November 2021 - 12

perspectives
BY JESSICA TATRO
From Trial Field to Retail Bench -
and Everything in Between
I have been in the horticulture industry since a very young
age, and whenever anyone would ask me what I wanted to be
when I grew up, I would reply " A grower! Just like my dad. " There
was something very special about watching a crop grow that
resonated with me, and I always strived to grow the
best one every time.
Jessica Tatro is
production research
and development
manager with
Pleasant View
Gardens and a
member of GPN's
40 Under 40 Class
of 2016. She can be
reached at jessicat@
pwpvg.com.
ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE
Fast forward a few years to when I was a student at
the University of Florida and actively involved in the
undergrad horticulture club. I approached our advisor
and asked if I could grow the poinsettia crop for the
winter fundraiser. His response was " Why? It's a
difficult crop that takes a lot of work and effort. " I think
I surprised him when I replied that it was my favorite
crop because I wanted a challenge.
My career goals soon focused on finding a way to
combine my passion for growing with my desire for
continued learning, creating a continuous challenge so
I wouldn't get bored doing the same thing over and over, which
I found when I accepted a job as production R&D manager at
Pleasant View Gardens.
PUTTING PERFORMANCE TO THE TEST
Each year, hundreds of varieties are introduced to the industry
and home gardeners, but how do we make sure that we are
bringing something to market that will grow well, look good at
retail, and perform in the garden? That's where R&D comes in -
the " behind-the-scenes " efforts where we put a breeder trial
code through propagation, production and performance trials.
Our R&D department at Pleasant View Gardens is organized
into two sub-departments - new variety trials and production
trials. My coworker, Makenzie, oversees the new variety trials
and evaluates between 1,500 and 2,000 breeder trial codes
each year; she works with the Proven Winners team to select
the best genetics for introduction based on season-long garden
performance and unique market fit.
My " season " starts in September when new Proven Winners
varieties are selected for introduction and I start planning out
and scheduling all my trials. During the winter and early spring
months, propagation trials are conducted to determine crop
times, PGR needs, and any special growing requirements (such as
rooting hormones or pH preference). If any red flags are raised,
we will delay release and try to solve the issue, but sometimes
this hurdle cannot be overcome and the variety never reaches
market. Then, as we transition into spring, the focus shifts over
to finished trials to determine recommended container size,
recommended crop time and PGR requirements for each variety.
All of the results are compiled and shared with our growing
12 NOVEMBER 2021 GPNMAG.COM
team, and crop plans are then entered into Picas (our planning
software) for the upcoming growing season.
In addition, I work with multiple internal departments to
run production trials, which generally focus on crop quality
improvements, ways to reduce inputs without reducing quality,
and testing potential new program ideas. Trial suggestions are
submitted, reviewed, and assigned a priority, and then I work on
getting the trials set up and scheduled. Our operations manager
likes to refer to this aspect of R&D as the " machine shop " where I
can evaluate a crop, determine the issue and provide a suggested
fix for the issue at hand.
Ideas are also generated " on-the-fly " if we see issues arise
in production or hear about something that another grower
is experiencing with a crop. Some recent trials include adding
new crops to our 72 enhanced liner program, developing a
" programmed " helianthus liner (which increased crop uniformity
and reduced crop time by approximately three weeks), and
evaluating in-ground performance for the Eco+ Grande (a
compostable garden pot).
POST-TRIAL PERFORMANCE
One of my favorite parts of the job is showcasing how to use
the plants that we grow and sell, whether in the landscape or
combination recipes. Each spring, I conduct a hanging basket
trial with approximately 300 different recipes, all timed to
finish for Mother's Day. About 100 to 150 of these showcase
new introductions, and it is so cool to see the recipes that I
designed during the cold, dark winter months come to life! Of
course, there are some total failures ... but it is all about learning
what varieties will mix well together, playing with new color
combinations, and making sure everything comes into color at
the right time.
I am also the primary designer for our 3-acre display garden
that is installed in June and timed to be in full color for our Open
House events in early August. Again, it is so rewarding to be able
to create living art with plants, highlight how to use existing and
new varieties in the landscape, inspire others to garden, and
provide beauty to all who visit.
Although the job has evolved over the past 13 years, the main
focus is still the same - to help our growing team and our
customers grow the best crop possible based on information
gathered from variety trials, production trials, and display garden
experience.
This constant search for knowledge and collaboration with
coworkers to produce the best possible plant is what keeps this
job fun, rewarding and challenging all at the same time. I am
truly thankful to have found a place in this industry that I love
where, on a daily basis, I can use my technical knowledge and
creative spirit to help and inspire others.
http://www.GPNMAG.COM
November 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2021
