Mixing It Up
Mixed combinations are certainly nothing new to the marketplace. Consumers love them and they’re a big hit at retail. But at the grower level, a lot of thought has to go into which already established mixes to select to grow or which single varieties can be mixed together. It takes a lot of trial and error to figure out which varieties play well with others.
That is why contributing editor and industry consultant Vaughn Fletcher visited various trials this summer to observe the performance of multi-species baskets. What makes a successful designer mix? He says that many attributes are required to achieve a harmonious recipe that is attractive at retail and performs for the consumer. Some of the attributes he looked for were balance, floriferousness, compatibility, proportion and timing.
It is also imortant to note that what is successful in one region may not work in your area. But that is the beauty of these programs, says Vaughn — the variability and adaptability.
In the September issue of GPN, you can read about Vaughn’s top combination picks in his article, “Spectacular Synergy.” In the meantime, here is a handful of his favorite plant combinations from the trials at Costa Farms, Young’s Plant Farm and Metrolina Greenhouses.
Confetti Garden Nani Hilo
Dümmen Orange
This mix is comprised of Nani Blue, White and Dark Red as well as Red Cartwheel. It demonstrated excellent timing, heat tolerance and a controlled habit. It was one of the most well-balanced baskets in the trial.
Lollipop Flaming Hot Lemon Mix
Benary
Benary introduced the Lollipop impatiens series three years ago with eight basic colors that are vibrant and intense. Eleven combinations were entered into the Metrolina trial, and they were mounding, compact and uniform.
Trixi Batting Eyes
Selecta
The calibrachoa Neo series consists of 19 varieties, Orange + Red Eye, Coral + Red Eye and Yellow + Red Vein comprise this new recipe. It was an eye-catcher with superb uniformity and a semi-trailing habit.
Summer Salsa Mix
Sakata
This Sunpatiens combination of Compact Red, Hot Coral and Coral Pink had been in trials the past two years and was one of the top performer in Southern trials this year. It creates a lively mix with non-fading vibrant flowers on a full canopy.
Double Romance
Suntory
This double petunia basket includes Pink, Rose and White. The plants require very little deadheading, and the entire series is adaptable in quarts, combinations and baskets. Plants are compact, floriferous and uniform.
Plug & Play American Dream
PanAmerican Seed
PanAmerican Seed added 10 new Plug & Play mixes for 2018, and Lemon Dream was a top performer at the Costa trial. This monochromatic mix was subtle yet outstanding for timing, compatibility, floriferousness and heat tolerance.
Are you growing combination baskets? Which mixes are your top performers? Shoot me an email at jdolce@greatamericanpublish.com, and let me know. I’d love to hear from you.
And to read Vaughn Fletcher’s full article, click here.
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