Matthiola 'Extra Early All Double White'

Trial: Annual

Years Trialed: 2001

Good Qualities

All doubles (3), no singles, no selection necessary; Very early (2); Beautiful variety, one of the few to have lived in Chicago and flowered; Nice stem length and very full heads, still blooming in October - stem length now is a little shorter (zone 5); Fast crop; Produced well, might be as nice as 'Cheerful White'; Good stems; Fragrance and clear white color that held up well without browning.

Problems

Small flower heads; None; Never bloomed (zone 6b); Absolutely worthless! looks very weedy, very nitrogen deficient; Did not elongate as much, or look as good as Cheerful series; No disease - no insects; Too short, melted in heat; Flowered 2 weeks earlier than planned.

Comments

Outside stock is difficult to grow in N.H. because we had a late winter and early summer heat; Stock does not do well here in S. Vermont; I tried to grab the shortest days possible, but plants did not begin to bloom until mid August (our longest days); They were by far the best stock I've ever grown - beautiful clear white, lovely odor, but very stunted, short (caused by, I believe the VT climate).


Trial Data

Matthiola 'Extra Early All Double White'
Yield (stems/plant) Stem Length (inches) Market Appreciation Rating¹ Repeat Again Rating¹ Ease of Cultivation Rating¹ Average Spacing (in2)
Wholesale Retail Consumer
Average 1.7 17.2 3.8 4.0 3.8 3.3 4.1 66
Range of Responses 1-5 10-28 1-5 1-5 1-5 1-5 3-5 21-144


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


Supplier

American Takii 301 Natividad Rd. Salinas, CA 93906