Aug 13, 2004

Sakata Makes Pansy PushSource: Sakata Seed America

Sakata Seed America has recently decided to team up with Franks Nursery for the addition of a new element to the Franks’ Jack Frost Program.

Beginning in fall 2004, the Jack Frost program will offer consumers Sakata pansy and viola genetics with an over-wintering guarantee program. Consumers will be provided a guarantee that, when using the new pansy and viola assortment offered for fall planting, the Jack Frost selection will come back in the spring for early bloom in the garden. Lisa Oliver of Franks Nursery said, “We’re excited to team with Sakata Seed America in providing superior service to our customers with superior genetics in the product we sell.”

The guarantee is just one way Franks presents quality to the consumer and Sakata pronounces quality in its genetics. The guarantee program will allow consumers to purchase pansies and violas in the fall and enjoy the season of color as the temperatures cool. In the spring they can see that their garden will surface from the winter weather with a renewing color from these dual-season pansies.

In other Sakata news, the company has issued a schedule for Fall Performance Trials for the Southeast and Northwest. For the past several years, Sakata has teamed with regional growers to present pansy trials open to growers, hoping to aid them in understanding new genetics available to assist in improving pansy programs for a more profitable outcome.

This year, Sakata has announced four separate trial locations that have expanded to include additional varieties. Trials will be held in the Northwest hosted by Yoshitomi Brothers, West Linn, Ore., October 13-14 and by Henry’s Plant Farm in Snohomish, Wash., October 6-7. In the Southeast, trials will be hosted by Metrolina Greenhouses, Huntersville, N.C., October 24-25 and by Rambo Nursery in Dallas, Ga., November 10-11.

In addition to a broad look at pansies, the fall 2004 trials will also present such varieties as Explorer petunias, Surfin’ pelargoniums, osteospurmum (Crescendo and Side Series), Festival gerbera, Profusion zinnia and many more. Those interested in attending the trails can contact Sakata at (260) 672-3820.