Articles
2011 SPRING-SUMMER ORNAMENTALS TRIAL IN CENTRAL MS
Article number
977_4
Pages
53 – 59
Language
English
Abstract
An ornamental trial was conducted to evaluate the performance of a wide variety of bedding and garden plants in central Mississippi.
All entries were grown from seeds or vegetatively propagated materials.
Raised landscape beds were prepared using accepted regional methods.
In 2011, there were over 200 cultivars in the trial and transplanting into raised beds began in early April and was completed in late April.
Each cultivar was given an overall rating based on insect and disease resistance, vigor, flowering, and foliage color once every two weeks from mid-May to late July.
The rating range was 0 to 5, where 5 is optimum and 0 is death.
Weeds were controlled by hand.
Insecticides/fungicides were generally not applied to plants.
Water was supplied through drip irrigation as needed.
In 2011 temperatures in Mississippi were higher than normal.
It was very dry and hot in late spring and most of the summer.
Weather conditions proved to be conducive to exceptional performance for many entries in this trial.
The top performing cultivars for 2011 include Hibiscus acetosella Mahogany Splendor from PanAmerican Seed; Ipomoea batatas Sweet Caroline series and Illusion series from Proven Winners, and Ipomoea batatas Sidekick Lime from Syngenta Flowers; Cleome hybrid Senorita Rosalita from Proven Winners; Cyperus papyrus Graceful Grasses King Tut from Proven Winners; Lantana camara Bandana Trailing Gold from Syngenta Flowers, and Lantana camara Luscious Citrus Blend and Luscious Lemonade from Proven Winners; Pennisetum purpureum Graceful Grasses Vertigo from Proven Winners; Impatiens × hybrida SunPatiens Compact Blush Pink, Compact Coral, Compact White, Spreading Corona, Vigorous Orange, and Vigorous White from Sakata.
All entries were grown from seeds or vegetatively propagated materials.
Raised landscape beds were prepared using accepted regional methods.
In 2011, there were over 200 cultivars in the trial and transplanting into raised beds began in early April and was completed in late April.
Each cultivar was given an overall rating based on insect and disease resistance, vigor, flowering, and foliage color once every two weeks from mid-May to late July.
The rating range was 0 to 5, where 5 is optimum and 0 is death.
Weeds were controlled by hand.
Insecticides/fungicides were generally not applied to plants.
Water was supplied through drip irrigation as needed.
In 2011 temperatures in Mississippi were higher than normal.
It was very dry and hot in late spring and most of the summer.
Weather conditions proved to be conducive to exceptional performance for many entries in this trial.
The top performing cultivars for 2011 include Hibiscus acetosella Mahogany Splendor from PanAmerican Seed; Ipomoea batatas Sweet Caroline series and Illusion series from Proven Winners, and Ipomoea batatas Sidekick Lime from Syngenta Flowers; Cleome hybrid Senorita Rosalita from Proven Winners; Cyperus papyrus Graceful Grasses King Tut from Proven Winners; Lantana camara Bandana Trailing Gold from Syngenta Flowers, and Lantana camara Luscious Citrus Blend and Luscious Lemonade from Proven Winners; Pennisetum purpureum Graceful Grasses Vertigo from Proven Winners; Impatiens × hybrida SunPatiens Compact Blush Pink, Compact Coral, Compact White, Spreading Corona, Vigorous Orange, and Vigorous White from Sakata.
Authors
G. Bi, M. Gu
Keywords
bedding plants, evaluation trial, plant performance
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