Hort Culture

What does “local” really mean in today’s food system? In this episode of Hort Culture, we explore how local food markets are evolving, from grocery stores and farm-to-school programs to collaborative CSAs and larger distribution networks. We discuss the opportunities and tradeoffs growers face as they move beyond direct-to-consumer sales, how consumers think about local and organic foods, and what happens when “local” becomes part of mainstream marketing. Plus, we share some real-world experiences from Kentucky farms, farmers markets, schools, and local food systems.

UK Center for Crop Diversification

The Food  Connection at the University of Kentucky

The Kentucky Farm to School Hub

UK Market Ready:  Farm to School

Organic Association of Kentucky

Kentucky Farm Share Coalition

USDA Economic Research Service:  Local Foods

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When perennials start getting crowded, blooming less, or simply outgrowing their space, it may be time to divide and conquer! In this episode of Hort Culture, the crew digs into the why, when, and how of dividing and transplanting perennial plants.

From irises, peonies, daylilies, asters, and coneflowers to bulbs like daffodils and crocuses, we talk about which plants are good candidates for division, signs that a plant may be getting overcrowded, and practical tips for digging, dividing, replanting, and sharing your extras with fellow gardeners. We also discuss plants that don't appreciate being disturbed, what to expect after transplanting, and why your newly divided plants might need a little time before they're ready to put on another big show.

Along the way, there's plenty of the usual Hort Culture fun, including rare pine propagation, sentimental plants, daffodil enthusiasm, questionable tulip longevity, and the realities of gardening when plants don't always cooperate.

Whether you're rejuvenating an old perennial bed, moving a plant to a better location, or just looking for an excuse to share plants with friends, grab your shovel and join us for a little division in the garden!

SPRING FLOWERING BULBS FOR KENTUCKY GARDENS

Iris and Peony Growing Information

K State Dividing and Planting  Peonies, Iris and Daylilies

Dividing Perennials

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October is officially here, and the Hort-Culture team is embracing all things spooky season! In this episode, Alexis, Jessica, and Ray explore the weird, eerie, and fascinating world of spooky plants—from botanical tricksters to true atmospheric creepy crawlers.

The crew kicks off with a quick psychological dive into why morning darkness feels oddly safe compared to the evening, before jumping straight into plants that give us the chills:

• Spooky Environments & Mind Games: How a simple stroll through the woods can turn eerie. Ray shares a late-night encounter with a rustling Bigtooth Aspen in the Red River Gorge, Alexis breaks down why American Beeches look like "little ghosts" waving through winter forests, and the team analyzes why standing alone in a rustling cornfield triggers instant sensory overload.
• The Strange & The Carnivorous: Alexis highlights the world of carnivorous plants—including a hilarious nod to the International Carnivorous Plant Society’s definition of "murderous plants"—and shares tips for keeping pitcher plants happy in a patio bog.
• Botanical Oddities & Eerie Mimics: From the ghostly, non-photosynthetic Ghost Pipe (Monotropa uniflora) that steals nutrients from surrounding roots, to the rotting-flesh aroma of the giant Corpse Flower, and the dramatic, bat-like blooms of the Tacca (Bat Flower).
• Dangerous Defenses & Wicked Weeds: The hosts talk about nightmare-inducing thorns, featuring the terrifying 6-to-8-inch spikes of Honey Locust trees, alongside the dark, toxic history of Jimson Weed (Datura), Pokeberry, and Poison Hemlock.
• Folk Lore & The Wailing Trees: Ray dispels the myth behind the name "Witch Hazel" (spoiler: it’s all about flexibility, not witches!), reminisces about glowing Jack-O'-Lantern mushrooms in the woods, and recounts how a Berenstain Bears book helped him conquer his fear of a local "wailing tree."

Grab a warm drink, get cozy, and join the conversation! Do you have a spooky plant story or local tree legend? Send your tales to [email protected] or connect on Instagram @HortCulturePodcast. Don't forget to leave a 5-star rating and review!

Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: [email protected]

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In this episode of Hort Culture, Brett, Alexis, and Ray  are joined by guest Gabe Cassone, agricultural economist at the University of Kentucky's Center for Crop Diversification (CCD), to dive into the numbers behind growing and selling local produce and dairy.

Tune in as we break down everything from digital farmers market price reporting and USDA shipping point data to the surprising price differences between urban and rural markets. We also explore the future of the dairy industry, unique value-added consumer trends (like eye-tracking tech in grocery stores and European-style milk vending machines), and Gabe's own backyard vertical hydroponic lettuce experiment!

Gabe CassoneExtension Associate

Center for Crop Diversification

Price ReportsRegional Farmers Market & Produce Auction Price Data

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In this episode hosts Ray, Alexis, and Brett discuss the enduring appeal and sheer spectacle of state fair giant produce competitions. They explore the mix of agricultural science, elite genetics, and environmental conditions—such as Alaska's long daylight hours and cool nights—that drive these extreme growths. The hosts highlight notable Kentucky records, including a state-record 1,882.4-pound pumpkin from Grayson County, a 245.7-pound watermelon, and a 95-inch sunflower. They also marvel at mind-boggling national records like a 138-pound cabbage, a nearly 6-foot-long carrot, a 39.5-pound head of broccoli, and a 0.38-pound green bean. Wrapping up the episode, the hosts share what giant or random crops they would personally attempt to grow.

Growing Giant Pumpkins in the Home Garden

Exhibiting and Judging Vegetables

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In this episode of Hort Culture, hosts Alexis, Ray, Brett, and Jessica sit down with Brandi Button Johnson, the Western Kentucky Value Chain Coordinator at The Food Connection (University of Kentucky).

The conversation kicks off with a humorous and comforting debate over favorite bean recipes, local comfort foods, and nostalgic kitchen memories. From there, Brandi shares her inspiring journey from growing up on a Barren County tobacco farm and directing a grassroots nonprofit to stepping into her current regional role.

Tune in as Brandi breaks down what a value chain coordinator actually does—navigating complex geographic landscapes, bridging the gap between local growers and institutional buyers like school systems, and building the "soft infrastructure" of trust and communication. The team also explores the vital importance of market diversification, mitigating agricultural risk, and why curiosity is the ultimate tool for overcoming skepticism in the farming community.

Love this episode? Make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on Instagram @HortCulturePodcast! Have questions or comments? Reach out to us at [email protected].

What specific aspect of Brandi's work with Kentucky farm-to-school programs would you like to highlight or discuss further?

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Thinking government programs are only for large-scale corn and soybean farmers? Think again! In this episode, we sit down with David Wayne, the State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) for Kentucky, to bust the myth that federal agricultural programs leave out specialty crop and horticulture producers.

From navigating the essential first step of getting a farm number and filing your annual crop reports (Form 578), to leveraging low-interest Farm Storage Facility Loans (FSFL) for cold storage and finding safety nets through the Non-Insured Crop Assistance Program (NAP), David shares practical, insider advice tailored specifically for growers. Whether you're running a multi-acre orchard, managing a small market garden, or keeping bees, this episode breaks down how the FSA can work for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why filing a crop report is the crucial baseline for unlocking disaster assistance and funding
• How the new Geospatially Enhanced Acreage Reporting (GEAR) system makes multi-planting horticulture reporting much easier
• Low-interest financing options for cold storage units, walk-in coolers, and sorting equipment
• How the Non-Insured Assistance Program (NAP) acts as crop insurance for specialty crops and honey production
• Why accurate local data matters and how reporting your crops helps secure better Kentucky-specific pricing and disaster declarations

Love what you heard? Hit Subscribe or Follow the show, leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, and tag us in a selfie in front of your local FSA office on Instagram @HortCulturePodcast!

Kentucky Farm Service Agency

USDA FSA Programs & Services: Learn more about farm numbers, crop reporting, and safety net programs

Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD): Access agribusiness support, training, and grant facilitation assistance

Center for Crop Diversification (CCD): Provides resources, price reports, and production profiles for alternative and specialty crops

University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service: Provides research-based education, local county programs, and community resources across Kentucky

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Thinking about turning that awkward patch of lawn or open field into a native wildflower meadow? You aren’t alone. In this episode, the team breaks down everything you need to know about transitioning away from turfgrass and building a successful, biodiverse pollinator habitat.

From navigating the crucial first steps of site prep to choosing the right seed mixes and managing your expectations for years one through three, we cover the real-world grit it takes to get that magazine-worthy meadow.

• Embrace the Timeline: Wildflower meadows are a long game. Unlike fast-gratification annuals like zinnias, native perennials focus on building deep root systems first. Expect a "wheat field" look in year one, some blooms in year two, and a fully established meadow by year three.
• Eliminate the Competition: You cannot just throw seeds onto an existing lawn and walk away. Whether you choose a burndown herbicide regimen, solarization with clear plastic, or smothering with black plastic, wiping out existing turf and the weed seed bank is the single most important step for success.
• Timing is Everything: Fall or early spring are your primary windows depending on your prep method, but planting your seed mix in the spring often yields the best germination rates for many regional native species.
• Curating the Right Mix: Aim for a minimum of 10 diverse native species (including workhorses like Black-Eyed Susan, Purple Coneflower, Bergamot, and New England Aster) paired with native bunchgrasses like Little Bluestem and Side-Oats Grama.
• Low-Maintenance Living: Once established past year three, your maintenance drops significantly. Skip heavy fertilizers (low fertility is a native plant's superpower!) and practice light, high-mowing (6 to 8 inches) in early spring only after overwintering beneficial insects and seed-eating birds have had their fill.

Resources to Help Pollinators

UK Native Plant resources

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Residential Rain Gardens

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Winter may still feel a long way off, but the first frost will arrive before we know it! In this episode of Hort Culture, Alexis, Jessica, and Brett discuss preparing gardens, houseplants, equipment, and supplies for the coming cold weather. From bringing houseplants indoors and protecting tender crops to storing bulbs and tubers, managing hoses and irrigation equipment, and organizing frost-protection supplies, the team shares practical tips to help gardeners get ahead. As always, the conversation combines useful horticulture advice with plenty of stories and humor, reminding us that a little preparation now can prevent a lot of cold-weather panic later.

Prepare Garden Tools and Equipment for Winter

Winterizing Your Garden Tools

Tidying Up Your Garden in Winter

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In this episode of Hort Culture, the hosts are joined by Savannah and summer fellow Eliana from the University of Kentucky’s Center for Crop Distribution (CCD) to discuss Eliana's research on farm-to-table markets and local agriculture. Throughout the summer, Eliana worked on price reporting, managed data for produce auctions and farmers' markets, and collaborated on updating a restaurant publication by interviewing local Kentucky growers and restaurant owners. The discussions revealed that restaurant owners buy local primarily out of an ethical commitment to supporting regional agriculture and acquiring high-quality produce, rather than viewing it merely as a marketing strategy. They also highlighted that the primary barriers to successful farm-to-table relationships involve communication challenges between farms and restaurants without a middleman, with experienced growers advising new producers to focus on crops that highlight distinct quality differences and stick to what they know rather than chasing every culinary trend. Ultimately, the fellowship helped confirm Eliana's career interests in agricultural economics as she prepares to graduate, take an ag law class, and look toward managing her own farm.

Center for Crop Diversification

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