GrowerTalks

September 2025 Issue

Vol. 89 No. 5

See the Digital Edition

Taking Chances That Paid Off

by Jennifer Zurko

NEWSLETTERS

Read and subscribe to a variety of Newsletters tailored to your industry interests.

COVER STORY

Taking Chances That Paid Off

Jennifer Zurko

Isabela Chamorro, this year’s GrowerTalks/Ball Horticultural Company Young Grower Award winner, has taken chances, navigated adversity and faced uncertainty with a steadfast, positive attitude and a willingness to learn.

FEATURES

A Story of Family, Industry & People

Jennifer Zurko

A young member of the VanWingerden family tree has paved his own path in the green industry, acknowledging where he came from and honoring his roots.

Purpose & Positivity

Jennifer Zurko, Bill Calkins, Jennifer Polanz & Chris Beytes

While it seemed like attendees reduced their overall time at AmericanHort’s Cultivate event this year (Tuesday was once again quiet on the trade show floor), they made the most of it. Engagement was high and there was no lack of business and networking accomplished.

Science on Stage

Laura Barth

AFE-funded thrips and Botrytis research at Cultivate’25.

CULTURE NOTES

Begonia Hula

Steven Engel, Regional Account Manager—PanAmerican Seed

At PanAmerican Seed, we’re proud to bring to market innovative varieties from seed for your growing success.

Begonia iCandy

Syngenta Flowers Technical Services

iCandy hybrid begonias feature large double flowers in vibrant, bright colors set against dark chocolate foliage.

Bracteantha SunBrero

Steve Rinehart—Kienztler

SunBrero, a new series of bracteantha from Kienztler, has large blooms on medium-vigor plants with string branching.

Dahlia Summer Bees

Arnetia Verbeek-Jackson, Regional Product Manager-Specialty Annuals & Pelargonium—Dümmen Orange

New for 2026 is Dahlia Summer Bees, a pollinator’s paradise with its large, single, open flowers!

Dipladenia Sun Parasol FiredUp

Delilah Onofrey—Suntory Flowers

Patio tropicals are hot and Suntory Flowers has a new type of dipladenia that creates new ways to use them in summer combos and landscapes.

Echinacea SunMagic

The ThinkPlants team

Echinacea SunMagic are some of the easiest echinacea on the market to grow and are considered to be among the best in class for flower count per plant.

New Penstemon From Darwin Perennials

Darren Barshaw, Product Representative—Darwin Perennials

With a class like penstemon—which checks so many boxes for consumers in terms of being pollinator friendly, easy to maintain and versatile in color—Darwin Perennials has spent the last several years trialing for ways it can benefit our grower customers.

Osteospermum BESTIES

Mike Fernandez, Market Manager—Danziger North America

Bred and selected for consistent bloom time and uniform growth, Danziger’s new BESTIES series may just be the most flexible and colorful osteos available.

Growers Talk Production

When in Doubt, Draw It Out

Stephanie Saccomano

At one point in my life I wouldn’t have thought of myself as a numbers person, but lately, as I’ve navigated into more production planning and R&D scenarios, I’ve come to appreciate and even enjoy the complexity of the finer details.

PEST MANAGEMENT

Spotted Lanternfly Management Calendar for Ornamental Growers in the Southeastern U.S.

Muhammad Z. “Zee” Ahmed

By combining daily scouting, stringent sanitation, targeted interventions and thorough documentation, ornamental growers could intercept every life stage before it threatens their stock or spreads beyond their nursery.

COLUMNS

Inside Look

Take the Risks, Ask the Questions

Jennifer Zurko

At 32 years old, Isabela Chamorro has taken the risks and asked the questions to get her where she is today.

Acres & Acres

Culture-Fit Questions

Chris Beytes

Interviews are hard. You basically use your gut instinct and years of experience to determine if this warm body sitting in front of you is someone you want in your business 10 or 12 hours a day.

Growers Talk Business

Growing a Business & Engaging a Team

Stan Vander Waal

We’re a family business in succession and leadership transition, and I think about what advice to give the next generation and leaders of our company.

Guest Column

Manufacturing Chrysanthemums

Lowell Halvorson

In autumn, mums are the horticultural equivalent of mac-and-cheese—comfort food for the soul that grounds the porch to the neighborhood with a sense of belonging.

DEPARTMENTS

JZ on D.C.

Congress Passes Fiscal Package With Provisions Important to the Horticulture Industry

Jennifer Zurko

In July, Congress passed a $3.4 trillion fiscal package that delivers a mix of tax cuts, farm support and biofuel incentives.

GT IN BRIEF

AmericanHort Launches Education for Spanish Speakers

In Memoriam: Bill Van Belle

In Memoriam: Simon Groot

It Begins All Over Again

McHutchison, Vaughan’s Rebrand Under One Name: McHutchison

Monrovia Names Oregon Nursery Location as Headquarters

On the Move

COLUMNISTS

Chris Beytes

Jen Zurko

Albert Grimm

Art Parkerson

Paul Pilon

Stan Vander Waal

Susie Raker

Austin Bryant

Tabitha Samuels Slattery

Stephanie Saccomano

VIDEOS

Watch More

Trending Now: Corteva Summer Crop Protection

Trending Now: PDSI's Blast From the Pastel Hydrangea

Trending Now: CREO Greenhouse Forever Forward Pots & Trays

Trending Now: Bailey Nurseries’ Endless Summer Addition for 2026

Trending Now: Adhesive Labels For Onsite Inkjet Printing from MasterTag

GrowerTalks magazine tours Cultivate'25

Darwin Perennials Day 2025

Safely Managing Whitefly (and more) on Poinsettias with Broch Martindale

Dynamic Combos for All Seasons with Syngenta’s Lauren Kilpatrick

NF Wood Products Improving the characteristics of growing media

The newest in sustainable pots and irrigation from Proven Winners

Hollywood Hibiscus, from Proven Winners

New black and creme (brulee) caladiums from Proven Winners

Walters Gardens Perennials from Proven Winners for 2026

New Annuals from Proven Winners for 2026 and Beyond!

CAST 2025: Israeli Propagators

CAST 2025: Benary

CAST 2025: ThinkPlants

CAST 2025: Danizger

CAST 2025: Syngenta

CAST 2025: HilverdaFlorist

CAST 2025: Takii

CAST 2025: Kienztler

CAST 2025: Du¨mmen Orange

CAST 2025: Sakata

CAST 2025: Green Fuse

CAST 2025: Beekenkamp

CAST 2025: Westhoff

CAST 2025: Schoneveld

CAST 2025: Hem Genetics

CAST 2025: PDSI

CAST 2025: PlantHaven

CAST 2025: Pacific Plug & Liner

CAST 2025: Suntory

CAST 2025: PanAmerican Seed

CAST 2025: Ball FloraPlant

CAST 2025: Darwin Perennials

CAST 2025: Selecta One

CAST 2025: Morel

Our Visit to DRAMM's New(ish) Location

Trending Now: PDSI’s Screen Play Ilex

Trending Now: PDSI’s Clean Sweep Snowbank

N.G. Heimos Poinsettia Open House 2024

Caladium bulb harvest at Classic Caladiums

The Robo Cut Autonomous Tissue Culture Propagation Robot

TRENDING NOW

Sioux Corporation
SF-3.8E Steam Generator

Lubing USA
Lubing Automated Gutter System

Ball Landscape
Tools and Resources for Landscape Success

Ball Mums
Mums

Creo
Forever Forward

Suntory Flowers Ltd.
Surfinia Heavenly Petunias

Nominate a Young Grower Today!

Congrats to the 2025 GrowerTalks/Ball Horticultural Company Young Grower Award winner:
Isabela Chamorro from Mahoney’s Garden Center, Woburn, Massachusetts!

Do you know of an excellent, hard-working professional under the age of 35? You should nominate them for the 2026 GrowerTalks/Ball Horticultural Company Young Grower Award! For the last 21 years, we’ve recognized young horticulturists for standing out from the crowd in this tough business, who—for whatever noble reasons—have chosen to have a career in this industry.

After three finalists are chosen, each is asked to write guest editorials for the June issue of GrowerTalks, gets a free trip to Cultivate’26 and, while they’re in Columbus, attend a special dinner with Anna Ball and other industry luminaries. The winner is announced at the Unplugged event during Cultivate’26, will be the subject of our September issue cover story and serve as one of our judges for next year’s award.

An extra special thanks goes to Ball Horticultural Company, BASF and AmericanHort for sponsoring this year’s award!

This Month ...

Taking Chances That Paid Off