Sampling the California pack trials: this month's review looks primarily at some of the new vegetative varieties

摘要

In July, we looked at some of the exciting new seed varieties. This month, we'll look primarily at vegetative varieties, though a few seed varieties (31-34) have been included. The annual Pack Trials ave the breeder's showcase for displaying their new varieties, hopefully in the most favourable light compared with those of their competitors. The big surprise this year is the drastic reduction of seed propagated material. This trend already started last year. Ten years ago seed varieties would havebeen the norm, but now varieties are mostly vegetative. Previously the improved characteristics of a variety were based upon being short, early flowering, compact, and basal branching, but not too much. These growing characteristics were instigated so that 6 plants or more could fit in a pack measuring approximately 3.5" X 5", which occupied an area not much larger than a 4" pot. Trying to grow six petunias in a 4" pot equivalent needed very compact varieties. The early flowering was necessary because our consumer mentality, or more likely the buyer mentality was, "NO colour, NO sale." Colour is still desirable, but now other issues are important.