Campanula 'Champion Lavender Improved'

Trial: Annual

Year Trialed: 2009


campanula_champion_lavender_improved

Good Qualities

Nice soft color (5); In the past we had only grown the blue and pink, the white and lavender were surprisingly popular and were outstanding; Strong stems and large blossoms, customers couldn't get enough, great vase life with all blooms opening; Long vase live, pleasing flower shape; Flowers were nice; Outstanding productivity early in high tunnel, attractive flower; Loved by all.

Problems

Thrips magnet; Heat stress; Germination wasn't good and didn't have many plants to work with, liked what I got, but just wasn't enough to make a good recommendation; Set back severely by spring weather conditions in field; As apical flowers fade, they shrivel and brown without dropping, thus reducing quality of appearance, even though the subsequent flowers look beautiful.

Similar Cultivars

Other campanulas; All colors of series are alike.

Comments

Harvested in July week 1 to 3 (planted in field 4/25, Zone 5); We will be adding the white and lavender to our regular plantings from now on, they are worth having in the mix, initial stems were large at 36 inches, 3 others averaged about 15 inches; New color for us, nice; A "must grow"; I should have used support netting; Cornell trial yield: 2 stems in field, 10 stems in tunnel and length: 13 inches in field, 22 inches in tunnel.

Postharvest

I just used water (2); Cut early in the day, kept cool and also used Floralife, strip bottom foliage before putting into buckets, seems to help with absorption; Cut early in bloom cycle.

See separate postharvest report for results from NC State University postharvest evaluations.


Trial Data

Campanula 'Champion Lavender Improved'
Yield (stems/plant) Stem Length (inches) Market Appreciation Rating¹ Repeat Again Rating¹ Ease of Cultivation Rating¹ Average Spacing (in2) Average Postharvest Life (days)
Wholesale Retail Consumer
Average 3.8 17.8 3.5 4.5 4.2 4.4 3.7 81 10.4
Range of Responses 1-6 12-22 3-4 3-5 3-5 3-5 3-5 36-144 5-14


¹1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.


Supplier

Sakata Seed America 18095 Serene Drive Morgan Hill, CA 95037