Trial: Annual
Years Trialed: 2000
Good Qualities
Color (and color range) (3); Large flowers (3); I thought that they were a little more tolerant of our growing conditions than many other asters (Zone 7a); Strong stems, compact petals, great aster!; Excellent flower type - didn’t rot or get "yellows" even with very wet season; Natural day length (Zone 9), 16; in height; stiff stem, primary flower allowed to bloom, white is taller than red, red is a good rose pink color, yellow center, good form.
Problems
Aster yellows (3); Flowers too large (2); Typical disease susceptibility; Of all the asters grown this year, this variety suffered Aster Yellows the worst; Disease and insect caused malformation in flowers and quick decline in plant health.
Comments
Similar to ‘Matador’. May be best suited to farmer’s market, bunches rather than commercial sales; Few plants yielded up to 18 stems per plant. Almost a perfect aster, best large aster we have ever grown on our farm - made us money.
Trial Data
| Yield (stems/plant) | Stem Length (inches) | Market Appreciation Rating¹ | Repeat Again Rating¹ | Ease of Cultivation Rating¹ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wholesale | Retail | Consumer | |||||
| Average | 4.1 | 17.1 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.6 |
¹1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Supplier
Benary Seed 1444 Larson St. Sycamore, IL 60178
