About this podcast
Horticultural science is the only discipline that incorporates both the science and aesthetics of plants. It is the science and art of producing edible fruits, vegetables, flowers, herbs, and ornamental plants, improving and commercializing them. Plants, People, Science, a podcast by the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS), will bring you the recent advancements in science, technology, innovation, development, and education for economically important horticultural crops and plants. Each episode features an interview with an American Society for Horticultural Science member, a discussion of their current work in the field, and the story behind their research. ASHS members focus on practices and problems in horticulture: breeding, propagation, production and management, harvesting, handling and storage, processing, marketing and use of horticultural plants and products. In this podcast, you will hear from diverse members across the horticultural community - scientists, educators, students, landscape and turf managers, government, extension agents, and industry professionals.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 31 episodes
- Microbial Biostimulants For Heat Stressed Bentgrass · 1 h 0 min · Season 4 Episode 6Golf course turf looks effortless until summer heat hits and then the science shows up fast. We sit down with Chiara Ammaturo to unpack what happens when creeping bentgrass faces…
- Study Abroad Through a Horticulture Lens · 38 min · Season 4 Episode 5We can learn about horticulture from slides in a classroom, sure. But everything changes when the classroom is perhaps Rome, or the lab is a botanic garden in Scotland, and the…
- In Pursuit of Roses: A Master Rosarian's Insights on Modern Roses, Diversity, and Disease Resistance · 50 min · Season 4 Episode 4Roses have a reputation for being high-maintenance, but the best rose breeders are chasing a different future: roses that bloom for months, shrug off disease, and succeed for…
- Inside Fort Worth Botanic Garden’s Living Collections · 49 min · Season 4 Episode 3A great public garden can change your whole day and sometimes your whole life. We sit down with Seth Hamby, Director of Living Collections at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, to…
- From Grad School To Syngenta Flowers: Building A Career In Floriculture · 53 min · Season 4 Episode 2Many horticulture students feel like they have to choose early: academia or industry, teaching or “real world” work, research or marketing. We wanted to test that assumption, so…
- Participatory Plant Breeding For Better Tasting Organic Tomatoes - An Interview with Dr. Ambar Carvallo Lopez · 46 min · Season 4 Episode 1Most of us think new crop horticulture cultivars are invented behind closed doors, then handed to farmers as a finished product. We wanted to explore that assumption, so we sat…
- Breeding Breakthroughs and Mentorship Insights with Gina Fernandez · 50 min · Season 3 Episode 8A sunrise ride to an apple orchard changed everything for Dr. Gina Fernandez—and it might change how you think about berries. We sit down with the NC State distinguished…
- What It Takes To Make A Super Cold-Hardy Wine Grape · 50 min · Season 3 Episode 7Think a great wine grape can’t survive where winters drop to minus forty? We sit down with breeder Dr. Harlene Hatterman-Valenti from North Dakota State University to unpack how…
- The ASHS Annual Conference: Gathering the Horticultural Science Community for Learning and Collaboration · 29 min · Season 3 Episode 6We sit down with our podcast teammate Lena Wilson—fresh off a first-place PhD Graduate Student Poster Competition win—to unpack what it takes to thrive at a major scientific…
- The Art of Teaching: Dr. Chad Miller's Innovative Classroom Trade Shows · 40 min · Season 3 Episode 5Dr. Chad Miller from Colorado State University shares his innovative approach to teaching horticulture through a classroom trade show format that transforms traditional plant…
- Hydrangea Genomics: Dr. Lisa Alexander's Path to Breeding Better Hydrangeas · 40 min · Season 3 Episode 4The science behind your garden hydrangeas involves far more than just planting and watering. Dr. Lisa Alexander, a research geneticist with the USDA Agricultural Research…
- Ready for ASHS: Tips and Tricks for Conference Success · 44 min · Season 3 Episode 3Unlock the secrets to making the most of the American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference with insider tips from seasoned attendees. As the 2025 New Orleans…
- Growing Global Leaders in Horticulture: A Conversation with ASHS President Dr. Daniel Leskovar · 49 min · Season 3 Episode 2A simple microscope gift during a childhood illness sparked a lifelong passion for horticulture that would take Dr. Daniel Leskovar from Argentina to leadership in American plant…
- Dr. Kirk Pomper: Journey into the World of Pawpaw Cultivation · 48 min · Season 3 Episode 1Dr. Kirk Pomper, a Professor of Horticulture at Kentucky State University, is an expert on the pawpaw. He takes us on a journey through the lush history and remarkable qualities…
- Dr. Carl Motsenbocker: Transforming Horticultural Education and Sustainable Farming in Louisiana · 46 min · Season 2 Episode 8Unlock the secrets of sustainable agriculture with us as we welcome Dr. Carl Motsenbocker from Louisiana State University. Discover how his work in local foods and sustainable…
- Failure Is Not Final · 18 min · Season 2 Episode 7In a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Mengmeng Gu from Colorado State’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, we explore the broader implications of…
- Dr. Ryan Contreras: Breeding Plants to Prevent Invasiveness · 49 min · Season 2 Episode 6Join us for a rich discussion with our distinguished guest, Ryan Contreras, a leading expert in ornamental horticulture from Oregon State University. Ryan shares his incredible…
- John Ertle: Behind the Scenes at the 2022 ASHS Far-Red Workshop · 14 min · Season 2 Episode 5What if the key to unlocking your garden's full potential lies in a light spectrum most people overlook? Discover the untapped power of far-red radiation in horticulture as we…
- Far Out! Erik Runkle on Far-Red Radiation: Shining New Light on Plants · 40 min · Season 2 Episode 4How much do you really know about the light that nurtures your plants? In this enlightening episode of Plants, People, Science, hosts Curt Rom and Samson Humphrey take you on a…
- Things are Rosy for Mother's Day! - A Visit with Dr. John Dole about Cut Flowers · 46 min · Season 2 Episode 3Spring has sprung in the world of horticulture, and as Mother's Day nears, we welcome Dr. John Dole, a Professor of Horticultural Science from North Carolina State University…







