2024 Variety Day Highlights and Insights from Plantpeddler

Overhead shot of Variety Day 2024 | Plantpeddler

Plantpeddler hosted its Variety Day 2024 on Friday, Aug. 2, a day focused on the goal of “Testing the Best in the Midwest”. The event highlighted more than 1,500 varieties of vegetative annuals in large containers, hanging baskets, and beds from a global array of breeders, in a vivid array of garden colors. The day saw a record number of attendees including breeders, sponsors, brokers, growers, garden center managers, and industry professionals.

Here is a link to a short video recap of Variety Day 2024:

Presentations this year focused on two primary topics. The day began and ended covering the global young plant supply chain with Nathan Sell of Kientzler/InnovaPlant, and Pablo Corzo and Dr. Brian Krug of Syngenta Flowers and Kapok Plantas. Mid-day featured disease management presentations from Dr. Janna Beckerman with Envu and Dr. Chris Currey of Iowa State University Horticulture. Additionally, Jim Gideon spoke on the new greenhouse covering, UbiGro.

At Variety Day, participants had the opportunity to vote on their favorite three varieties. The winner this year is Helianthus ‘Sunfinity Double Yellow’ available in the 2025 Plantpeddler program. The Top 25 was once again a day dominated by Begonias, with nine winning varieties. Makes sense for a trial at an industry leader in Begonias. The remaining 16 represent a mix of 12 Spring Annuals genera.

Variety Day 2024 – The Top 25 | Plantpeddler

Plantpeddler Poinsettia Variety Day 2024 is on Dec. 5. Plantpeddler Variety Day 2025 follows on Aug. 1, with the second Educate the Educators Workshop on July 31. Plantpeddler will also celebrate its 45th anniversary in 2025, so please stay tuned for details on expanded events. For more information, images, variety submittal guidelines, and sponsorship opportunities for this or other Plantpeddler events, please contact the team at [email protected].