Plant Trials

Breeders Prepping for CAST 2021

Preparations for the 2021 California Summer Trials (formerly California Spring Trials) are underway as the summer trade event is set to go from Wednesday, June 23 through Sunday, June 27, 2021. The horticulture industry is excited to safely get... more »

Vibrant and Resilient Deco Containers

Last month, I highlighted the window box planters in the Mast Young Plants 2020 trial. This month I am focusing on the breeder recipe deco containers that I saw in the trial during my August... more »

Poinsettia Trials Provide Memorable Additions to the Industry

By the time you read this, your poinsettias will be long gone and 2020 will be in the rearview mirrror. What a year it was — it brought unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 with all of... more »

Novelty Window Box Planters

I have been attending the Mast Young Plants annual trial in Michigan for over 15 years and have incorporated many of their new varieties in my trial articles. This is an extensive trial incorporating trials... more »

Plantpeddler Releases Results from 2020 Poinsettia Variety Day

Plantpeddler in Cresco, Iowa, recently conducted a trial of 144 commercial and pre-release poinsettia varieties. The grower's Variety Day was hosted on Dec. 3, for growers, poinsettia breeders and broker representatives. The trial was produced... more »

Petunia Extravaganza

It is important to put the evolution and development of seed and vegetative petunias in historical perspective. The breeding and improvements in habit, uniformity, day length neutrality, classes, disease resistance, garden performance, floriferousness and flower... more »

Costa Farms’ Trial Gardens to Host Events in March

Costa Farms will open its Miami, Florida, trial garden on March 4-5, 2021, to brokers, growers and other members of the industry for an opportunity to preview 2022 new plant varieties. The trial garden will host... more »

Plant Celebration in the Northland

In August, I attended the annual Plantpeddler flower trial in northeast Iowa to evaluate many current and new introductions for 2021. I returned three weeks later, following extremely hot and humid weather conditions, to review... more »