episode: Midwest isn't the easiest place to bee
Jeff Iles
Professor of Horticulture at Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Episode: The Name Game (plant edition)
Cindy Haynes
Professor of Horticulture at Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Episode: Plentiful perennials
Mark Vittasch
DNR Forester
Department of Natural Resources
Episode: Plentiful perennials

Host

Charity Nebbe
Host of Garden Variety, affiliated with Iowa Public Radio and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 33 ratings
  • TGI hort day!

    I don’t garden. I’m here for the puns

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mr x 🔪
    United Statesa year ago
  • TGI hort day!

    Brief, smart, fun

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ms C 123
    United States2 years ago
  • I look forward to this podcast every week

    I found this podcast in the NPR app and it has become one of my very favorites. There isn’t any filler, it’s all content. It gives useful information aimed at people at home, not specialists, but it doesn’t talk down. They bring in interesting experts in their fields. I always walk away with something I hadn’t known before I listened. I hope it runs forever.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    woogathering in singapore
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listener enthusiasm for seasonal and regional garden advice is high.
Shows with expert guests are seen as credible and informative for home gardeners.
Audience values practical guidance that doesn't talk down to non-specialists.
Listeners appreciate concise, information-dense episodes with actionable tips.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#14
United States/Leisure/Home & Garden
Apple Podcasts
#83
United States/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#2
Mexico/Leisure/Home & Garden
Apple Podcasts
#60
China/Leisure/Home & Garden
Apple Podcasts
#106
Japan/Leisure/Home & Garden
Apple Podcasts
#118
Mexico/Leisure

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The root to great fruit
Q: How should gardeners approach buying fruit plants from catalogs versus local nurseries?
Trialing in small batches first, considering bare-root options for more choices, and choosing reputed nurseries with better rootstocks can reduce risk and improve long-term performance in the garden.
The root to great fruit
Q: What factors should home gardeners pay attention to when reading cultivar descriptions?
Focus on disease resistance, harvest timing, rootstock information, and whether the variety holds up under local conditions, since these factors determine long-term success more than flashy flavor claims.
Fine pruning your fruit trees
Q: What are the top priorities when making cuts in fruit trees?
The top priority is cutting out the 3 Ds: dead, diseased, or damaged branches.
Fine pruning your fruit trees
Q: What is the purpose of pruning so often when we look at our fruit trees?
The purpose is to maintain a balance between vegetative growth and fruit production, tricking the trees into producing fruit every year.
Fine pruning your fruit trees
Q: How often do we prune these trees and other fruit production?
We usually prune apples in late February to mid-March and do a second pruning in August; grapes require a double pruning process.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Garden Variety

What is Garden Variety about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Gardening-focused discussions that blend practical how-to with expert insight, spanning plant selection, pruning, fruit production, and pest management. Episodes often center on timely, home-gardening decisions—choosing reliable cultivars, understanding catalog marketing, and adapting landscapes to local conditions and climate changes—while balancing aesthetics with long-term plant health. A recurring strength is bringing ISU Extension and horticulture faculty, entomologists, and foresters to translate research into actionable tips for backyard gardeners and small-scale landscape projects. A standout trait is the show's emphasis on real-world applicability for non-specialists, with accessible explanations and demonstrations that help listen... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Garden Variety?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Garden Variety:

1. The joe gardener Show - Organic Gardening - Vegetable Gardening - Expert Garden Advice From Joe Lamp'l
2. Short Wave
3. Science Friday
4. The Wirecutter Show
5. Hidden Brain

How many episodes of Garden Variety are there?

Garden Variety launched 4 years ago and published 185 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Garden Variety?

Recent guests on Garden Variety include:

1. Randall Vos
2. Laura Iles
3. Quincy Law
4. Zach Schumm
5. Chelsea Harbach
6. Amy Toth
7. Jeff Iles
8. Cindy Haynes

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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