Throughout 2026 (and possibly beyond), host Bill Calkins will catch up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. Bill sent each guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss.

This episode, he’s joined by Broch Martindale, National Nursery and Greenhouse Strategic Account Manager with Corteva Agriscience.

Here are the four questions Broch selected:

Q: What was your first exposure to “horticulture” and how did you feel, react, respond?

Q: What advice would you give to a young person considering pursuit of a career in horticulture?

Q: What do you love most about your job?

Q: What does the future of horticulture look like? 

Throughout 2026 (and possibly beyond), host Bill Calkins will catch up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. Bill sent each guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss.

This episode, he’s joined by Shannon Carmody, director of plant pathology at Ball Horticultural Company.

Here are the four questions Shannon selected:

Q: What was your first exposure to “horticulture” and how did you feel, react, respond?

Q: If you won the lottery and could start a horticulture business from scratch, what would it be and what would it look like?

Q: What’s something about professional horticulture that annoys you and how would you change it?

Q: What do you love most about your job?

LESSONS NOT YET LEARNED

FROM THE FEBRUARY 2026 ISSUE OF GREEN PROFIT MAGAZINE

WRITTEN BY BILL McCURRY

NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS

EXCERPT: When selling or attempting to retire, owners without a strong leadership team find they don’t have a business to sell. They have inventory that’s worth half what the owner thinks it is. The fixtures and equipment are usually worth a quarter or less of the owner’s estimate. They may have real estate, but if the operations can’t be run without the current owner, they don’t have a business. All they have to sell is a job and the physical assets. It’s a sad, but consistent story.

Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gp_26_02/index.aspx

WATERING MORE EFFICIENTLY WITH DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS

FROM THE JANUARY 2026 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE

WRITTEN BY JOSH HENRY

NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS

EXCERPT: Assessing irrigation needs: Good, better, best—Think of irrigation decisions as a hierarchy:

Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_26_01/index.aspx

BRIDGING RESEARCH & PRACTICE

FROM THE JANUARY 2026 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE

WRITTEN BY ALICAIN CARLSON

NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS

EXCERPT: The relationship between industry and academic research has never been more crucial. As our industry faces complex challenges—from climate change to evolving consumer preferences—the synthesis of academic rigor and practical application becomes increasingly vital. These collaborations create a powerful synergy: academic institutions provide deep scientific expertise and research infrastructure, while industry partners offer real-world insights, commercial perspective and the ability to scale solutions rapidly.

Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_26_01/index.aspx

CELEBRATE—WITH PLANTS!

FROM THE JANUARY 2026 ISSUE OF GREEN PROFIT MAGAZINE

WRITTEN BY MARIA ZAMPINI

NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS

EXCERPT: Fortunately, with a little planning and creative POP displays, you can benefit from a slew of lesser-known holidays and life celebrations to promote plant sales. I’m not talking about the biggies, like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or Easter; I know you’ve got those covered. Instead, look for opportunities to celebrate lesser-known holidays, as well as major life milestones, where plants make the perfect gift.

Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gp_26_01/index.aspx

SETTING THE STAGE FOR SUCCESS

FROM THE JANUARY ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE

WRITTEN BY NATHAN WALLACE-SPRINGER

NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS

EXCERPT: By carefully checking your greenhouse systems and materials now, you can ensure a smoother start to the new season and protect the health of your crops. This article will provide a preseason checklist to help growers get organized and ready for a successful spring growing season.

READ THE JANUARY 2026 DIGITAL ISSUE: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_26_01/index.aspx

RENT, RETURN, REPEAT

FROM THE JANUARY 2026 ISSUE OF GREEN PROFIT MAGAZINE

WRITTEN BY NEIL ANDERSON

NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS

EXCERPT: How many times do you think Blockbuster rented out “The Little Mermaid” or “Ghostbusters” before those VHS tapes finally gave out? Probably hundreds. At roughly $4 a rental, that’s about $1,200 of revenue from a $20 tape. Pretty good margin, right?

Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gp_26_01/index.aspx

SUCCESS BY DESIGN: THE SECRET STRATEGY FOR QUALITY VEGETATIVELY PROPAGATED SPRING CROPS

FROM THE JANUARY 2026 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE

WRITTEN BY CHRISTOPHER J. CURREY

NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS

EXCERPT: The secret strategy for quality vegetatively propagated spring crops isn’t too complicated: healthy cuttings, healthy rooted liners, healthy finished crops. While much is written and discussed about managing fertilizer when finishing containerized spring crops, managing nutrients during cutting propagation receives less attention. But to produce healthy rooted cuttings, cutting fertilization needs to be managed across all five stages of liner production: Stage 0—Prior to harvest or arrival of cuttings; Stage 1— Cutting arrival and sticking; Stage 2—Callusing; Stage 3—Root development; and Stage 4—Toning.

Conversation with Stephanie Vincenti starts at 2:20.

California Spring Trials 2026: March 24-27 (Days and time may vary by location.)

Tech On Demand host (and 20-year trials veteran) Bill Calkins collaborated with California Spring Trials registration managers at National Garden Bureau to produce a series of podcasts featuring representatives from just about every exhibiting company in an effort to get you excited about the iconic industry event and some of the new plant introductions you’ll see on display in spring of 2026. California Spring Trials is the horticulture industry’s “fashion week” and with more than two dozen participating companies bringing hundreds of new plants to market for 2027 and beyond, opportunities to get inspired and plan new additions to your crop mix abound!

Registration for this annual even is essential to help hosts create an amazing, customized experience for all attendees. REGISTER FOR CAST 2026 NOW AT https://caspringtrials.us/. You’ll also find a trip planner, location information and more. Be sure to schedule plenty of time at each stop and with each exhibiting company!