Trial: Annual
Years Trialed: 2002
Good Qualities
Vivid colors (10); Large heads (6); Long vase life (3); Strong stems (2); Incredibly vigorous plant, beautiful lustrous dark green foliage; Gorgeous in arrangements; Excellent stem quality and length - Length was particularly impressive, 'Sweet Williams' are usually very short for me; Flower first year, long bloom period, good secondary flowering; Strong stems - Started cutting way after all other dianthus was done - Nobody else had any; Amazing because this plant grew tall in the heat (zone 6b) - Grows quickly; This was the nicest dianthus that blooms the first season I have ever seen, long meaty stems, (sweet william type); Good in mixed bouquets and blooms first summer from February planting in greenhouse; Began blooming in late summer (Zone 5) and were a lovely addition to the fall colors of orange and golden yellow - Nice light fragrance; Able to tolerate hot weather; Good stem length.Problems
Too short (3); Inconsistent stem length (2); I was shocked by how well this cultivar performed - It was unbelievable - I was even more shocked by the hesitancy of my customers to buy it - I haven't figured that out yet; The colors were so strong that they were difficult to combine with other flowers we grow for mixed bouquets; Only 3 stems were florist quality, the rest were side stems only good for bouquets - It would of been nice to have some edging around each petal in a different color; Branching too near top; I was disappointed they were not received better by the floral market (We've always noticed this with out of season sweet williams) - They sold though and regardless they are wonderful cuts; Other cut flowers and plant growers wanted to know where to get seed - exceptional; Some of the side shoots were too short for regular cut so used them in petite nosegays which customers seem to love - Some flower heads were full of florets, other had only a few - Plant developed black spots in October.Trial Data
| Yield (stems/plant) | Stem Length (inches) | Market Appreciation Rating¹ | Repeat Again Rating¹ | Ease of Cultivation Rating¹ | Average Spacing (in2) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wholesale | Retail | Consumer | ||||||
| Average | 7.0 | 17.4 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 140 |
| Range of Responses | 1-15 | 8-28 | 4-5 | 4-5 | 3-5 | 3-5 | 3-5 | 36-280 |
¹1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Comments
Editor note: See the Postharvest Report in this issue for vase life and handling information. Best annual dianthus grown at our farm; I didn't start cutting until 8/12 (Zone 5)- Isn't this very late for dianthus? - But it made great bunches and bouquets - I would grow again, if it always bloomed so late; I love it - Will grow in succession next year; Similar to other dianthus - A great new addition to the cut flower market, last very well cut - I think retailers will love it once they use it and see how well it last; The harvest window was very long, 3+ months - The second and third plantings gave more and longer stems - The final round had shorter stems; Who names these things?; Am anxious to see if this comes back next year - Even in the bud stage, the flower heads have great textural appeal; Cold weather turns the foliage a stunning burgundy; Will definitely grow again; A winner!.