Plants, People, Science

In Pursuit of Roses: A Master Rosarian's Insights on Modern Roses, Diversity, and Disease Resistance

Roses 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

Inside Fort Worth Botanic Garden’s Living Collections

A 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 Garde

From Grad School To Syngenta Flowers: Building A Career In Floriculture

Many 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 assumpt

Participatory Plant Breeding For Better Tasting Organic Tomatoes - An Interview with Dr. Ambar Carvallo Lopez

Most 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

Breeding Breakthroughs and Mentorship Insights with Gina Fernandez

A 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

Think 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 unp

The ASHS Annual Conference: Gathering the Horticultural Science Community for Learning and Collaboration

We 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 scienti

The Art of Teaching: Dr. Chad Miller's Innovative Classroom Trade Shows

Dr. Chad Miller from Colorado State University shares his innovative approach to teaching horticulture through a classroom trade show format that transforms traditional p

Hydrangea Genomics: Dr. Lisa Alexander's Path to Breeding Better Hydrangeas

The 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

Unlock 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 Orlea

Growing Global Leaders in Horticulture: A Conversation with ASHS President Dr. Daniel Leskovar

A simple microscope gift during a childhood illness sparked a lifelong passion for horticulture that would take Dr. Daniel Leskovar from Argentina to leadership in Americ

Dr. Kirk Pomper: Journey into the World of Pawpaw Cultivation

Dr. 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 qu

Dr. Carl Motsenbocker: Transforming Horticultural Education and Sustainable Farming in Louisiana

Unlock 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 sustai

Failure Is Not Final

In a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Mengmeng Gu from Colorado State’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, we explore the broader implications

Dr. Ryan Contreras: Breeding Plants to Prevent Invasiveness

Join us for a rich discussion with our distinguished guest, Ryan Contreras, a leading expert in ornamental horticulture from Oregon State University. Ryan shares his incr

John Ertle: Behind the Scenes at the 2022 ASHS Far-Red Workshop

What 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 horticul

Far Out! Erik Runkle on Far-Red Radiation: Shining New Light on Plants

How 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 yo

Things are Rosy for Mother's Day! - A Visit with Dr. John Dole about Cut Flowers

Spring 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 U

The Art and Science of Cider Making - A Discussion with Dr. Greg Peck

Embark on an intoxicating voyage through the storied groves of apple history and the intricate science of cider with Dr. Greg Peck from Cornell's School of Integrati

Cultivating Futures: A Discussion with New Podcast Co-Host Curt Rom

We usher in a new era of the Plants People Science podcast with Curt Rom of the University of Arkansas joining Sam Humphrey as a Co-Host for Season 2. Rom's wealth o