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 natural world. It’s a laid-back, nostalgic conversation about growing plants, growing up, and how plants have always been part of the story.



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When Pop Culture Plants the Seed

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 discussion explores why more businesses—especially small and agricultural ones—are charging credit card fees, how inflation and rising input costs play a role, and what the data says about consumer perceptions. The hosts unpack the psychology behind transaction fees, transparency at checkout, and whether itemizing fees helps or hurts customer trust. Drawing on real-world experience from farmers markets and direct sales, the episode weighs the cost of swipe fees against increased sales volume and convenience for customers who rarely carry cash.

Blending humor, data, and practical insight, this episode offers valuable perspective for producers, vendors, and anyone navigating modern purchasing habits—while reminding listeners that even serious business topics can still be rooted in everyday life and good conversation.

Credit Cards, Cash, and the Cost of Doing Business

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 value of local Extension offices, free or low-cost educational opportunities, and how community input helps shape programs that meet real needs.

Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service County Offices [https://extension.mgcafe.uky.edu/county]

National Institute of Food and Agriculture [https://www.nifa.usda.gov/about-nifa/what-we-do/extension]



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Winter Is Prime Time: Inside Extension Horticulture Programming

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 planting and evolved into a full Kentucky Master Gardener certification offered inside a federal prison. Listeners learn how incarcerated participants complete the same rigorous coursework and volunteer requirements as any Master Gardener, while gaining valuable job skills, purpose, and confidence. The conversation highlights the program’s far-reaching benefits, including the production of tens of thousands of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables each year that are donated to River Cities Harvest and distributed to food-insecure families across Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. This episode powerfully illustrates how horticulture education, community partnerships, and Extension programming can change lives—both inside and outside prison walls—by growing food, skills, and hope.



River Cities Harvest [https://theneighborhood-ashland.org/agencies/rivercitiesharvest/]

Boyd County Extension Horticulture Program [https://boyd.mgcafe.uky.edu/horticulture]



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Growing Second Chances: A Master Gardener Program Inside Prison Walls

Jessica and Alexis play 20 questions, plant style and discuss everything from what plants they always kill to what they'd do if they weren't horticulturists. 

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20 Questions: Plant Edition

In this special episode, Jessica and Alexis talk about kid friendly horticulture activities with advice straight from the 5 year old source!

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Kid Friendly Horticulture 

In this episode of Hort Culture, join the hosts in a conversation  on garden and farm planning and calendars.  they begin this episode with a discussion about slowing down over the holidays and what gardeners actually look forward to during winter break—whether that’s comfort food traditions, couch time with cheese boards, or a quiet walk in the woods. The discussion naturally turns toward seed catalogs, garden planning, and why winter is anything but “off-season” for plant people.

The heart of the episode dives into the often-overlooked reality of garden and farm planning calendars. From seeds and bulbs to plugs, crowns, and bare-root plants, the hosts break down why many orders for the next growing season are placed months—or even a full year—ahead of time. They explore issues like variety scarcity, pricing incentives, weather-related production risks, and the differences between home gardening and commercial-scale ordering. Practical examples—garlic, strawberries, dahlias, tulips, potatoes, and specialty crops like ginger—help illustrate how timing, flexibility, and experience all play critical roles. The takeaway is clear: successful growing starts long before planting day, and understanding the ordering timeline can save frustration, money, and missed opportunities in the garden or on the farm.



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The Off-Season That Isn’t: Winter Planning for Gardeners

Brett reflects on his favorite episodes of 2025 and leafless trees in winter. 

Reflections on 2025 & Winter Trees

In this episode, the Hort Culture crew dives into the joys and challenges of growing herbs indoors during the cold season. After swapping stories about Kentucky snow days, childhood folklore, and the chaos of cabin-fevered kids, the hosts transition smoothly into practical horticulture: how to bring fresh flavors and greenery into the home when outdoor gardens are asleep.

The conversation covers the best herbs for indoor growing—from Mediterranean sun-lovers like basil, rosemary, thyme, lavender, and sage, to reliable cool-season performers like parsley and cilantro, and the ever-vigorous mint and lemon balm. The hosts emphasize realistic expectations: herbs grow slower indoors, flavors can be milder, and supplemental lighting is often essential. They explain how to choose the right pot sizes, avoid moisture‐retaining soils, fertilize lightly, and select the brightest window available (while watching out for drafts).

Listeners get guidance on starting seeds indoors, preventing leggy seedlings with close grow lights, and even strengthening plants through airflow or the classic “pet your seedlings” method. Microgreens also make an appearance as a fast, rewarding winter crop.

The episode wraps with encouragement: don’t be too hard on yourself, try different methods, and remember you can always snag a starter plant or a cutting from a friend. Indoor herbs bring freshness, flavor, and a bit of mental sunshine to the darkest winter days.



Growing herbs indoors adds flavor, saves money [https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/growing-herbs-indoors-adds-flavor-saves-money]

Growing Herbs Indoors [https://union.ces.ncsu.edu/2021/10/growing-herbs-indoors/]

Indoor Herbs [https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/programs/lawn-garden/agent-articles-fact-sheets-and-more/agent-articles/vegetables/Indoor%20Herbs%201.pdf]

Culinary Herbs [https://www.rs.uky.edu/consumer/extension_pdfs/ho74.pdf]

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Fresh Flavors in Cold Weather: Growing Herbs Indoors

In this episode of Hort Culture,  we provide fun and practical advice on gifts for gardeners! We kick things off by chatting about the start of meteorological winter, the first snow, and our own fun holiday traditions—think pocket-sized cheese advent calendars and big batches of homemade pasta sauce. Then, we dive right into the main event: finding the perfect gifts for the plant people in your life. We share a genius watering hack for indoor plants: forget the tiny watering can! For folks with lots of houseplants, we highly recommend a portable, rechargeable camping shower pump used with a 5-gallon bucket on a rolling cart. Beyond that, we suggest essential gear like a nice pair of high-quality pruners and a nifty little earth auger that attaches to a hand drill, which makes planting bulbs and plugs super fast. And don't forget maintenance—a small, handheld sharpener for pruners is a cheap but incredibly useful gift! If you want something more thoughtful and lasting, we suggest living plants like an Amaryllis or Christmas Cactus, or even saved seeds or perennial plants, which are beautiful, enduring symbols of care.



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Gifts for Gardeners

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.

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