Hort Culture

Join Brett and Alexis to hear about how the CCD thinks about grant opportunities and their recent SERME project and its potential impacts for farmers of KY. Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.edu Check us out on Instagram!

In this episode of Hort Culture , Brett and Ray are joined by Dr. Cindy Finneseth from the University of Kentucky to discuss community horticulture, urban agriculture, and supporting new growers across Kentucky. Dr. Finneseth shares how her role focuses on helping beginning and small-scale producers navigate production, marketing, and business planning while connecting them with Extension resource...

In this episode of Hort Culture, the hosts dive into practical botany vocabulary that gardeners, plant enthusiasts, and curious learners can use to better understand the plants around them. Through a lively and humorous discussion, they explain key botanical terms such as petiole, midrib, leaf margin, simple versus compound leaves, deciduous plants, allelopathy, monoecious and dioecious reproducti...

Join the Hort Culture crew as they dive into the importance of mid-season scouting and monitoring for gardeners and growers as summer production ramps up. Blending their usual humor with practical advice, they discuss how regularly observing plants can help identify issues with insects, diseases, water management, nutrient deficiencies, and environmental stress before they become major problems. T...

In this episode of Hort Culture, the hosts sit down with Dr. Eli Sagor, Extension Forestry Specialist and Program Leader for Natural Resources at the University of Minnesota, to discuss forestry, forest management, and the evolving role of Extension education. Dr. Sagor shares how he works with forestry professionals across Minnesota to address real-world challenges through collaborative learning...

In this entertaining and informative episode of Hort Culture Podcast, Alexis and Jessica explore “Nature Danger,” discussing the poisonous plants, venomous insects, spiders, ticks, and other outdoor hazards commonly encountered during Kentucky’s warmer months. Blending humor, personal stories, and practical advice, the hosts explain the difference between poisonous and venomous organisms while cov...

In this episode of Hort Culture , the hosts chat with Kayla Preston from Grow Appalachia about the growth of high tunnels and sustainable farming in Appalachia. Kayla shares how Grow Appalachia evolved from a community gardening program into a major resource for farmers through education, technical assistance, and conservation support. The conversation explores the early days of building high tunn...

In this episode of Hort Culture, the crew dives into the surprisingly emotional side of farming and horticulture: imposter syndrome. What starts as a conversation about finally getting much-needed rain turns into a thoughtful discussion about identity, experience, and the pressure growers place on themselves. From first-generation farmers to seasoned producers, the hosts explore why so many people...

In this episode of the Hort Culture Podcast , hosts Brett, Alexis, Jessica, and Ray are joined by returning guest Savannah Columbia to discuss her master's thesis research on specialty cut flower workshops, consumer behavior, and the rising "experience economy" within agritourism. Savannah framing her study around the concepts of search, experience, and credence goods, explains that hands-on agrit...

This episode of Hort Culture features special guest Sarah Geurkink from the Organic Association of Kentucky and focuses on practical, budget-friendly strategies for growers, with discussions centered around weed management, irrigation, production efficiency, and marketing. The conversation begins with a lighthearted discussion about favorite spring blooming trees before shifting into grower advice...

In this episode of Hort Culture , Brett, Jessica, and Ray explore the exciting question of how much food you can really grow at home. While social media often shows impressive gardens producing huge harvests from small spaces, the hosts remind listeners that success looks different for everyone. Growing your own tomatoes, onions, peppers, squash, and other favorites can be incredibly rewarding, ev...

In this episode, the Hort Culture team are joined by a full panel of guests: Hunter-Anne, and Spencer from KCARD, along with Dr. Steve Isaacs from the Agricultural Economics Department. Together, they dive into one of the most critical—and often overlooked—challenges in horticulture: succession planning. The conversation explores the realities of generational transition in horticulture businesses,...

In this episode, the Hort Culture crew takes a winding (and hilarious) path from debating Post Malone playlists to one of the most relatable gardening topics of the season: patio plants. What begins as music chatter turns into a thoughtful conversation about how container plants soften hard outdoor spaces, blur the line between indoor and outdoor living, and create small pockets of joy just outsid...

This spring-themed episode opens with the crew swapping stories about wild temperature swings, allergy struggles, ornamental pears, and a “secret bucket of crystallized honey” before welcoming guest Nathan Howell of Need More Acres Farm and the Kentucky Vegetable Growers Association . Nathan shares the story of his family’s highly intensive, small-acreage, year-round produce farm and how high tunn...

n this episode of Hort Culture , the team dives into the art and science of plant propagation, focusing on softwood cuttings —one of the most accessible and rewarding ways to multiply your favorite plants. The conversation blends practical how-to advice with relatable stories (including barefoot spring moments and the emotional highs and lows of plant success). Listeners learn the key differences...

In this episode of Hort Culture , the podcast crew welcome Dr. Amanda Skidmore, Kentucky’s state apiarist, to discuss the vital role of beekeeping in agriculture and the challenges facing pollinators. Skidmore shares insights into her work supporting beekeepers through inspections, education, and outreach across the state. The conversation highlights the importance of honeybees in pollinating spec...

In this episode of Hort Culture , the hosts discuss why people garden and how to keep gardening affordable. They begin by sharing their personal reasons for gardening, such as growing fresh food, experimenting with unusual plants, creating relaxing outdoor spaces, or producing crops for market.  The group emphasizes that successful budget gardening starts with a plan. Gardeners should think a...

In this episode of Hort Culture , we are joined by Kenney Gulley of the Kentucky Christmas Tree Association to discuss Christmas tree production in Kentucky. Kenney shares how he and his wife started a small Christmas tree farm near Mount Sterling as a way to make productive use of their land while fitting farming into their busy schedules. The conversation covers the basics of growing Christmas t...

This week on Hort Culture , Alexis and Brett take a deep dive into one of the most confusing — and emotional — topics in horticulture businesses: pricing . From credit card fees to bouquet tiers, they unpack how pricing isn’t just about math… it’s about psychology. The episode starts with the foundation every grower needs to hear: know your cost of production . If you don’t know what it costs you...

In this episode of Hort Culture , the crew welcomes Jacob Stidham from Yew Dell Botanical Gardens for a wide-ranging conversation about plant passion, nursery life, and the evolving landscape of Kentucky horticulture. In addition to his work at Yew Dell, Jacob is a leader in both the Kentucky Horticulture Council and the Kentucky Nursery and Landscape Association, helping shape the future of the i...

In this episode of Hort Culture , the team shares what’s on their 2026 horticultural “vision boards.” From big-picture garden goals to deeply personal reflections, the conversation explores how visualization can shape both landscapes and mindsets. Brett is leaning into maintenance mode—with a literal pile of mulch topping his list—focusing on soil health, polish, and finally taking time to enjoy t...

This episode of Hort Culture wanders (joyfully) from overflowing lemon trees and dragon fruit mishaps to the pop-culture moments that quietly shaped our love of plants. The crew swaps stories about greenhouses, houseplants, and being accidental victims of horticultural success, then dives into how movies, books, and cartoons—from FernGully to The Secret Garden —sparked lifelong connections to the...

In this episode of Hort Culture , the hosts kick things off with a lighthearted roundtable about small purchases that unexpectedly bring joy—from coffee tumblers and rechargeable batteries to plant humidifiers and even computer RAM. The casual conversation sets the stage for a deeper dive into a topic many growers, vendors, and consumers are noticing more often: credit card processing fees. The di...

In this episode of Hort Culture , join us as we  talk about winter programming and why the “off-season” is actually the busiest time of year for Extension horticulture. We explore how county agents plan classes, from popular homeowner topics like tomatoes, strawberries, microgreens, and apple grafting to hands-on library programs and commercial grower support. This episode highlights the valu...

In this special seasonal episode of the Hort Culture podcast, join Ray as he sits down with Boyd County Horticulture Extension Agent Lori Bowling to explore a truly impactful and unique horticulture program: the Federal Correctional Institution Master Gardener Program in Ashland, Kentucky. Lori shares the origin story of the program, which began more than two decades ago with a simple orchard plan...