#katia hougaard

What's the story of these miniature watermelons? Are they real fruits, or are they cleverly made polymer clay objects or AI trickery? They are 100% real because I grew them in my own garden.

@radical-rad1986

My fan art for @riafunnel depicts a meeting of two royal families on Gaea. On a state visit to Fanelia, a younger Eries and Millerna encounter Folken and Van while walking along the Fanelian castle corridors. The two groups of siblings haven’t officially met in more formal circumstances yet. Therefore, they show their personalities to each other in a more natural and spontaneous way in this meeting.

Media: Fountain pen, sharpie marker, coloured pencils, and oil pastel on paper.

This week (May 11-May 18, 2026) is the International Week of Plant Health! This week is a showcase of the challenges facing plant health around the world and the experts who are working to protect plants from pests and diseases.

My PhD project under the supervision of Professor Colin Turnbull at Imperial College London (2017-2024) was on plant health! My research focused on the model organism plant Medicago truncatula's innate defence response to Pea Aphids. I researched the defence response using molecular biology and plant physiology techniques as well as experiments with the aphids and plants themselves. I investigated the role of genes controlling host resistance to certain varieties of aphid and I studied how resistant plants respond to aphid infestation. My findings are available to read in my PhD thesis, and we are planning to publish the results in the near future.

Currently, I'm applying my knowledge of the plant immune system to protecting my own garden from pests and diseases using eco-friendly strategies.

What would you like to learn about plant health? Ask me in the comments!

Happy Birthday Dilandau Albatou, 2025!

My fan art of the iconic antagonist of the anime Vision of Escaflowne shows them surrounded by fiery fighting spirit!

Dilandau is my favourite character from this classic anime series for a number of reasons, and in this artwork I show their wild and perilous charisma as they prepare to face off in a sword duel against an opponent. Dilandau may be unpredictable and destructive like the flames they adore, but that power and confidence makes them magnetic too.

Media: pen and ink, India ink and brush, colour pencil, and oil pastel on paper with digital edits.

Meet two delicious members of the plant genus Physalis, namely Tomatillo and Aguaymanto! Learn with me, Dr. Katia Hougaard, about these two scrumptious fruits from Central and South America.

Tomatillo or "husk tomato" (Physalis philadelphica and P. ixocarpa) is an indispensable component of Mexican cuisine. This species' wild ancestors are found in the region spanning Mexico and Costa Rica. The Tomatillo was domesticated by indigenous people in Mexico and it was part of both Aztec and Maya food traditions. The Tomatillos shown here are grown as annuals in the southern UK, but they have the potential to be perennial plants in ideal conditions.

The Aguaymanto or "Cape Gooseberry" (P. peruviana) is the sweeter relative of Tomatillo hailing from Andes Mountains. The name "Cape Gooseberry" led to many people assuming it was native to South Africa, but it got this name because it was widely cultivated in the Cape of Good Hope region starting in the early 19th century. This plant was domesticated by indigenous Andean people and is still a popular fruit in the Andean countries, often featuring in smoothies and desserts.

Have you tried growing and eating either, or both, of these delicious Physalis species? If so, please share your experiences in the comments.

It is with great pleasure that I share the news that I have finally completed my PhD at Imperial College London! Katia Plant Scientist is now officially Dr. Katia Hougaard. In this video, I introduce my PhD thesis and give insights into what it takes to complete a PhD in plant biology. I also talk about the viva voce exam, which is the UK academic system's equivalent of a PhD defence. My sincere thanks to my wonderful supervisor Professor Colin Turnbull for his guidance in writing the thesis as well as his support in viva preparation. I hope to share more videos about the PhD experience soon.

Happy Summer Solstice 2025 in the Northern Hemisphere!

June 21st 2025, is the longest day of the year as well as the shortest night of the year, in regions north of the equator.

Please join me in welcoming the official start of summer. This is the season where gardeners' hard work during the spring and late winter pays off in bountiful harvests of leafy greens, beans, summer squash, tomatoes, eggplants, lettuce, herbs, radishes, edible flowers, and berries.

What are you looking forward to harvesting in your garden this summer? Do let me know in the comments.