Page 12 - Griffin Gazette Issue 3 - 2018
P. 12
Sow
the Seeds of Success
Image Caption | Heirloom Marriage Marzinera tomato from PanAmerican Seed
By Wendy Oswald, Procurement Specialist; and Jeanne Svob, Seed
Business Manager
Seasoned and novice gardeners alike are rediscovering the home vegetable
garden, led by healthier eating habits and wanting to know more about
where their food comes from. However, that home garden may not look like
it did 40 years ago.
Today’s vegetable gardens come in varying shapes and sizes, from
backyards to balconies. You might also find a pepper, tomato or cucumber
plant mixed into a landscape bed or combo planter.
Today’s gardeners are just as diverse, ranging from serious to casual. One
thing they all have in common, though, is the desire to be successful – to
experience the literal fruits of their labor. It’s our job as growers and retailers
to make that happen, so they’ll come back and do it again. And maybe next
time, they’ll do it bigger.
TAKE THE HYBRID ROAD
Gardening success begins with variety selection. While heirloom vegetables
come with an air of nostalgia and romance, and flavors that remind us of
grandma’s garden, for many busy gardeners, a modern hybrid is a better
choice. Using hybrids helps growers, too!
To illustrate what we mean, let’s focus on tomatoes and peppers. In recent
years, we’ve become more aware of pathogens that can be carried on
tomato and pepper seeds. In the right conditions, these pathogens can
become active, infecting a crop in the greenhouse, fresh market and/or
home garden.
12 | GRIFFIN GAZETTE 2018