When you buy or plant a mix of varieties (rather than a single uniform variety) you gain a number of ecosystem, agronomic and even aesthetic benefits:
Increased genetic diversity → greater resilience
With many varieties planted together you’re hedging bets: if one variety struggles (due to disease, pest pressure, weather stress, soil issue) another may perform better.
For example, cover crop mixes are curated to add diversity, increase moisture retention, and improve soil structure.
A diverse mix is more likely to adapt over time (especially under shifting climate, pests, or soils) because there are more phenotypes/traits present.
Better soil health and ecosystem benefits
Cover-crop mixes with multiple species (and sometimes multiple varieties) help with different functions: deep roots to break compaction, broad leaves to shade weeds, nitrogen-fixers, biomass producers, etc. For example:
In wildflower mixes, a variety of flower types supports pollinators and beneficial insects (diversity of nectar/pollen sources, bloom times).
Different root-systems and phenologies help make the system more resilient: e.g., some varieties establish early, some late; some are shallow, some deep.
Mitigated risk of crop failure and extended harvest/flower periods
With variety mixes you may get a “staggering” of maturity times — meaning harvest or bloom over a longer window, which is beneficial.
If one variety is susceptible to a pest or weather event, the others may carry on.
For wildflowers/cover crops, diversity of species/varieties means better chance one will do well even if conditions vary.
Enhanced aesthetic and ecological richness
Variety mixes often provide a more interesting visual palette (e.g., different colors, shapes) which is nice in ornamental, wildflower or even edible landscapes.
They support biodiversity: more interactions with insects, soil microbes, and higher ecological function.
Seed saving and adaptation potential
When you grow a mix and especially if you save seed (assuming open-pollinated), you can further select for varieties adapted to your specific locale (soil, microclimate, pests) over time.
This means the mix becomes locally adapted and even more resilient.
Practical and cost-effective for many uses
Instead of buying many separate single-variety seeds, you get multiple in one packet/mix, which can be easier especially for wildflower or cover-crop applications.
Good for broadcast planting, large area cover, or low-maintenance landscapes.
Specific advantages (and some caveats) of the “Ultracross” style mixes like Ultracross Collards & Ultracross Okra
The “Ultracross” mixes are more than just variety mixes: they are composite crosses (inter-variety crosses) built to generate high genetic diversity and then allow users/growers to either harvest seed from the most adapted individuals or simply enjoy a diverse population. Here are the advantages and some things to watch:
a) What “Ultracross” means & how it works
These are intentionally grown in a randomized block design (for collards) or large block with many varieties (okra) to allow free crossing/out-crossing and then the seeds are saved as a “population” rather than a stabilized single variety. For instance:
The aim: high diversity, adaptability, ability for growers to further select from the population for traits they like (or just harvest the diverse mix).
b) Advantages for growers of Ultracross style mixes
Greater adaptability: A high-diversity mix means some individual plants will do better under less-than-ideal conditions (cold, heat, drought, pest). For example, the collard mix is described as “cold-tolerant” because survivors of an 8°F winter were used.
Seed-saving potential / local adaptation: Since the seed mix is genetically diverse, you can grow it, observe which plants thrive in your site (soil, climate, pests) and then save seed from those plants to progressively adapt the population.
Support broad phenotypic variation / explore new traits: Because there are many parent varieties, you might get unexpected combinations of traits—varied pod lengths/colors in okra, leaf shapes/colors in collards, etc. This can be fun for gardeners and breeders. For example: You will see red, green, and mixed okra pods. They’ll be short, long, and fat. They’ll be round, ridged and slab shaped.”
Resilience to climate/pest shifts: This is especially beneficial when environmental conditions are changing. For example, a news/feature article:
Versatility of use: Since it's a population rather than one fixed variety, you can use it as a “base population” for selection, or just grow it for harvest without needing to buy separate varieties each year.
c) Considerations / caveats when using Ultracross mixes
Not as uniform/predictable as a stabilized variety: Because the mix is genetically diverse and still “open”, you may see a wide range of plant types and harvest characteristics. If you want consistent size, color, growth habit, you might find the variability a downside.
Seed saving must be done thoughtfully if you want to stabilize traits: If you plan to save seed and narrow down to a more uniform variety, you’ll need selection and isolation (especially in out-crossing species). The ultracross mix is intentionally open‐pollinated.
Phenotypes may include some “undesirable” traits: Because of the high diversity, you might get some plants that are less productive, less tasty, or have traits you don’t want. That’s part of the selection process.
Mixed maturity / inconsistent harvest window: Because of variable genetics, harvest timing may be more spread out (which can be a benefit) but also means you may get a longer tail of production or some early/late outliers.
Not always optimized for a single trait: If you want one key trait (e.g., ultra-spineless okra, super‐uniform collard leaves), a standard single variety selected for that might outperform an ultracross in that one trait. The ultracross wins in breadth, adaptability, and genetic richness.
