North Dakota State University * Dickinson Research Extension Center
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1995 CULTIVAR TRIALS OF BEDDING PLANTS

B. Laschkewitsch and R. Smith
Department of Plant Sciences,  North Dakota State University, Fargo ND

SUMMARY
Introduction

Performance trials on over 300 annual bedding plants were conducted during the 1995 growing season by the Plant Sciences Department at North Dakota State University. In Fargo, the main trials were located on the plots on the west side of campus while a small evaluation bed was added at the research station in the western part of the state at Dickinson, ND. Both the weather and soil types in Dickinson are considerably different than the Fargo site. The Fargo plots consist of a heavy clay soil while Dickinson has a much lighter soil and typically a drier climate. We plan to expand our trials in Dickinson in 1996.
Culture

Cultivars evaluated at both sites were seeded in Jiffy Mix in the Horticulture and Forestry greenhouses on the NDSU campus in March, April and May. The only exception was geraniums from Oglevee which were received as rooted cuttings. When at the proper stage, seedlings were transplanted into cell packs containing Sunshine Mix #1. Six plants of each cultivar (12 plants of mixes) were transplanted in to the field at the Fargo site June 2 - June 6, 1995. Plants were immediately watered in with Miracle-Gro (15-30-15) liquid fertilizer. Plants were fertilized twice during the growing season. In Dickinson, plants were set out the week of May 15, 1995. Unfortunately, a light frost followed planting in Dickinson and a few salvia and verbena were lost and the geraniums were slowed quite a bit. At both stations, overhead irrigation was applied as needed and weeding was done by hand.

Weather

The weather at the Fargo station was warmer and drier than last summer. Rainfall for June, July and August was 2.36 inches less than last year but only .38 inches above average. Temperatures in June, July, and August averaged 2.0 F higher than normal but were 3.5 F warmer than in 1994. In July, two severe storms hit Fargo two days in a row which resulted in some water damage to the trial beds. The snapdragons were completely lost and the verbena were slowed substantially. In Dickinson the weather was warmer and wetter than normal. Rainfall for June, July and August exceeded the average by 3.7 inches and temperature for the same period was 1.3F above normal.

Evaluations

Plants in Fargo were evaluated twice over the season for height, spread, and qualities such as vigor, bloom quality, and overall appearance. The first evaluation was July 28, 1995 and the second was done on August 31, 1995. The Dickinson trials were evaluated on August 15, 1995 by Dr. Ron Smith.

At the Dickinson trials, the top five were:

1. Petunia 'Purple Wave'
2. Rudbeckia hirta 'Indian Summer'
3. Marigold 'Perfection Gold'
4. Statice 'Friendly Yellow'
5. Vinca 'Pretty in Rose'

The trial garden at NDSU is an official All-America Selections display garden and is open to the public throughout the growing season. Also on display are over 300 perennials that are evaluated over the season for bloom, vigor, winter hardiness and general overall quality.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank official supporters of our trial gardens: American Takii, Inc., Daehnfeldt, Inc., Ernst Benary of America, Inc., and Oglevee Ltd.. We hope the results from our trial gardens are beneficial in their research for new and improved cultivars.

Disclaimer: Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by NDSU or the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station is implied..

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