Episode Details

Get ready to kick off the 2026 gardening season with the Good Growing team as we unveil this year’s Grow Along plant list. In this episode, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educators Chris Enroth, Ken Johnson, and Emily Swihart walk through the selection process and describe the six unique crops chosen for the 2026 Grow Along program.

Register for the Grow Along: https://go.illinois.edu/GrowAlong2026

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XUGiBe3RrFw

Skip to what you want to know:
1:21 Decision-making process for choosing the 2026 Grow Along seeds
6:55 Rebel Starfighter Prime
11:45 Poppy ‘Amazing Gray', 'Shirley Supreme', and 'Black Swan'
20:18 Sweet Pepper ‘Nadapeno’
24:41 Cucumber Mexican Sour Gherkin/Mouse Melon
28:24 Ground Cherry
35:15 Savory ‘Summer Compact'
41:46 When/where can you sign up and when will seeds be shipped?

Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu
Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 
Emily Swihart: eswihart@illinois.edu

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 

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