January 2022 - 86

FRESH PERSPECTIVES
From Trial Field to Retail Bench -
and Everything in Between
Combining a passion for growing with a desire for
continued education leads to a continuous challenge.
By Jessica Tatro
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.
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.
86 | LAWN & GARDEN RETAILER | JANUARY 2022
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

January 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2022

January 2022 - 1
January 2022 - 2
January 2022 - 3
January 2022 - 4
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https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/january-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/gift-garden-winter-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/november-december-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/september-october
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/may-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/november-december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/september-october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/may-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/thrive-guide-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/lgr-november-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/september-october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/lgr-july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/may-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/thriveguide-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/november-december-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/september-october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/january-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/thriveguide-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/november-december-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/september-october-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/august-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/july-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/june-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/may-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/april-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/march-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/february-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/january-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/november-december-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/september-october-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/august-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/july-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/june-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/may-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/april-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/march-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/february-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/january-2019
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