Hort Culture

Plant People
  • 5.0 (17)
  • Food
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Hort Culture, where a group of Extension professionals and plant people talk about the business, production and joy of farming. So, join us for a chat on the culture of horticulture. Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.edu Check us out on Instagram!

  1. Jun 28 ·  Video

    Helping Growers Grow

    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 resources. The conversation highlights the diversity of Kentucky horticulture, the growth of urban and small-scale farming, and innovative production methods that allow growers to produce crops year-round. The group also discusses challenges such as labor, financing, and scaling operations, while emphasizing the importance of collaboration among growers, Extension specialists, and industry partners. Overall, the episode showcases the opportunities and innovation driving Kentucky’s horticulture industry and the strong consumer interest in locally grown products. Cynthia Finneseth, Extension Specialist for Community HorticultureUK Center for Crop DiversificationUK Cooperative Extension ServiceQuestions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@gmail.com Check us out on Instagram!

    43 min
  2. Practical Botany Vocabulary Everyone Should Know

    Jun 21 ·  Video

    Practical Botany Vocabulary Everyone Should Know

    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 reproduction, grafting terminology, vivipary, and plant nodes. Along the way, they connect these concepts to real-world gardening situations, from identifying trees and selecting cover crops to growing asparagus, saving seeds, grafting fruit trees, and managing tomato plants. The episode blends plant science, gardening advice, and entertaining anecdotes to help listeners build their botanical vocabulary while gaining a deeper appreciation for how plants grow, reproduce, and interact with their environment. University of  Kentucky Master Gardener Basic Botany OSU Botany Terminology Utah State University Tree and Botanical Glossary Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@gmail.com Check us out on Instagram!

    52 min
  3. Scout's Honor: Mid-Season Monitoring for Better Harvests

    Jun 14 ·  Video

    Scout's Honor: Mid-Season Monitoring for Better Harvests

    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. The conversation covers scouting techniques such as checking both the tops and undersides of leaves, monitoring field edges and interiors, recognizing abnormal plant growth, and using tools like moisture sensors, sticky traps, and extension resources to make informed management decisions. Throughout the episode, the hosts emphasize that successful plant care starts with knowing what “normal” looks like in your garden and consistently paying attention to changes, helping growers make timely, effective decisions while avoiding unnecessary treatments. IPM Scouting Guides for Common Problems of Vegetable Crops Kentucky Pest News UK Ag Weather Center UK Integrated Pest Management Program MyIPM App for Vegetables Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@gmail.com Check us out on Instagram!

    56 min
  4. Connecting People, Forests, and Knowledge

    Jun 4 ·  Video

    Connecting People, Forests, and Knowledge

    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 and peer-to-peer knowledge exchange. The conversation explores the impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems, including shifting tree species ranges, invasive pests, and efforts to create climate-resilient woodlands. The group also discusses Minnesota’s unique forest landscapes, favorite tree species, and the importance of stewardship in maintaining healthy forests for future generations. Throughout the episode, the hosts and Dr. Sagor reflect on how Extension has evolved from simply providing information to helping people interpret and apply knowledge in an age of information overload, emphasizing the value of trust, conversation, and authentic human connections in education and outreach. Eli Sagor Great Lakes Silviculture Library Cloquet Forestry Center University of Minnesota Extension Natural Resources Sustainable Forests Education Cooperative Minnesota Master Naturalist Program University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Kentucky Division of Forestry Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@gmail.com Check us out on Instagram!

    44 min

  5. May 31 ·  Video

    Hort Culture Goes Wild: Nature Danger Edition

    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 covering topics like poison ivy, dangerous mushrooms, stinging caterpillars, wasps, black widows, brown recluse spiders, mosquitoes, and ticks. Along the way, they debunk internet myths, share safety tips for outdoor adventures and gardening, and remind listeners that understanding nature is the best way to stay safe while still appreciating the beneficial role many of these creatures play in the environment. Best Practices for Mushroom Foraging in Kentucky Don't Eat Those Wild Mushrooms Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac: Identification, Poisoning, and Control Ticks and Disease in Kentucky Kentucky Snakes Kentucky Urban Spider ChartMosquitoes: Practical Advice for HomeownersCommon Mosquitoes in KentuckyQuestions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@gmail.com Check us out on Instagram!

    48 min
  6. Growing Appalachia: Building Farms & Community

    May 24 ·  Video

    Growing Appalachia: Building Farms & Community

    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 tunnels in Eastern Kentucky, the challenges growers face with season extension, soil health, and tunnel maintenance, and how organizations like Grow Appalachia help farmers succeed beyond simply installing structures. The episode also highlights the importance of community partnerships, practical farmer education, and the growing impact of protected agriculture across Kentucky. GROW Appalachia Resource Library Contact Page UK Center for Crop Diversification UK CCD High Tunnel Resources Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@gmail.com Check us out on Instagram!

    46 min
  7. The Imposter Syndrome Episode

    May 17 ·  Video

    The Imposter Syndrome Episode

    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 agriculture feel like they’re “not real farmers” — even while doing the work every day. Along the way, they share personal stories about learning through mistakes, comparing themselves to others online, navigating community expectations, and figuring out where they fit within modern agriculture. The episode balances humor and honesty while offering encouragement to growers at every stage: you don’t have to know everything to belong. UK Farm Stress and Rural Mental HealthResources to Support Mental and Financial Well-being in AgricultureQuestions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@gmail.com Check us out on Instagram!

    50 min
  8. Specialty Cut Flower Workshops & The Experience Economy

    May 10 ·  Video

    Specialty Cut Flower Workshops & The Experience Economy

    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 agritourism activities—such as floral arrangement, wreath making, seed starting, and flower drying—function as "experience goods" because their quality and value can only be evaluated by consumers after the event takes place. She points out that consumer interest in these interactive farm experiences has risen sharply since COVID-19, aligning with massive growth in the cut flower industry; national census data shows a 60% increase in farms reporting cut flower sales, and Kentucky's own cut flower directory expanded exponentially from 35 growers in 2020 to roughly 159 by 2026. To better understand what drives this market, Savannah conducted a three-part survey tracking consumer experiences before the workshop, immediately following the event, and four weeks post-experience across nine flower growers in Kentucky and North Carolina. Her research maps out "pre-decision variables" like price, location, demographics, and travel distance alongside long-term consumer relationships. The hosts reflect on how these findings mirror their own real-life behaviors, discussing how modern consumers often prioritize purchasing memorable experiences or experience-based gifts over physical items, concluding that these workshops serve as a vital tool for farmers looking to establish a high consumer lifetime value. FLORAL ENCOUNTERS: EXAMINING THE ROLE OF EXPERIENCE GOODS AND PROMOTERS IN SPECIALTY CUT FLOWER WORKSHOPS Center for Crop Diversification  University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@gmail.com Check us out on Instagram!

    44 min
See All (172)

5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Welcome to Hort Culture, where a group of Extension professionals and plant people talk about the business, production and joy of farming. So, join us for a chat on the culture of horticulture. Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.edu Check us out on Instagram!

Information

  • Creator
    Plant People
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    172
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Hort Culture

You Might Also Like