The PEN

Abiqua Drinking Gourd named hosta of the year

THE AMERICAN HOST GROWERS ASSOCIATION (AGHA) named “Abiqua Drinking Gourd” the 2014 Hosta of the Year. This cultivar’s huge, heavily textured, blue-green leaves cup and twist into a unique display. It boasts white flowers in early summer and good slug resistance. It reaches 18 inches in height and 22 inches when flowering.

Hostas are versatile East Asian natives with lush foliage in diverse colors, heights and textures. They have an ability to excel in deep shade. It’s a good selection for the coldest areas (Zones 3 and 4) and for Gulf states (Zones 8, 9 and 10).

The AHGA’s members have selected a hosta of the year since 1996. Award winners are hostas that are good garden plants in all regions of the country, are widely available and in sufficient supply and retail for about $15 in the year of selection.

For more: hostagrowers.org
 

AAS Summer Summit returns to Niagara Peninsula

AFTER AN EIGHT-YEAR ABSENCE, All-America Selections (AAS) is returning to the Niagara Peninsula for the annual AAS Summer Summit. Next year’s event will be held Aug. 12-14, 2013, with The Waterfront Hotel in Burlington, Ontario, serving as the host hotel.

The event is an opportunity for breeders, brokers/distributors, mail-order seed companies, seed-packet companies, growers and retailers to network and learn about recent AAS Winners and varieties that are being trialed by the AAS Judges.

The tentative schedule is:

Monday, Aug. 12 – Welcome reception at the Burlington Waterfront Hotel, Burlington, Ontario

Tuesday, Aug. 13 – Tours and trial observations at Stokes Seed, JVK and Vineland Research Station in the St. Catherines, Ontario, area. The night will end with dinner and wine tasting at a local winery.

Wednesday, Aug. 14 – Tours and trial observations at William Dam Seeds in Dundas and the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario. Then a late-afternoon tour of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton, followed by the annual AAS Awards banquet, also held at RBG.

Online registration opens on May 1, 2013.

For more: aaswinners.com

Branded plant growers expand Plant Watch inspection program

PROVEN WINNERS COLOR CHOICE, Encore Azaleas, Endless Summer Collection, First Editions, The Knock Out Family of Roses, Drift Roses and Southern Living Plant Collection have expanded the Plant Watch inspection program aimed at protecting their plant patents and branded programs across the country. Growers will undergo an inspection by Plant Watch representatives to see how they are meeting the requirements of these branded programs and respecting the patents.

Carrying plant brands is expensive, and growers that comply with patent and branding requirements are at a disadvantage when infringers undercut prices. To support their network of compliant growers, Spring Meadow Nursery, Bailey Nurseries, Conard-Pyle and Plant Development Services Inc. hired Plant Watch to inspect nurseries, report on their findings and collect fines when warranted.

Plant Watch has a proven track record in the industry, and for more than seven years it has successfully intervened with infringers to curtail their illegal activities.

Growers found to be non-compliant are assessed a significant fine based on the number of unauthorized plants discovered, and the destruction of those plants will be required. Growers are reminded that plant patents and Plant Breeders’ Rights are based on having permission to propagate.

For more: plantwatch.org

Novozymes acquires Natural Industries Inc.

Novozymes has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Houston-based Natural Industries Inc. Natural Industries has annual revenues of $5 million and is a bioagricultural company. 

Natural Industries and Novozymes have agreed not to disclose the financial terms of the agreement. The acquisition does not impact Novozymes’ financial guidance for 2012. 

Biological technologies are natural solutions with multiple modes of actions. They are used to improve plant health and growth, or combat diseases across various broad acre crops such as corn and soy, and high-value crops like salads, strawberries and nuts. 

Biological solutions complement the use of traditional chemicals and pesticides, which have a world market worth of $150 billion. By contrast, the emerging bioagriculture market is estimated to be worth about $1 billion with an annual growth rate of 10 to 15 percent. 

For more: novozymes.com or naturalindustries.com
 

Associations submit comments regarding the future status of CWR

The ANLA, OFA and SAF submitted a joint recommendation statement in response to the USDA-APHIS request for comments regarding potential changes to the regulatory status of the disease Chrysanthemum White Rust (CWR). They suggest the USDA use its authority to treat CWR as a regulated non-quarantine pest (RNQP), requiring cuttings and cut flower producers participate in a certification-like program to ensure they provide clean stock to their customers.

Furthermore, it would allow domestic finishing growers to treat CWR as a quality pest and no quarantine measures would be taken if it were found on their property or in the landscape.

For more: bit.ly/CWRcomments
 

Greenhouse growers join HGTV HOME Plant Collection team

The HGTV Home Plant Collection announced its new partnership with 17 regional greenhouse growers for the collection’s “Expressions” annual line. The new growers join established HGTV HOME Plant Collection sourcing partner for annuals, Dümmen USA. 

The combination of these respected quality growers, exclusive annual genetics and the HGTV HOME brand name points to a successful retail experience in independent garden centers this spring. The collection’s Spring 2012 soft launch in more than 375 retailers revealed the popularity of the HGTV HOME “Expressions” annual line – an indication that the greenhouse grower network nationwide will continue to expand.

In anticipation of 2013, Agricola Management and the HGTV HOME Plant Collection have expanded the “Expressions” annual collection from four to six collections, coupled with more than 90 individual annuals to increase consumer selections. The complimentary color mixes are available in 1-gallon containers, hanging baskets and decorative containers. Individual components are sold in a single quart size. HGTV HOME Plant Collection says this assortment allows consumers to “color coordinate and go,” creating a polished look at home within minutes. 

The “Expressions” annual collection was developed by Agricola Management Group in conjunction with HGTV, and will be available spring 2013 in select independent garden centers nationwide.

For more: hgtvhomeplants.com