Extension

 

PHOTO ABOVE:

YouTube recently recognized the Oklahoma Gardening channel for reaching the milestone of more than 100,000 subscribers. The Oklahoma Gardening crew from left is Daniel Farris, Casey Hentges, Elizabeth Brock and Bailey Lockhart. (Photo by Todd Johnson, OSU Agricultural Communications Services)

 

Oklahoma State University Agriculture’s television show Oklahoma Gardening has aired on television since 1975. Since then, new technology has been developed to make it easier to share gardening information with the public.

 

Show host Casey Hentges said Oklahoma Gardening began its YouTube channel in 2010, and it recently reached a new milestone – over 100,000 subscribers.

 

“Putting our videos on YouTube is one way we can share what we treasure in Oklahoma with the rest of the world,” Hentges said.

 

The show currently airs in more than 170 countries, with the United States, India, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia rounding out the top five countries with the highest viewership.

 

Since the Oklahoma Gardening YouTube channel began, its videos have garnered nearly 29 million views and continue to serve as a valuable resource for gardeners around the world. Some segments from earlier in the show’s history are available on the OKGardeningClassics YouTube channel.

 

“Each video provides more in-depth information into unique gardening topics,” Hentges said. “With all the information we have produced over the years, having these videos together in one place is a valuable, searchable resource for gardeners.”

 

Most popular on the channel, with 1.8 million views, is the 3-4-5 Method video in which Hentges demonstrates garden math to help with the layout and design of a home garden. Although many people don’t like spiders, The Truth About the Brown Recluse runs a close second with 1.5 million views. Rounding out the top three most popular videos is Tomato Diseases with more than 900,000 views.

 

“I believe our channel is popular because people are taking control of what they watch rather than just being given programming,” she said. “YouTube allows viewers to seek out what they want, whether it’s for entertainment or education.”

Future plans include integrating the YouTube videos with plant signs at The Botanic Garden at OSU.

 

Oklahoma Gardening is sponsored by Oklahoma Forestry Services, Greenleaf Nursery, Oklahoma Horticultural Society, Pond Pro, Tulsa Garden Club, Tulsa Garden Center at Woodward Park and Smart Pot.

 

“The continued support these sponsors have shown us over the years has made it possible for Oklahoma Gardening to do additional things like developing our YouTube channel,” she said. “We’re grateful for all they’ve done for the show.”

 

Oklahoma Gardening airs every Saturday morning at 11 a.m. and Sunday afternoons at 3 p.m. on local OETA-TV (PBS) channels across the state. For even more Oklahoma Gardening resources, check out the Facebook page.

 

The Botanic Garden at OSU is the home of the Oklahoma Gardening studio garden and is located west of Stillwater on the north side of Highway 51. The show is produced by OSU Extension, the OSU Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and Agricultural Communications Services.

OSU Extension uses research-based information to help all Oklahomans solve local issues and concerns, promote leadership and manage resources wisely throughout the state's 77 counties. Most information is available at little to no cost.