Department of Horticultural Science

Student in hat hand pollinates white apple blossoms
A female and a male student stand in a sweet corn field looking at a clipboard
5 students stand smiling in front of plants while wearing hats and yellow safety vests in a greenhouse

Upcoming Events

  • the text 'horticultural science seminar series' over green plants growing in a high tunnel

    HORT Seminar: UMN - Extension

    October 21, 3:30 - 4:30 PM

    Laura Irish-Hanson, Matthew Gullickson, and Jon Trappe from UMN - Extension join us this week!

    Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. 

    Alderman 405 or Zoom.

  • the text 'horticultural science seminar series' over green plants growing in a high tunnel

    HORT Seminar: Beyond the Season: Bridging Research and Reality in Deep Winter Greenhouse Production

    October 28, 3:30 - 4:30 PM

    How do passive solar winter greenhouses perform when research meets winter farm operations? Join the Department of Horticultural Science for a dynamic panel discussion exploring the frontiers of passive solar winter greenhouse production. Moderated by Josh Kielsmeier-Cook (UMN RSDP), this session brings together architecture researcher Dan Handeen, controlled environment agriculture specialist and researcher Dr. Nate Eylands, and local Deep Winter Greenhouse growers. Together, they will dive into the intersections of thermal building design, crop physiology, off-season winter production economics, and the practical realities of growing high-value crops through a Minnesota winter. Whether you are interested in controlled environment agriculture, sustainable infrastructure, or grower enterprise strategies, join us for an engaging dialogue with candid stories from growers on bridging research with commercial farming realities. 

    Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. 

    Alderman 405 or Zoom.

  • the text 'horticultural science seminar series' over green plants growing in a high tunnel

    HORT Seminar: Jenn Ripp from the Savanna Institute

    November 11, 3:30 - 4:30 PM

    Jenn Ripp is the Minnesota Agroforestry Advisor at the Savanna Institute. You won't want to miss this week's seminar!

    Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. 

    Alderman 405 or Zoom.

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News

  • Woman with long silver/gray hair and blue glasses smiles with text reading Congrats to Julie Grossman Awarded SSSA Fellow

    Julie Grossman Receives 2026 SSSA Fellow!

    September 24, 2026

    Dr. Julie Grossman, Associate Dean and professor of Horticultural Science, is an internationally recognized expert in legume cover crop nitrogen fixation. A passionate advocate for innovative pedagogy and a former Fulbright scholar, she has received numerous national awards for her mentorship and civic engagement. Congratulations to Grossman!!

  • Halved potato revealing vivid purple marbled flesh held in a dirt-stained hand above a crate of freshly harvested tubers in a field, with another worker blurred in the background.

    Will the Paisley Purple have a noteworthy reign?

    September 17, 2026

    University of Minnesota Twin Cities associate professor Laura Shannon is helping broaden the use of the University-created potato. Read the full story here.

  • Horticultural Science Seminar Series

    2026 Fall Seminars

    September 9, 2026

    View our seminar speaker lineup and recordings for the 2026 Fall semester!

    Seminars are at 3:30pm CT on each date in Alderman 405 and by Zoom. In-person attendance is highly encouraged and recommended. Snacks and light refreshments are provided.

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