Tips for Greenhouse Growers & Garden Centers

Santo Cilantro - The Market Standard! Cilantro (a.k.a. Coriander) is a double-duty herb and spice. The seeds, harvested from the matured flowers, are dried and sold whole or ground as the spice coriander, while the leaves are harvested and used both fresh and dried as the herb cilantro. A member of the carrot family, Cilantro has an unmistakable and Tips & Trends for Greenhouse Growers and Garden Center Retailers unforgettable scent. It is strong and sharp and it is either loved or hated. Recent research even suggests that we may have a genetic predisposition to react so strongly to the complex flavor profile. Vegetables 101 A Santo Shift Due to expanding consumer interest in cooking and vegetable gardening, now is the time to add or expand a vegetable line. America’s love affair with cilantro really began to blossom when Many growers have found that adding top-selling vegetable classes like tomatoes and peppers to their ornamentals assortment boosts salsa overtook ketchup as one of the most popular condiments sales and adds product diversity. Due to expanding consumer interest in cooking and vegetable gardening, now is the perfect time to (mayonnaise often beats them both…). It was the first wide-reaching add a vegetable line. But where do you begin? Tomatoes, peppers, herbs, cucumbers, squash, pumpkin, and cool season varieties are use of the herb here and spurred the increase of cilantro use in all Among other trendy greens, cilantro stands above and Santo is considered a good start. Consider the recommendations below: today’s market standard. types of ethnic cooking. More and more growers are packaging fresh cilantro, along with other trendy greens like arugula and mint, to fulfill the demand MATCH YOUR TOMATO CHOICES to the consumers you are targeting. There created by chef-inspired recipes. The most basic packaging is bunched, where the cut product is simply tied and stacked for sale next are almost as many tomato varieties as there are gardeners! If you sell plants into a to bunch parsley. However, Cilantro is a great baby leaf item as well. Producers of salad blends in cello packs are starting to add baby rural or suburban area where people have more space, then 6-packs of traditional leaf cilantro for a bold flavor component. It is also now a staple choice available to home gardeners in starter plants (usually 4” pots) indeterminate (tall, continuously setting) tomato plants are a must. If your customers and in seed packets (an ideal choice for successive sowings). are more likely to have only decks or balconies to work with you want to be sure to include shorter, earlier determinate plant types. In a fairly traditional market you’ll need Growing Demand beefsteak and red cherry fruit types. A more experimental consumer will be interested According to most recent USDA statistics, the harvested acreage of commercially grown cilantro in California alone has increased from in more diverse fruit colors and shapes. Try adding Sweet Treats pink cherry tomato – 3,519 acres (28,347 short tons worth $16.8 million) in 1996 to 6,483 acres (44,193 short tons worth $25.3 million) in 2011. ‘Santo’ the winner of taste-tests across America. is considered today’s market standard variety. Commercial growers and hobby gardeners alike find it the top choice for fast-growing, yet remarkably slow-bolting plants that produce highly aromatic leaves with strong flavor. A uniform, sturdy selection with broad leaves PEPPERS ARE A MUST and every good vegetable line needs a great green-to-red bell and an upright habit, it is sturdier than standard strains. Multiple cuts can be made under long days, providing maximum yields. pepper like Red Bull. Large fruit and early maturity are big selling points for gardeners. Jalapeños are pretty standard in most parts of the country (salsa sales surpassed ketchup Santo grows best in warm weather and full sun to develop the highest level of aromatic oils. It will, though, perform well in cooler a few years back). Look for an early variety that sets well; fruit should be large and have temperatures too and can be successively sown every few weeks from last frost in spring into late fall. As cilantro plants are sensitive Many growers have found that adding top-selling a thick wall. Jalafuego fits the bill and is the hottest on the market! Snacking peppers vegetable classes like tomatoes and peppers to to transplanting, the simplest way to grow is to direct seed. Baby leaves can be harvested in as little as 55 days and fully grown plants or mini sweet bells are a popular trend right now. Poblanos are mildly hot peppers that their ornamentals assortment boosts sales and adds can be cut when 12-16” tall, or in about 90 days. product diversity. Try compact, but super productive, are easy to grow and used fresh in chili, filled with cheese and baked or preserved for Red Robin tomato. Just the Facts: winter use. • Botanical name: Coriandrum sativum MANY HOME GARDENERS LOOK FOR HERBS. Herbs found in stores are never • Fast-growing, slow-bolting strain as fresh and flavorful as those grown at home and eaten right after harvest. Basil, dill, • Suitable for multiple harvests cilantro and parsley are some of the most popular. Healthier looking plants given • Broad, dark green, flat, toothed leaves a little extra time to mature will sell the best. Herbs are a popular container item - • Harvestable for baby leaf at 55-60 days and bunch at 90-95 days many consumers will pay a few dollars more for a larger pot that they won’t need • Use leaves as cilantro and seeds as coriander to transplant. • Organic and non-organic seed offered A more experimental consumer will be interested INSTANT GRATIFICATION! Crops like pumpkin, squash, cucumber and melon in more diverse fruit colors and shapes. Try adding are easy to grow from seed but many gardeners prefer the instant gratification they get Sweet Treats pink cherry tomato–the winner of taste- Did you know? from a plant. Many plants in this category need other plants for pollen so sell them in tests across America. Sakata’s leafy greens are adaptable to most growing conditions and are 4 or 6-inch pots. Urban gardeners will want bush- type smaller plants while consumers easy and fast-growing for quick turnaround? Many selections are brightly with more space will be more concerned about fruit size and set. These types of colored and multi-textured. Varieties have been selected for heat & plants grow very quickly so they won’t require as much lead time as the peppers and bolting tolerance, vigor, and yield, and are eye-catching alone or when tomatoes. They can get tall and leggy fast so plan a few extra sowing dates or try a few combined with flowering plants. sample plants to test timing.

FOR A WELL-ROUNDED PRODUCT LINE you’ll want to include some cool-season crops. Cole crops like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage are popular transplant items. These crops are slow to mature in the cool fall or spring months so your customers will appreciate the head start healthy plants will give them. To further enhance your cool www.sakatavegetables.com season line, spinach, kale, lettuce and arugula are easy additions. Look for “bolt-tolerant” Follow Us! or “bolt-resistant” varieties to ensure your customers have the most successful harvest. Basil, dill, cilantro and parsley are some of the most popular herbs. Santo cilantro is a top seller.

© 2014 Sakata Seed America, Inc. Vegetables for Small is early and productive. As one of the Notes for Retailers Vegetables in the possibilities see page 29 of the Sakata hottest jalapeños on the market, a few Small space gardeners may not be Home Grown Catalog. Space Gardening fruit go a long way. For folks looking for Landscape: Plants in used to buying vegetables so be sure to FLOWER BEDS can be another great A small garden space should not be a a milder heat, offer Cheyenne cayenne place some “grab and go” containers in for fresh cooking or drying. your customer’s yard place to fit in edibles. Many cooks like limiting factor! Sakata Home Grown high traffic areas. In addition to these can be pretty and taste to have herbs close at hand and plant a wants to see veggie plants in every For gardeners with a little more containers, there should be some lower few plants right outside the kitchen door. possible space, so we put together space be sure to offer some compact priced options, for example 4-inch pots good, too! Basil, dill, and cilantro are all best eaten a list of themes and varieties to help. pumpkins and squash. Kids will love that people can easily transplant on fresh- why not encourage customers to their own. There are many ways to grow edibles Vegetable gardening has become a Rockafellow. Rockafellow pumpkin sets when space or resources are limited. plant them a few steps from the kitchen? popular trend in recent years as consumers 2-3 lb pumpkins on a semi-determinate Also, offer good care instructions— Encourage consumers to look at their Kale, Swiss chard, and turnip greens all cut back on travel and dining out. Many vine in about 95 days. Tivoli is another vegetables can require more care in small landscape with new eyes; every little have very large ornamental leaves that people have turned to vegetable gardening great choice. This medium-large AAS spaces than they would in a traditional open spot might be an opportunity for look nice planted under tall flowering as a leisure activity and a source for fresh, winning spaghetti squash has a bush garden setting. Place small watering cans an edible plant. Here are some ideas: bushes or used as a backdrop for smaller habit (like a zucchini and water-soluble fertilizer blends bedding flowers. The large leaves can be plant) and matures nearby; these customers don’t need 25 WINDOW BOXES are a very traditional harvested, chopped and sautéed in 5-10 in 98 days. way to grow herbs and small vegetables Jalafuego jalapeño is ideal for limited space. Plants pounds of compost or large irrigation are study and productive and the fruit are very hot - a systems. Gloves, small pruners and small close to home. Vegetable plants that do few peppers go a long way. Don’t forget to best in window boxes are very compact recommend leafy baskets or colanders (for harvesting) are a nice touch. and don’t mind being close together. gardeners don’t realize that okra is in the greens. Even the Our Red Robin dwarf tomato is a perfect smallest gardens same family as ornamental hibiscus. Recipes are a nice selling tool for both example. Red Robin sets loads of tasty The leaves are large, deep glossy green can include a “cut experienced and new cooks. There are little cherry tomatoes on a cute little 6-12 and come again” and have an interesting shape. Okra many great cookbooks available that inch tall plant. Large Leaf Italian basil flowers are usually a creamy yellow with leafy green garden highlight vegetables by season or region makes a nice companion plant for Red space or container. a maroon interior. Jambalaya okra has a that can be an inspiration. Either sell the Robin. At harvest time, home gardeners nice compact plant that is very productive Some of our favorite books or just set out a few store copies can skewer mini fresh mozzarella, a varieties to add and can fit nicely in an existing planting. for people to peruse. red robin tomato, and a basil leaf on a Enjoy the flowers and then pick the pods color and texture toothpick. Drizzled with olive oil and Seasonality is very important to those often to maximize bloom. Use raised planters at retail to show customers the broad assortment of leafy to lettuce mixes salted to taste… they are irresistible! green varieties and their variation in height and texture. include Bull’s Blood looking for local produce options. These HEIGHT! Corn is another interesting beet, Fordhook Giant Swiss chard, Santo customers strive to harvest at the optimal LARGER CONTAINERS work well on plant that you don’t often see in small local produce to prepare at home. In cilantro, Vulcan lettuce and Topper time of the year for the plant. This means patios, driveways, side yards and sturdy garden spaces. However, the tall stalks addition, many parents are looking for turnip. you want to have plants in your store balconies. Half wine barrels are a great resemble some of the ornamental grasses ways to encourage their kids to spend during the appropriate planting period for size. If they aren’t available - offer your and bamboo that are so popular—with time outdoors and find that a vegetable Notes for Growers LEAFY CROPS are very ornamental and do well timely harvest in your area. For example, customers containers that are at least in smaller containers and raised beds, especially the added bonus of fresh sweet corn. The garden is a great family project (and a Tomatoes, peppers and squash are leafy greens are a popular fall crop on the 12-18 inches tall and 18-24 inches across when harvested at the baby stage- as early as 21 stalks can make a nice screen or backdrop healthy activity for Mom & Dad as well). best sold in 4-inch or larger pots. Some days from germination. Lettuce is a nice start, but West Coast, so small plants should be with holes in the bottom for drainage. for additional shapes and textures add mustard, for shorter plants and make a lovely shoppers might appreciate a larger sold late July through September. Peppers and compact tomatoes will grow spinach, dill, arugula, beet greens and Swiss chard. sound in the wind. They can be planted However, many people have limited container that they won’t have to Keep a little pair of kitchen shears handy and some well in containers this size - Jalafuego dressing handy and customers will have fresh salad close and at irregular intervals, the only space and finances, so it is vital for transplant. For tomatoes and peppers, jalapeño pepper is ideal for limited space. ready to go. side effect being smaller ears. Our K2 those of us in the horticulture industry use 2-3 gallon-sized pots with good Plants are study and productive and the corn produces super sweet white ears to make options available for everyone. drainage. Half-wine barrels are great for minutes for a healthy side dish. Kale is at fruit are very hot, a few peppers go a long in about 78 days and prefers warm soil. A small garden space should not be a two to three plants. the top of our “Power List” of vegetables way. Sweet Hearts grape tomato sets loads If your customers don’t eat it right off limiting factor once folks think outside Both tomatoes and on page 25 of our catalog. of sweet red grape—shaped tomatoes on the ear, recommend they cut the kernels the rows of a traditional vegetable peppers can be 24-36-inch plants. Gardeners can keep GROW UP! Trellises come in a wide from the cob and freeze for making soups garden. under-planted with tomatoes off the ground by providing a variety of shapes and sizes and allow plants and chowders. Fresh homemade soup is edible flowers (such Top Picks for Small Space small trellis for the plant to climb. to grow vertically so they require a very a fall or winter treat that will drive them as nasturtiums), Gardening small foot print. Slice More cucumber, back out into the garden (and the garden berries (like LEAFY CROPS are very ornamental and Start with tomatoes! Not just any for example, is very happy and productive center) every spring! strawberries) or do well in smaller containers, especially variety will do for a small space. Many when grown vertically. Fruit can be herbs (like oregano). when harvested at the baby stage- as early of the classic tomato varieties are huge, harvested small for pickles or larger for Edible plants add drama, versatility and Greens can be as 21 days from germination. Bowl-shaped sprawling plants that produce limited slicing. Nasturtiums, pansies, and dill all purpose to any landscape. Consumers planted more closely and shallow bulb pots look pretty when fruit. Offer early determinate types. Sweet have edible flowers that complement the should be reminded that vegetable and and look lovely in planted with an assortment of greens. Zen and Sweet Canary grapes, or leaf shape of cucumber plants. With six herb seeds and plants are readily available 8-inch bulb pans or Lettuce is a nice start, but for additional Red Robin cherry, are early, compact to eight hours of sunlight, indeterminate and very affordable as compared to other rectangular window- shapes and textures add mustard, spinach, and set fruit over several weeks. Offer tomatoes also perform well on a trellis. landscape choices. With a little ingenuity box planters. Be dill, arugula, beet greens and Swiss chard Bella Rosa for full-sized fruit in just 70 Cherry tomatoes such as Sweet Million and upkeep, any space can be beautiful sure to vary height, and harvest at the baby leaf stage. Keep days. All do well in large containers. are early and productive. and edible- spread the word! texture and maturity a little pair of kitchen shears and some Remember... seasonality is very important to those looking for local produce - Also, peppers pack a lot of fruit on one to extend the life of they strive to harvest at the optimal time of the year for the plant. This means dressing handy and you’ll have fresh salad DRAMA! Edibles can have very dramatic small plant. Jalafuego jalapeño pepper the container. retailers need to have plants in their store during the appropriate planting ready to go. For a full list of leafy green leaf and flower forms. Many home period for timely harvest in their regions. Santo Cilantro - The Market Standard! Cilantro (a.k.a. Coriander) is a double-duty herb and spice. The seeds, harvested from the matured flowers, are dried and sold whole or ground as the spice coriander, while the leaves are harvested and used both fresh and dried as the herb cilantro. A member of the carrot family, Cilantro has an unmistakable and Tips & Trends for Greenhouse Growers and Garden Center Retailers unforgettable scent. It is strong and sharp and it is either loved or hated. Recent research even suggests that we may have a genetic predisposition to react so strongly to the complex flavor profile. Vegetables 101 A Santo Shift Due to expanding consumer interest in cooking and vegetable gardening, now is the time to add or expand a vegetable line. America’s love affair with cilantro really began to blossom when Many growers have found that adding top-selling vegetable classes like tomatoes and peppers to their ornamentals assortment boosts salsa overtook ketchup as one of the most popular condiments sales and adds product diversity. Due to expanding consumer interest in cooking and vegetable gardening, now is the perfect time to (mayonnaise often beats them both…). It was the first wide-reaching add a vegetable line. But where do you begin? Tomatoes, peppers, herbs, cucumbers, squash, pumpkin, and cool season varieties are use of the herb here and spurred the increase of cilantro use in all Among other trendy greens, cilantro stands above and Santo is considered a good start. Consider the recommendations below: today’s market standard. types of ethnic cooking. More and more growers are packaging fresh cilantro, along with other trendy greens like arugula and mint, to fulfill the demand MATCH YOUR TOMATO CHOICES to the consumers you are targeting. There created by chef-inspired recipes. The most basic packaging is bunched, where the cut product is simply tied and stacked for sale next are almost as many tomato varieties as there are gardeners! If you sell plants into a to bunch parsley. However, Cilantro is a great baby leaf item as well. Producers of salad blends in cello packs are starting to add baby rural or suburban area where people have more space, then 6-packs of traditional leaf cilantro for a bold flavor component. It is also now a staple choice available to home gardeners in starter plants (usually 4” pots) indeterminate (tall, continuously setting) tomato plants are a must. If your customers and in seed packets (an ideal choice for successive sowings). are more likely to have only decks or balconies to work with you want to be sure to include shorter, earlier determinate plant types. In a fairly traditional market you’ll need Growing Demand beefsteak and red cherry fruit types. A more experimental consumer will be interested According to most recent USDA statistics, the harvested acreage of commercially grown cilantro in California alone has increased from in more diverse fruit colors and shapes. Try adding Sweet Treats pink cherry tomato – 3,519 acres (28,347 short tons worth $16.8 million) in 1996 to 6,483 acres (44,193 short tons worth $25.3 million) in 2011. ‘Santo’ the winner of taste-tests across America. is considered today’s market standard variety. Commercial growers and hobby gardeners alike find it the top choice for fast-growing, yet remarkably slow-bolting plants that produce highly aromatic leaves with strong flavor. A uniform, sturdy selection with broad leaves PEPPERS ARE A MUST and every good vegetable line needs a great green-to-red bell and an upright habit, it is sturdier than standard strains. Multiple cuts can be made under long days, providing maximum yields. pepper like Red Bull. Large fruit and early maturity are big selling points for gardeners. Jalapeños are pretty standard in most parts of the country (salsa sales surpassed ketchup Santo grows best in warm weather and full sun to develop the highest level of aromatic oils. It will, though, perform well in cooler a few years back). Look for an early variety that sets well; fruit should be large and have temperatures too and can be successively sown every few weeks from last frost in spring into late fall. As cilantro plants are sensitive Many growers have found that adding top-selling a thick wall. Jalafuego fits the bill and is the hottest on the market! Snacking peppers vegetable classes like tomatoes and peppers to to transplanting, the simplest way to grow is to direct seed. Baby leaves can be harvested in as little as 55 days and fully grown plants or mini sweet bells are a popular trend right now. Poblanos are mildly hot peppers that their ornamentals assortment boosts sales and adds can be cut when 12-16” tall, or in about 90 days. product diversity. Try compact, but super productive, are easy to grow and used fresh in chili, filled with cheese and baked or preserved for Red Robin tomato. Just the Facts: winter use. • Botanical name: Coriandrum sativum MANY HOME GARDENERS LOOK FOR HERBS. Herbs found in stores are never • Fast-growing, slow-bolting strain as fresh and flavorful as those grown at home and eaten right after harvest. Basil, dill, • Suitable for multiple harvests cilantro and parsley are some of the most popular. Healthier looking plants given • Broad, dark green, flat, toothed leaves a little extra time to mature will sell the best. Herbs are a popular container item - • Harvestable for baby leaf at 55-60 days and bunch at 90-95 days many consumers will pay a few dollars more for a larger pot that they won’t need • Use leaves as cilantro and seeds as coriander to transplant. • Organic and non-organic seed offered A more experimental consumer will be interested INSTANT GRATIFICATION! Crops like pumpkin, squash, cucumber and melon in more diverse fruit colors and shapes. Try adding are easy to grow from seed but many gardeners prefer the instant gratification they get Sweet Treats pink cherry tomato–the winner of taste- Did you know? from a plant. Many plants in this category need other plants for pollen so sell them in tests across America. Sakata’s leafy greens are adaptable to most growing conditions and are 4 or 6-inch pots. Urban gardeners will want bush- type smaller plants while consumers easy and fast-growing for quick turnaround? Many selections are brightly with more space will be more concerned about fruit size and set. These types of colored and multi-textured. Varieties have been selected for heat & plants grow very quickly so they won’t require as much lead time as the peppers and bolting tolerance, vigor, and yield, and are eye-catching alone or when tomatoes. They can get tall and leggy fast so plan a few extra sowing dates or try a few combined with flowering plants. sample plants to test timing.