Pack Trials 2012

It is that time of year again. I can't believe how quick time flies.

Please check back each day for the next 4 days as I will update that day's visits with pictures and notes.

On this blog I will be focusing on top new products that catch my eye, but by the end of the trip I will have accumulated many hundred of photos. When we meet this summer for booking spring 2013, we can look over all the new intros together then.

Please trust that I will be sharing my honest opinion of the new varieties and not just regurgitating a line of marketing speak. I am well aware that I am held accountable for the recommendations and evaluations that I make.

I will hold final judgment on all these new products until I see them at multiple trials this summer... Anything can look good in California, but if it can hold up to a muggy Midwest summer, that is a completely different achievement.

Enjoy and get excited for 2013!!
Nathan

Detroit Grower Clinic- Videos & Presentations

What a great day!  We had 46 growers in attendance and all four speakers did a wonderful job.

As I promised, I video taped each presentations and uploaded them, so others not able to attend can watch.  Along with the videos to watch, I have posted their presentation slides too.  I think you will want to print them out to follow along with their talk.

Thank you for everyone participating, and I am already thinking about how to make next years clinic ever better.  From a great request, next year I will apply to MDA to try and have this event qualify for spray credits.  Any other ideas for topics or suggestions are appreciated.

Jim Kennedy
Ball FloraPlant- Vegetative Production
Jkennedy@ballhort.com
Presentation Power Point File
Video:
Part 1 of 3
Part 2 of 3
Part 3 of 3

Jerry Gorchels
PanAmerican Seed- Seeded Production
*note*Impatiens Downy Mildew presentation was note videotaped
Jgorchels@panamseed.com
Presentation Power Point File
Video:
Part 1 of 1

Ed Higgins
Ball Mums- Mum Production
Ehiggins@ballhort.com
Presentation Power Point File
Mum Grid Excel File
Celosia extra Power Point File
Video:
Part 1 of 3
Part 2 of 3
Part 3 of 3

Carly Kelly & Huub Kemmere
MGS Horticulture- Biological Controls
 Carly@mgshort.com Huub@mgshort.com
Presentation Power Point File
Video:
Part 1 of 2
Part 2 of 2

Ball Field Days 2012- Save the Date

I showed this save the date at the Grower Clinic last week. I will be mailing this out this spring, but thought I would post this too.

The change for the year's trip is that instead of rushing through the Ball Field Day and arriving late back to Detroit on Friday, we will be staying downtown Chicago night.  That way we will have more time at the trials, and a nice night downtown.  I will be getting some supplier sponsorship for a fun dinner in the city, so the extra half day won't be any extra cost, besides the second room.

Detroit Grower Clinic

I sent out this digital postcard for the Grower Clinic I am hosting on February 8th just two days ago and already have 20 growers signed up.  Actual postcards should be received early next week, sign up quick as the limited space will go fast.  It is free to attend and food is provided.

If you miss this event I will post the speakers presentations to this site.  If I can get geeky enough, I might figure out how to record the talks and post them to this site too.

New Article

Check out my latest article in the December issue of Grower Talks, "Economy of Slow Growth".

http://ballpublishing.com/GrowerTalks/ViewArticle.aspx?articleID=18847&highlight=nathan+lamkey

April Article

Just in case you missed my article in Green Profit in their April issue, here is a link.  Don't get thrown by the title, I just wanted to emphasize that we need to understand how out retail customers are looking at our displays.

"Treat Customers Like Toddlers"
http://www.ballpublishing.com/GreenProfit/ViewArticle.aspx?articleid=18418

PanAmerican Seed

PanAmerican Seed-  PanAm pulled together a very solid showing of new colors added to existing series , a couple full series upgrades and a few unique foliage items added to their Fantastic collection. 

Torenia Kauai series- (? Is Nathan really leading off the PanAm visit talking about bedding Torenia?)

What I found interesting on our tour was the time we spent on the new Torenia series Kauai.  Not that fact that PanAm took time to show us a new Torenia series, but the fact that our group took time to ask questions and take pictures. I think we understand ,as do the retailers, that NEW is good on some of these old classes, it gives the opportunity and excuse to re introduce an underutilized crop.  There are not to many free flowering shade items. By no means am I saying cut back Impatien production to add Torenia, but that the Kauai's are a good enough improvement over the Clown and Queen series, that they give reason to consider offering Torenias again.

Kauai Deep Blue



Super Elfin Impatiens- There is a new color added to the Super Elfin line, which I really like.  It reminds me of Tempo Peach Butterfly.  This new color is used in the new tri color mix, SE Sedona Mix.

Hibiscus Mahogany Splendor-  I am always amazed by the number of Hibiscus Maple Sugar liners I sell each year.  Not that it is a huge item, just I don't personally like it.  The dark leaf, large vigor and excellent heat tolerance sells the cutting Hibiscus.  Now you have an option to grow the similar specimen from seed or plugs that can save on cost.  Mahogany is similar than Maple Sugar as it tops out around 48" in the garden.

Viola Sorbet series-  The Sorbets added three new colors this year along with some upgrades too.  The Fleuroselect Winner- Delft Blue, and the Lemon Blueberry Swirl had outstanding crisp colors.

Delft Blue

Lemon Blueberry Swirl



Alyssum Easter Bonnet series- This popular dwarf alyssum added two very nice colors in Peach and Lemonade.  The additions of the these two colors to the formula mix for Easter Bonnet give the mix a feeling of a pastel needlepoint in your garden.