Plantpeddler Hosts 2018 Variety Day

Plantpeddler’s annual 2018 Variety Day took place on August 3, in Cresco, Iowa.

Participants from across the country and around the globe were welcomed to to the event by owners Mike, Rachel, and John Gooder, and the Plantpeddler team, for a beautiful Iowa Summer day.

The event showcased nearly 1,200 varieties of vegetative annuals in large containers, baskets, planters and beds from a global array of breeders.

Growers, retailers, breeders and brokers spent the day touring the greenhouse and in educational sessions.

Raymond Cloyd of Kansas State University discussed strategies for dealing with whitefly and broad mites. Christina Nowicki from Selecta One, Scott Valentine, Amy Briggs-Macha and Ryan Hall of Syngenta Flowers and Mike Fernandez of Danziner were on hand to discuss their companies’ recent variety releases. And Gary Fay of H. E. Anderson explained the benefits of chemical injectors for control of pH and fertility.

During the day, participants had the opportunity to view the trial gardens and vote on their three favorite varieties.

The top 10 favorites were:

1. Begonia ‘Solenia Yellow’, Benary+
2. Begonia ‘Hiemalis Vermillion, Beekenkamp
3. Begonia ‘Fragrant Falls Peach’, Beekenkamp
4. Begonia ‘Solenia Apricot, Benary+
5. Salvia ‘Skyscraper Pink’, Selecta One
6. Begonia ‘Fragrant Falls Lemon’, Beekenkamp
7. Petunia ‘Headliner Night Sky’, Selecta One
8. Begonia ‘Waterfalls Encanto Red’, Beekenkamp
9. Coleus ‘Stained Glassworks Golden Gate’, Dümmen Orange
10. Begonia ‘Pedsemps Cherry Blossom’, Plantpeddler

Plantpeddler’s 2018 Poinsettia Variety Day will take place on Dec. 6, in Cresco.

The 2019 Variety Day is scheduled for next Aug. 2, which will be the company’s 40th anniversary.

For more information, please visit www.plantpeddler.com.