Ep. 270: Falling for Apples | #GoodGrowing

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: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.eduEmily Swihart: eswihart@illinois.edu  Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe 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