Helianthus 'Dorado Select'

Trial: Annual

Years Trialed: 2002


Helianthus 'Dorado Select'

Good Qualities

Sunny yellow/orange flowers; Short stiff petals, overlap, good color (orange), dark disk, no pollen; Earlier than 'Sunbright' but extremely similar in shape, etc.; Pinched plants yielded bouquet-sized stems, seemed to be okay variety; Handles well in field - doesn't damage easily; Thick, hardy stems, beautiful short orange petals offset by rich, dark brown disc; Produces lots of axillary flowers, consistent color; Color, pollen free, size, earliness; Good form, foliage, bloomed earlier than other test suns, very robust.

Problems

Wide variation in height (2); I didn't like the short petals; Prone to deformed (stems); Thick stems, not very select, multi-branching; Stems too thick, some tall branched off-types; Extremely thick stems - awkward - difficult too handle; Wilted quickly, large foliage.

Comments

Similar to 'Sunbright' and lots of others; Single stems good, matured in 57 days with a flower diameter (average) of 3 2 inches; Harvest time 7/26-7/29 (Zone 6/7); After initial bloom cut, sturdy 36-60 inch side branches developed with bouquet size bloom.


Trial Data

Helianthus 'Dorado Select'
Yield (stems/plant) Stem Length (inches) Market Appreciation Rating¹ Repeat Again Rating¹ Ease of Cultivation Rating¹ Average Spacing (in2)
Wholesale Retail Consumer
Average 2.0 32.5 2.3 2.8 3.2 3.3 4.3 142
Range of Responses 1-8 17-66 1-4 1-4 1-4 1-5 3-5 18-432


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


Supplier

Seedsense Ltd. 7, Bradfield Close North Walsham Norfolk NR28 oHL England