MARK WESSEL

What's new for fruit and vegetable gardeners?

- SCOTT BEUERLEIN

Mark Wessel, pausing here at Monet's garden in Giverny, keeps close tabs on developments in the world of fruit and vegetable breeding. An avid home grower, his passion and knowledge has translated to a career seeking excellent varieties for brands like Gurney's.

AFTER A CHILDHOOD spent helping on the small family farm in southern Ohio and playing in the nearby woods, where he enjoyed eating wild berries and pawpaws, Mark Wessel studied horticulture in college and then worked as a fine gardener on private estates. His involvement in North American Fruit Explorers, a fruit- and nut-growing enthusiasts' group, led to a job with the Gardens Alive! group of brands, which includes Gurney's, Spring Hill Nurseries, Breck's and other mail-order suppliers, as well as research facilities. Among his various duties as the company's Director of Horticultural Research, Mark meets with fruit and vegetable breeders to learn what new varieties are best to offer to home gardeners.

SCOTT BEUERLEIN: I know there was a big increase in home growing of fruits and vegetables during covid. Has that continued?

MARK WESSEL: The big upward trend when we were in the middle of covid has tapered off, however it is still very strong. I have a small plot at a local community garden. I think the trend at this community garden probably reflects the overall picture.

When covid hit, things got crazy.

The waiting list for a new plot exploded. (The garden fortunately had room to expand, and every year a new section is developed.) Many people started strong but realized that growing fruits and vegetables takes work and isn't as glamorous as they imagined, especially when the heat of summer hit. People start dropping out by early to mid-summer.

Every year, though, a certain percentage of the new gardeners keep at it and return the following year.