2011 ASCFG Cut Flower Seed Trials
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2011 ASCFG Cut Flower Seed Trials John M. Dole and Judy M. Laushman This was the year of the tighter centers. ‘Bonitas Pink’ red ring (of fire) turning to our evaluation programs. One annual aster. We had 19 large- had the highest scores. ‘Rose a rich yellow color. ‘Procut contingent loved the small flowered cultivars covering Shanghai Rose-White’ from Bicolor Plus’ (SeedSense) was heads and many branches, the range of colors. Once one Gloeckner also did well with very similar to ‘Ring of Fire’, making it a great cultivar of the most important cut its beautiful two-tone flowers. but had shorter petals and a for bouquets. Others listed flower species in the United With so many cultivars and larger disc and the color pattern the small heads and profuse States, it was loved for its colors in the trials there was a was more defined. Finally, the branches as a problem—these long stems, large flowers, variety for just about everyone. pattern on the petals of ‘Procut growers probably need large and broad range of colors, This was also a banner Lemon Bicolor’ (SeedSense) flowers for farmers’ markets. rivaling chrysanthemums and year for bicolor sunflowers— was just like ‘Bicolor Plus’ Another heavy branching carnations. But alas, the aster fell we had five. There was a (SeedSense), but a paler cultivar was ‘Gold Rush’, on hard times and production nice assortment of excellent lemon color. which would probably benefit has dropped quite a bit. Too bad, patterns and colors to choose ‘Giant Sungold’ (Benary), from pinching, as without this is a great flower. from based on your market’s aptly named, had very tall pinching the side shoots were The catch—and there is preference, ranging from (around 6 feet) and thick often too short to be useful. always a catch—is that this relatively little contrast be- stems, and would probably ‘Gold Rush’ had orange petals species can be a bit hard to tween the colors to very benefit from pinching to and a dark center. grow. In the central states aster strong patterns. At the lighter produce multiple stems with Cut ageratums are a sta- yellows disease, spread by end of the spectrum, ‘ProCut smaller heads. It had that ple for summer bouquets. Ag- leafhoppers, causes problems, Amber Glow’ (SeedSense) was unique teddy bear face with eratum ‘Everest’ (Ball/Kieft), and continues to do so judging definitely a project favorite many gold-orange colored with its classic ageratum by the trialers’ comments. with its angelic amber halo petals and a green center. blue flowers, produced about Growers everywhere must around its dark center. The Classic sunflower colors 8 stems per plant, averaging deal with the fact that it is picture doesn’t do it justice; were also included in the 17 inches, with some folks a long-day plant, requiring you have to see if for yourself. trial. ‘ProCut Brilliance’ getting 20- to 22-inch stems. 12- to 14-hour long days. In Growing ‘Musicbox’ (Benary) (SeedSense), with its ruffled Trialers ranked ‘Everest’ high many areas it is best grown in was like tapping shuffle on orange-gold petals around a with four out of five across greenhouses or high tunnels, your iPod—you get a little dark center, was an interesting the board. Please take note of but a number of folks were bit of everything. Petal colors new take on the typical our rhetorical restraint in that able to grow it well in the field. ranged from a pale yellow sunflower. The flower of we did not refer to ‘Everest’ Annual asters reach perfection to a vibrant orange that ‘ProCut Gold’ (SeedSense) as a monumental cultivar. when grown in California, but contrasted well with the dark looked similar to ‘Brilliance’ in Basils have become in- other areas are able to grow center. Furthermore, some the petals, but has a fun green creasingly popular as fragrant them as well. flowers were a solid color center. ‘Valentine’ (Benary) fillers for bouquets and Those able to grow asters while others were bicolor. had highlighter yellow ‘Aromato’ (Genesis) adds an were rewarded with beautiful The inconsistency may bother petals around a dark center. excellent choice to the list. flowers. The Bonitas Series some people, but it’s sure to As you read the comments Here at NCSU it was our most (Sakata/Gloeckner) scored the excite others. ‘Ring of Fire’ about ‘Valentine’, you can productive cultivar with 34 best with similarly rich colors (Benary) had a brown center, understand the need for as stems per plant, averaging as the Matsumotos, but with its petals stamped with a deep many trialers as possible in 14.5 inches long. The overall The Cut Flower Quarterly 16 Volume 24, Number 1 averages were 9 stems and by all accounts, with the tallest to see how the cultivar 21 inches. As you can see, report of only 24 inches and performed at its best and getting longer stems requires the average of only 13 inches. its worst. If the range of sacrificing a few stems. Chris For a great fall crop, responses in the ratings Wien noted that he harvested try pepper ‘Orange Globe’ is narrow and high, i.e., five 23-inch stems per plant (Genesis). Trialers commented 3-5 or 4-5, the plant was in the field, and nine 26-inch on the large clusters of bright a winner for most of the stems in his high tunnels. One orange fruit. One person respondents and is likely negative: the color was an stated that “this is a premium to do well for you. The inconsistent blend of purple cut pepper that commanded ‘Repeat Again Rating’ and green, and some trialers a great price - one of our is particularly important preferred the all-dark foliage. favorites”. Apparently others because it indicates if And of course, the tomato/ agreed as the overall scores the trialer would take the tomahto issue: for some the were quite high. As with many time, money, and space fragrance was too little and ornamental peppers the stems to actually grow the others too much. were on the short side. cultivar again. Review Celosias are quite a This year we are lucky to the trial results carefully. variable group of plants report on two other trials using If a cultivar sounds ranging from large crested the ASCFG material. See the interesting but did not types to those with small results on pages 21 and 24. appear to do well, try plumes, and the search In summary, we had 49 it anyway. The cultivar continues for the perfect cultivars from 6 companies. may work well for you. cultivar. ‘Orange Peach’ and Based on trial results, the ‘Tornado Red’ from Genesis top five performers are Acknowledgments: were both small-crested types, automatically nominated for A hearty thank you to and ‘Sunday Dark Pink’ and the ASCFG Cut Flower of the all of the 18 evaluators ‘Sunday Wine Red’ from Year. The rankings are based who returned their trial Ball/Kieft were plume types. on the combined ratings score: reports and to the seed ‘Orange Peach’ scored the market appreciation + repeat companies for providing highest with its great color again + ease of cultivation. such great cultivars. and multitude of branches. Thus, from the 2011 trials five Congratulations to Don The side shoots tended to sunflowers are nominated for Lareau, Zephyros Farm produce small plumes rather the Cut Flowers of the Year and Garden, for being than crests and this plant and will join other nominations the first trialer to return would probably do well with from ASCFG members: four his evaluations. I would a pinch. The Sundays were Procut cultivars, ‘Bicolor also like to thank Ingram also productive, with all three Plus’, ‘Brilliance’, ‘Gold’ and McCall for taking care cultivars averaging around 7 ‘Red Lemon Bicolor’, and of the North Carolina to 8 stems per plant. ‘Sunday ‘Giant Sungold’. Looking State University portion Wine Red’ had the added beyond the sunflowers, the of the trials and Brigitte benefit of reddish foliage. top-rated cultivar was pepper Crawford and Diane Several trialers comment- ‘Orange Globe’. Mays for assisting ed that all four cultivars were with the NCSU trials. too short and many folks Interpreting the trial results: In preparing the report reporting stem lengths of less The numbers reported are we have edited the than 16 inches. However, the averages of all the respondents participants’ comments celosias performed well for and many factors will affect the for space and clarity; my at least a few folks. ‘Orange success of any plant species. apologies if we’ve altered Peach’ and ‘Sunday Dark Our participants are growing the tone or content of Pink’ had the longest stems, and harvesting the trial plants anyone’s comments. averaging around 19 inches in a wide variety of ways. with at least one trialer After looking at the average, getting stems up to 36 inches. check the range of responses ‘Tornado Red’ was the shortest listed below each number Summary of Comments Ageratum Asters ‘Balloon Silver-Blue’ (Gloeckner) Ageratum ‘Everest Blue’ (Ball/Kieft) Good Qualities: Beautiful large double The number in a parenthesis refers to the Good Qualities: Wonderful uniform color flowers, great color combination. number of respondents who made the (5); Strong stems (3); Bright, strong grower; Problems: Too short to cut; Plants survived a comment. If no number is present, only Good height, bloom size and number of little longer than the rose color, but still died one person made the comment. Comments flowers, blooms for an extended period; of fusarium or rhizoctonia before flowering. by each individual are separated with a Strong, sturdy stems; Lots of flowers, with semicolor (;).