Oct 9, 2012

Crazy About Combos

While attending various plant trials this year, including the California Spring Trials and most recently the Colorado State University trials, I’ve noticed that mixed combinations are growing even more in popularity than before. I know you’ve heard all about it over the past few years, but breeders continue to expand their mixed liner offerings and consumers continue to eat combinations up.

Last year, Pacific Plug & Liner dedicated its comparison trials to mixed combinations with close to 100 recipes. With so many options available, one thing is clear: Whether you’re a large or small grower, you will find a program to suit your needs. You can be as basic or sophisticated as you want to be; mixed containers are only limited to the imagination!

One of the greatest benefits of growing mixed combos is that the guesswork is already taken out of it for you. Breeders have already matched varieties and chosen which ones perform best together. And because pre-mixed liners grow faster than standard baskets, they offer growers the ability to have quick late-season turns. An added benefit is that growers can save on royalties since you only need one tag for three separate plants.

So while planning your production for the upcoming season, take a close look at the many mixed combinations available through various breeder programs.

In the meantime, here are some of my favorites I’ve come across while visiting plant trials this year.

Confetti Garden ‘Oktoberfest’ (Dümmen USA)

Trixi ‘Double Date’ (Selecta)

Kwik Kombos ‘Sanguna Moody Blues’ (Syngenta)

Are you growing mixed combinations? If so, which ones are your favorites and have been the most successful? Do you plan on expanding your mixed combination offering? Shoot me an e-mail at jdolce@greatamericanpublish.com. I’d love to hear from you.

– Jasmina