Spring trials day 1 - A tribute, a return and brand new varieties.

We got a head-start for the 2011 California Spring Trials by starting Friday at Ecke Ranch in Encinitas.
Growers looking to take as much as two weeks off their production schedule will want to look at Ecke’s new SNAP System of pre-stuck callused cuttings. The cuttings, which are available for most of Ecke’s product lines, are pre-stuck in ES media, an inert packaging material approved by USDA. The cuttings are produced and stuck at Ecke’s facilities in Guatemala and Mexico and then shipped to growers in ES78 trays (three strips with 26 cells each). Ecke offsite production manager J.P. Williams said the SNAP System enables growers to save on labor energy and crop time.

There was also a tribute to Jack Williams, Ecke international product manager/technical support, who passed away in October. OFA is establishing The Jack Williams Scholarship Fund as a part of its Scholars Program.
For the official start of the trials on Saturday, we first stopped in Vista at Plug Connection, which also hosted Benary and Suntory.

Plug Connection’s Super Natural grafted vegetables will receive their formal industry rollout at this year’s OFA Short Course, July 9-12, in Columbus, Ohio. Company product development manager Juan St. Amant said the initial focus will be on tomatoes, but other crops have the potential to be grafted including peppers and eggplants. Amant said the grafted plants will probably be offered in 72 cell liners and will be grown to order.

Benary returned in a big way to the Spring Trials after a year off. Previously exhibiting at Imagination Canyon Greenhouse in Santa Barbara, the German breeding company moved south to occupy Plug Connection’s new 15,000 square foot CriderAmericas greenhouse.

Benary introduced its Inspire pansy series three years ago, retiring the Fama series. Bred specifically for the North American market, seven varieties have been added to expand the series to 29 separate colors. Bred for extreme weather conditions, the plants overwinter well and the flowers don’t shrink in size under warm temperatures.

The last stop on the first day took us to Proven Winners in Bonsall. On display were many of the 28 new perennials from Walters Gardens that have been added to the PW program. Susan Martin, Walters Gardens director of marketing communications, said eight of the varieties are brand new. Four of the new plants are in the Decadence baptisia series (Blueberry Sundae, Cherries Jubilee, Dutch Chocolate and Lemon Meringue).

Stay tuned for more daily California Spring Trials updates from GIE Media.