September 2024 Greenhouse Product News, Plant Trials, Technology, Trends, Variety Info

Editor’s letter: Strolling through trial gardens By Heather Machovina

Trial gardens throughout the U.S. are a beautiful escape into vivid colors and striking foliage combinations. They also provide influential knowledge to growers and breeders about a plant’s performance in different climates and environments. 

Most gardens are open for viewing to industry professionals and consumers, so changing trends can be spotted early here. On-site activities like voting for a favorite or making a top pick after visiting the evaluation area help contribute to trial garden results and reports that are available online to aid others in making educated decisions. 

GPN has reached out to trial garden managers in regions across the nation to get timely information about what’s happening in the gardens, right now, this season, before the official reports come out toward the end of the year. 

We’re asking for their top picks in categories like best performing heat/drought tolerant variety, top flower color and their personal favorites, along with any disease or pest incidence during the reporting period. It will be interesting to witness changes in “best performers” and “top picks” as conditions change over the months. And then, compare to the final results, which are based on other evaluation parameters and from other people, not just those of the trial garden managers.

Bernadette Clark from JC Raulston Arboretum shares the scoop on what went down during the first half of the trial season in North Carolina. 

MORE BLOOMING TRENDS 

Recent years are showing a continued interest in cut flowers in the market. Technology is improving and breeders are bringing more new, improved varieties for cut flower production to growers sooner to fill this need. Learn more about recent innovations in technology, and what to expect in future variety releases from breeders. 

The foliage market is also seeing consistent growth with interest in fun leaf shapes, textures, colors and patterns for potted display pieces and in landscapes. Rex begonia varieties are aplenty and easily fill this consumer need. Check out this month’s Culture Report to see the ample choices in Rex varieties from Green Fuse Botanicals.