Horticultural research began within the first few years of the West Kentucky Sub-Experiment Station when superintendent Samuel Lowery planted 320 peach trees and 120 apple trees in 1926. Strawberries, raspberries, and tomatoes were also grown on the farm. By 1928, an additional 660 peach trees were planted for horticulture projects. The peach trees planted on the farm began to produce in 1931, and it was reported that the first carload of peaches was shipped from Princeton to Lexington. 

Horticulture research intensified in 1938 when W.D. “Army” Armstrong was hired as the first research scientist stationed at the site. His assignment at the farm was to conduct research and collaborate with local horticultural enterprises. Twenty-two experimental projects were conducted this year.  

It was noted in UKREC's history that by 1944 Armstrong focused his horticulture research on variety trials for strawberries, grapes, peaches, apples, and sweet potatoes, as well as research on strawberry rot, using fungicides. 

It was also reported that Golden Delicious trees were planted on several different Malling, semi-dwarfing rootstocks. According to UKREC horticulture specialist Daniel Becker, rootstock research is among the station's most notable.

Horticulture research was not mentioned again in UKREC's history—though it continued—until the late 1970s with the hiring of Winston Dunwell. Dunwell’s background and specialization was in nursery crops, but he devoted a substantial amount of effort to vegetable work, particularly in service of potato growers supplying the Charles Chips plant in Calhoun, KY. He, along with Dwight Wolfe conducted numerous vegetable trials with the help of dedicated technicians (June Johnston: 1988 – 2019), Hilda Rogers: 1990’s – 2008, Ginny Travis: 2009 – present, Christine Bradley: 2023 - present).

In addition to specialists there have been several horticulture extension associates who have served at the UKREC over the years: Shane Bogle (2002 – 2005), Joe Williams (2005 – 2006), Courtney Flood (2007 – 2008), Vaden Fenton (2008 – 2013), Daniel Becker (2013 – present). Extension associates primarily worked alongside specialists to aid growers and encourage innovation which contributed to the horticulture industry in the state. Extension associates conducted a limited number of on-farm projects over the years which contributed to research being done at the station. Research reports from these efforts can be found on the UK Department of Horticulture, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Resources for Commercial Growers: Fruits and Nuts webpage: https://horticulture.ca.uky.edu/growers/commercial/fruits-and-nuts.

Dr. Winston Dunwell, Professor of Horticulture for Nursery Crops, was inducted into the Kentucky Nursery and Landscape Hall of Fame January 25, 2017.

Fruit Trials

1993-2004 Blueberry cultivar trial (8 cultivars)

1997-2006 Pome fruit variety trial (20 apple cultivars, 4 Asian pear cultivars)

1998-2006 Evaluation of Eastern European wine grape cultivars for Kentucky (17 cultivars planted in 1998 and 9 cultivars planted in 2001)

2000-2007 Wine grape cultivar trial (8 cultivars)

2000-2004 Blackberry cultivar trial (5 cultivars)

2003-2007 Weed control trials in apples and peaches (conducted in the 1997 NC-140 ‘Golden Delicious’ and 1994 NC-140 ‘Redhaven’ rootstock plantings)

2004-2012 Peach variety demonstration (37 cultivars)

2004-2005 Survival of blueberry cultivars in Western Kentucky (13 northern and southern highbush cultivars, 9 rabbiteye cultivars)

2005-2007 Weed control trials in grapes (conducted in the 1998 Eastern European wine grape and 2000 wine grape cultivar plantings)

2006 Evaluation of herbicide performance in newly planted pawpaw

2006-2008 Blackberry and raspberry trial (5 blackberry and 4 raspberry cultivars)

2006-2010 Blackberry cultivar trial at Princeton, Kentucky (5 cultivars)

2007 Weed control in bearing blueberry (conducted in the 2004 blueberry cultivar trial)

2013-2018 Erect thornless blackberry cultivar trial (5 cultivars)

2015-2024 Peach and nectarine cultivar trial (13 cultivars)

2017-2020 Performance of ‘Duke’ highbush blueberry growing in two container and three soilless substrate combinations

2022-present Hardy fig cultivar demonstration (7 cultivars planted in 2022 and 2025)

2023-present Altering cane removal and fertilizer application timing to reduce blackberry pruning labor

Vegetable Trials

1988 Watermelon cultivar observation trial; Spanish onion cultivar observation trial; Muskmelon cultivar observation trial; Cabbage cultivar trial

1990 Green bean observation trial for Western Kentucky; Tomato cultivar trial for Western Kentucky

1991 Processing tomato cultivar trial; Tomato cultivar observation trial for Western Kentucky

1994 Carrot cultivar evaluation; Fall broccoli cultivar response to freezing

1995 Fall production of summer squash cultivars

2003 Sweet corn variety trial, Western Kentucky (10 supersweet cultivars); Weed control in pepper and sweet corn

2005 Weed control in bell peppers; Weed control in no-till pumpkins; Observations on seedless watermelon varieties in Western Kentucky

2006 Weed control in no-till pumpkins

2007 Comparison of preemergence and postemergence herbicides in sweet corn; Evaluation of application of Command and Treflan under plastic mulch for pepper production; Evaluation of Sandea at three transplanting time in three cucurbit crops

2009 Fresh-market tomato variety trial (10 cultivars)

2010 Cabbage and Broccoli cultivar trial (9 broccoli and 5 cabbage cultivars)

2011 Bell pepper variety evaluation (7 cultivars)

2015 Fall Brussels sprouts and cauliflower cultivar trial in Western Kentucky (16 Brussels sprouts and 20 cauliflower cultivars)

2016 Fall broccoli cultivar trial (20 cultivars)

2017 Spring broccoli cultivar trial (20 cultivars), Fall broccoli cultivar trial (14 cultivars)

2019 Fall colored cauliflower cultivar trial (15 cultivars)

2020 Miniature pumpkin cultivar trial (12 cultivars), Beet cultivar trial (12 cultivars)

2023-present Overwinter production of Brussels sprouts cultivars in a high tunnel