February 2026
Hello, travel season! By Teresa McPherson

Travel season is officially under way for the horticulture industry, and the countdown is on for California Spring Trials (CAST).

Travel season is officially under way for the horticulture industry. Our editorial staff has just returned from the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS), Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, Atlanta Market and The Tropical Plant International Expo (TPIE). If you missed any of these events, don’t worry — we’ll be sharing our highlights in an upcoming issue.

Now that we have a chance to catch our breath, the countdown is on for the next big industry event — California Spring Trials (CAST). We’re looking forward to seeing all the new and improved genetics that plant breeders will be highlighting for the 2027 season (not to mention soaking up a little California sunshine!). Once on the road, we’ll be providing updates from each stop on our social media channels. And be sure to sign up for our newsletters to receive our daily reports from the California coast — subscribe now at lgrmag.com/signup.

Have you registered for CAST yet? Diane Blazek, executive director of the National Garden Bureau, and her team have made it easy to register by putting together suggested itineraries, at caspringtrials.us. Flip to page 26 for a preview of each of the 2026 stops — and Diane’s four reasons why retailers should attend the annual event.

Also in This Issue

As the spring season approaches, it’s a time to think about not only hiring, but retaining staff as well. Most managers don’t leave because of money, writes columnist Stan Pohmer. They leave because of how it “feels” to work at a business — and that “feel” is almost always shaped by leadership. Click to read more.

Another hot springtime topic is plant material. I reached out to some leading edibles breeders to find out which new intros they think will be top sellers for home gardeners. See which varieties they chose here.

We’ve also got the details on the National Garden Bureau’s 2026 Year of the Edible, the hot pepper. This one’s a favorite of mine to grow, so I’m excited that NGB chose it to highlight for this year.

What vegetable are you excited to sell — or grow — this year? Send me a note to tmcpherson@greatamericanpublish.com and let me know!