GrowerTalks - Green Profit - Inside Grower

06/08/2026

FLASHBACK! Ball Seed Customer Day 2012—Join GrowerTalks editor Chris Beytes as he makes the rounds at Ball Horticultural Company's 2012 Customer Day. You'll meet Anna Ball, see new varieties, travel in Ball's Time Machine, taste-test tomatoes and a melon, and even take a zipline ride. It's the most extensive tour of The Gardens at Ball on video (as of 2012).

Make plans to attend in 2026! Here's all the info: https://www.ballcustomerday.com/

https://youtu.be/ete0YRdoAK8

Welcome to our living catalog! The Gardens at Ball have been the evaluation and testing grounds for the world’s horticultural improvements since 1933. What began as a row trial for seed varieties has grown to encompass over 13 acres of display beds from the industry’s leading breeders and market...

06/03/2026

NEW PODCAST! Why SuperCal Petunias Are Built for Fall (and Beyond)

Host Bill Calkins recently caught up with Wiebe from Sakata to talk about why SuperCal petunias are such strong season extenders for growers and retailers.

Most of you already know the reputation—SuperCals have been around for more than a decade and continue to improve. But what really stood out in their conversation is how Sakata has bred these intergeneric crosses (petunia × calibrachoa) to combine the best of both worlds.

✅ Exceptional environmental tolerance
✅ Bounce back after heavy rain
✅ Handle cold snaps (down to ~25°F)
✅ Even push through snow

This isn’t just hype—it’s backed by rigorous trials and real-world performance in gardens and landscapes. That reliability makes them a perfect fit for fall programs, when traditional petunias start to struggle.

Color + Versatility for Fall

SuperCals also bring a strong seasonal palette—ideal for mono pots, combos, baskets, patio containers, and landscapes. As Michael emphasized, variety selection matters depending on your target use—and Sakata has great resources to guide those decisions. For example, here are tips for producing Fall quarts:https://sakataornamentals.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2026/05/SuperCal_Production-Guide_Fall_2026.pdf

In the full conversation:

Bill and Michael dive into propagation tips, cultural nuances, PGRs and top varieties for fall success.

👉 Watch the video or listen to the podcast to get the full breakdown.

YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/92-0xKGBRDA

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KIut9nP7cIfU8263KmOTW

APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tech-on-demand-brought-to-you-by-growertalks/id1523055762

🌱 And yes—cuttings and liners are available now for fall finishing. Reach out to your favorite broker or rooting station to get started.

05/29/2026

NEW PODCAST: Rotating from Resistance to Results ft. Envu’s Dr. Janna Beckerman

Dr. Janna Beckerman from Choose Safety Choose Envu joined host Bill Calkins for a third time on the Tech On Demand podcast. This time, Janna was here to discuss a topic that she’s very passionate about and for good reason—resistance management could be the most critical component to greenhouse production IF we want to grow healthy crops in the future and maintain a toolbox of effective chemical and biological solutions. That’s tremendously oversimplifying things but throughout this episode, Dr. Beckerman helped make sense of it all and leave you with an excellent rotation that includes Altus, Aria and Kontos insecticides to use against multiple, common greenhouse pests.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ajS94ZUavFwQPovWK9dh8

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tech-on-demand-brought-to-you-by-growertalks/id1523055762

05/28/2026

Did you know there are NINE episodes of The Chris Beytes Podcast that you will absolutely love?!?! GrowerTalks Editor-in-Chief Chris Beytes profiles some of the winners of the GrowerTalks Young Grower Award from the past 21 years.

GrowerTalks Editor-in-Chief Chris Beytes profiles some of the winners of the GrowerTalks Young Grower Award from the past 21 years.

05/27/2026

After the closing of Green Leaf, Raker-Roberta’s is now the production facility of elite stock for HilverdaFlorist’s dianthus. Susie Raker said that 75% of the dianthus sales is in Q3 and Q4, so it extends the season for their staff so they’re busy all year round. The new partnership has paid off, too. “We made money the first year and that never happens,” said Susie.

05/26/2026

Raker-Roberta’s in Michigan sells a lot of plants through QVC, including Firefly, a unique glow-in-the-dark petunia. They partnered with a local company to develop a white 3.2-in. pot that they package with the plant. Also includes a glow-in-the-dark sticker.

05/26/2026

It’s May, but it’s mum transplanting time at Raker-Roberta's in Michigan! When the GrowerTalks team visited a couple weeks ago, Production Manager Casey Stanton said that they transplanted 1.5 million mum cuttings just that week.

05/26/2026

The assembly line at Raker-Roberta’s where staff is packaging annuals and perennials sold through QVC. Susie Raker said the most challenging part of selling through this channel is having to hold plants and having them ready for when they’re put on the air to be sold. So her staff has to be ready at any moment to get the plants packaged, boxed and shipped within a day’s notice.

05/20/2026

Breaking news about the big joining forces! Stay tuned to Acres Online for an exclusive interview.

We’re excited to announce a new chapter in horticulture!

Dümmen Orange and Syngenta Flowers are forming a new joint venture, bringing together world-class genetics and commercial expertise to better serve our customers.

Learn more here: http://bit.ly/3Rjv1m4

Syngenta Flowers NA
Syngenta Flowers EMEA
Syngenta Flowers APAC
Dümmen Orange EU
Dümmen Orange Latam
Dümmen Orange Asia-Pacific

05/13/2026

NEW TECH ON DEMAND PODCAST! 4 Questions for Samuel, a Grower, Retailer & Social Media Manager

This episode, host Bill is joined by Samuel Di Rito, a grower and social media manager at Collier’s Greenhouse & Garden Center, a third-generation family-owned business in Jackson, Georgia. Follow Collier’s on Instagram

Listen | Like | Subscribe

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/4-questions-for-samuel-a-grower-retailer-social/id1523055762

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2lENHR6ZJgjqtPTcfUne4V

Here are the four questions Samuel selected:

Q: What was your first exposure to horticulture and how did you feel, react, respond?

Q: What’s something about professional horticulture that annoys you and how would you change it?

Q: What advice would you give to a young person considering pursuit of a career in horticulture?

Q: What do you love most about your job?

This episode is sponsored by Prospiant—leaders in greenhouse design, manufacture and build. Learn more and connect with the expert team at https://www.prospiant.com/