Three annual flowers and three vegetables were chosen
as the 2005 All-America Selections winners. The mission of AAS is “to
promote new garden seed varieties with superior garden performance judged
in impartial trials in North America.” AAS is the oldest, most
established international testing organization in North America.
First, the flowers:
¥ The bright colors of
the Arizona Sun Gaillardia mirror the desert sun in Arizona. Each three-inch single
flower is graced by a mahogany-red center and bright yellow petals. This
full-sun dwarf annual grows just 8 to 10 inches tall. Arizona Sun flowers
may attract butterflies in the garden and may be cut for summer bouquets.
¥ First Kiss
Blueberry is the first blue-flowered vinca (Catharanthus
rosea). The single two-inch blue-violet blooms
have darker centers. Proved heat- and drought-tolerant, mature plants grow
about 11 inches tall and spread 16 inches, and look great in patio
containers.
¥ The Magellan
Coral zinnia radiates with brilliant coral fully double, dahlialike five-
to six- inch blooms. Two exceptional traits of this zinnia: Consistent
flower production and early blooming. Mature zinnia plants grow 15 to 17
inches tall. The plants are easily started from seed.
Now the award-winning vegetables:
¥ Fairy Tale is an
exceptional new variety of eggplant. This petite plant, which grows just
two-and-a-half feet tall and wide, is easily grown in a container garden.
The elongated oval fruits are white with violet/purple stripes and may be
harvested when they have grown to a diameter of one or two inches and a
length of six inches. The fruit are sweet and nonbitter, with tender skin
and few seeds. Whole fruits may be marinated and grilled.
¥ The Sugary
tomato’s name says it all. The plant produces half-ounce dark-pink
fruit with a higher sugar content than that of most others tomatoes. The
small oval fruits may be put on salads, or you can just pop them into your
mouth. The plants produce clusters of tomatoes through the summer. Plants
are vigorous, growing six feet high.
¥ The Bonbon winter
squash produces a boxy, dark-green fruit adorned with silver stripes. The
orange-fleshed fruits, which weigh about four pounds, are stringless and
have a creamy texture. This easy-to-grow squash is not susceptible to
disease. Mature vines spread to about eight feet in a full-sun garden
location.
For more information and to view photos of the
winners, visit www.all-americaselections.org. Most of this year’s AAS
winners should be available at many garden centers this spring. The winning
flowers may be seen this summer in the Washington Park Botanical
Gardens’ AAS display garden.
What’s wrong?
If you’re having disease problems with your
ornamental plants, consider attending the “Recognizing and Diagnosing
Ornamental Plant Diseases” workshop on Thursday, April 28.
Jim Schuster, horticulture educator with
Countryside Center, will present the program. The workshop, which runs 9
a.m.-1 p.m., will be held at the University of Illinois Extension Building
on the Illinois State Fairgrounds.
Schuster has a collection of about 300 dried disease
specimens. Participants will have an opportunity to choose a disease
sample to learn more about it. Seating is limited; register by calling
217-782-4617 by Friday, April 22.
This article appears in Apr 21-27, 2005.
