xt7t1g0hvx74 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7t1g0hvx74/data/mets.xml   Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station. 1967 journals 169 English Lexington : Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Kentucky Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station Progress report (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) n.169 text Progress report (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) n.169 1967 2014 true xt7t1g0hvx74 section xt7t1g0hvx74 1966
GARDEN FLOWER VARIEIY
TRIA LS IN KENTUCKY
By J.W. Buxton and T. E. Pope
Progress Report 169
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
Department of Horticulture
Lexington

   i

 1966 GARDEN FLOWER VARIETY TRIALS IN KENTUCKY
_ By J. W. Buxton and T. E. Popel
Garden annuals are used in ever-increasing amounts in home and industrial plantings.
Therefore, it is important to provide information about the many varieties available to commer-
cial producers and consumers. Numerous varieties of garden annuals are compared annually
under Kentucky‘s climatic and soil conditions in the University of Kentucky trial gardens.
Seed used in the trials was supplied by commercial seed companies and were sown the
first of April, except for marigolds, zinnias, and balsam, which were sown the middle of April.
Seed of each variety was sown in a 4-inch clay pot containing a sterilized mixture of 1 part soil;
1 part peat; 1 part perlite. A thin layer of vermiculite was placed on top of this mixture and I
watered thoroughly. The seed was sown on the vermiculite and then covered with another thin
layer of vermiculite. Small seeds such as that of petunias and snapdragons were left uncovered.
A freezer bag was then placed over the pot and wrapped around the bottom. Some of the pots were
placed in a plastic greenhouse where otemperatures were maintained at 700.with heating cable. Other
pots were placed in a 7 00 growth room furnished with fluorescent and incandescent light fixtures
about 18-inches above the top of the pots. The plastic bags were removed as soon as the seed be-
gan to germinate., When the seedlings had developed two true leaves, they were transplanted into ,
2 1/4-inch peat pots. Marigold, zinnia, and balsam seed was sown directly in 2 1/4-inch peat pots
in flats, using the same methods described above. The direct-sown flats were covered with a
sheet of clear polyethylene plastic which was removed as soon as germination started. Beginning
in mid-May, the plants were transplanted to the garden.
Plants were placed in 6-.x 5—foot plots laid out in rows, with a 5-foot walkway between
rows. The rows were covered with 4-mil black polyethylene plastic to control weeds and conserve
moisture. Generally, the plants were given 1 square foot in which to grow; however, some plots
contained more or fewer plants, depending on growth characteristics of the variety. Water was
applied by a sprinkler system, as necessary, and ammonium nitrate in combination with a sol-
uble 20-20-20 fertilizer was applied every 2 or 3 weeks throughout the summer.
The varieties were evaluated on July 20 and again on August 5, so that most of them
would be observed at a time when they were in full bloom. Each variety was given a rating of
"excellent," "very good," "fair," or "poor, " based on uniformity, general appeal, and disease
resistance.
On July 11 a field day was held at the trial garden. Forms were distributed to persons
visiting the trials for preference ranking of petunia, marigold, celosia, and zinnia varieties.
On page 15 the top varieties are listed in the order of preference.
1Present address, Area Extension Specialist, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, La.

 -4-
VARIETIES TESTED*
Hei ht Jul 20 Au . 5 Comments**
AGERATUM
Blue Blazer 8-11** very good good rich mid-
blue
Fairy Pink 9-15** fair; not un- poor shades of
iform in height lavender
and flowering pink
Golden Ageratum 12-14** good good golden I
yellow
Snow Carpet 8-9** good good white
ALYSSUM
Carpet of Snow — very good very good white
Royal Carpet — very good very good violet white
AMA RANTHUS
Early Splendor 54-56** 1/2 died of most of mixed red .
disease, re- plants dead and deep red _
mainder foliage; poor
very good disease res-
istance
1
*Seetl Companies supplying seed for these trials:
george j. B.1llCo. . W. Atlec Burpee Co. , Fred C. Gloeckner Co.I.nc. , Germania Seed Co. , Henry F. Mitchell Co. , Vaughan‘s
`ecd Co.
.»\ll-Amcricrm Selection Trials - Goldsmith Seeds, Inc. , Geo. W. Park Seed Co. , and joseph Harris Co. Inc.
*~*Comments as given by seed companies.
***Not Evaluated _

 -5..
VARIETIES. TESTED*
V Hei ht Jul 20 Au . 5 Comments**
STER
Rivera Mixed - poor poor mixture
 ALSAM
Color Parade 26-28" very good very good large double
blooms; mix-
ture
Dro Tom Thumb 9-11" fair to fair double bloom
good mixture
Double Camellia 9-11" fair fair double blooms;
mixture
 ASIL
Dark Opal 18-20" very good very good dark purplish-
bronze foliage
ELOSIA
Fireglow 18-·20" very good very good cardinal red
Forest Fire 22-28" very good excellent fiery orange
scarlet with
bronzy red
foliage
Golden Feather 15-17" very good fair, flo- golden
wers fad- yellow
ing
Rose Empress 11—13" very good very good bright rose
Kardinal Imp 9—11" very good good; some red
fading
Toreador 20—22" good good; flo— bright red
wers too
tall
Giant Empress 9-10" very good very good crimson with
reddish
leaves
 ACHELORS BUTTON
Blue Boy 27—29" very good good blue
Jubilee Jem 16-18" very good very good blue; short ·
doesn't fall
over
or explanation of footnotes, *, **, and ***, see page 7.)

 -5-
VARIETIES TESTED*
Hei ht Jul 20 Au . 5 Comments**
Pinkie 18-20" good fair pink; falls
over
Red Boy 20-22" good fair dark pink
COLEUS
Rainbow Mix - very good — mixture _
in shade
Rose Rainbow - very good good bright salmo 
rose foliage
COSMOS
Goldcrest 18-20" very good good golden yello
Sunset 18—20" very good poor bright orang 
CA LENDULA
Orange Delight 15-17" poor poor orange
DAHLIA
Coltness Single 14—16" poor poor mix; dwarf .
single flower _
Unwin Dwarf 14-16" good good mix; double .
semi-double
DAISY
Gloriosa Db. 35-37" very good excellent golden yello
with dark l
brown cente
DIANTHUS
Baby Doll 5—6" fair good mixture of
reds, pinks,
whites
Bravo 7—9" good poor brilliant red ·
(For cxpl.1n;1tiou of foomoius, " . *’“ , and *~¤‘*, scc page 7.)

 ..7-
J VARIETIES TESTED*
_ Hei ht Jul 20 Au . 5 Comments**
Red Monarch 6-8** good fair scarlet red
 USTY MILLER
Gymnocrapa 16-18** good good silvery gray
foliage
Maritima 12—15" very good very good silvery gray
foliage
OXGLOVE
Foxy 15-18" *** very good mixture
LTANA
Double Bright Orange *>•<* good orange
Bright rose »•<*>•< fair rose
Pinkie **=•¤ coral rose
Pink Jewel *»•<* few flo- rose pink
wers
Red Jewel *** few flo- deep cherry
wers red
Scarlet Baby **>•< few flo— scarlet; light
wers bronze foliage
 BELIA
Blue Gown >•<=•<>•< good deep blug
Crystal Palace *** gggd deep blue;
bronze foliage
Heavenly *** fair deep sky blue
Rosamond »•<** fair violet rose
with white eye
White Lady *** good clear white
1* explanation of footnotes, *, **, and ***, see page 7.)

 -8..
VARIETIES TESTED*
Hei ht Jul 20 Au  . 5 Comments**
MARIGOLD
Brittany 9-11" very good *** deep mahogan 
with golden
yellow tip ·
Brownie Scout 8—11" good *** golden yellow
with flecks of
reddish brown
Color Magic 10-13" good good yellow and V
orange marke 
with dark red
Diamond Jubilee 24-26" good good sunny yellow
Double Eagle 28—32" very good good deep orange;
double flower 
Doubloon 30—32" good very good light yellow
Golden Climax 28-30** good very good golden yellow
Golden Jubilee 26-28** very good very good bright yellow
Naughty Marietta 15—17" very good very good golden yellow
with mahogan
Pygmy Primrose 9-11** good good primrose with gl
red base
Rusty Red 18-20" good good rust red
Sparky 12-14" very good very good light golden
yellow to
mahogany
l
Spry 10—12" good *** golden yellow
centers with
mahogany
guard petals
spungold 12-14** good *** bright golden
yellow
Spun Yellow 10-12" *** *** bfight yellow
Yellow Pygmy 9-12** good good lemon yellow
Lemon Yellow 9—11" very good good lemon yellow
Sunbeam 24-26** good good lemon yellow
to deep orange
(For explanation of footnotes, *, **, and ***, see page 7.)

 ..9-
VARIETIES TESTED*
l Hei ht Jul 120 Au . 5 Comments**
EMESIA.
’ Mixture 8—14" poor poor mixture
attractive early
in season
IEREMBERGIA
Purple Robe good good deep violet
purple
ETUNIA. "
Multiflora
Cleopatra 8—10" very good good scarlet
Comanche very good poor brilliant
scarlet—red
Kewpie 11-12" very good very good rose-white
bicolor
Pink Delight 14-16" good good light rose with
deeper viens
Pink Profusion very good very good pink to rose
Plum Dandy 12-14** excellent very good fuchsia-purple
Purple Plum 14-16" excellent good reddish plum
color
Red & White Delight 14—16" good fair bright scarlet
and white
Red Satin good good scarlet
Resisto Bright Scarlet 12-14" very good very good scarlet
Rose Star 9-11" good good dark rose red
with white star
Salmon Delia 8—10" good fair salmon rose
Scarlet Satin good good scarlet red
Starfire 9—11" good good scarlet red
and white
Star Trophy 14—16" very good good white stars -
_ _ _ y y y on blue
 r explanation of footnotes, ", *", and *"*, see page 7.)

 -10-
VARIETIES TESTED*
Hei ht Jul 20 Au . 5 Comments**
Sugar Blue good good deep blue
shades to lig
blue
Sugar Pink 9-11** excellent very good light pink · ` `
veined with
deep pink
Valentine poor poor red; double
White Delight 16-18** very good very good white
White Dandy 16-17** excellent very good white
Red Dandy 14-16** good fair red
Grandiflora
Apple blossom 15-16** very good good light to
intense pink
Blue Danube 14-16** fair good lavender
blue; double _
Blue Jeans 12-14** good good med-blue
Blue Mantle 14-16** good fair violet blue
Bonfire 12-14** good fair deep salmon .
scarlet with
golden throat
Boomershine 18-20** fair good scarlet with
white varia-
tions; double
Bridesmaid 12-14** very good good light salmon `
pink
Candy Apple 9-11** good good bright scarle
red
Dorothy Favorite 6-8** good poor salmon rose;
double
Dreamland fair fair deep crimso
and white;
bicolor
Fandango 15-17** good fair deep blue an 
white bicolor
ruffled
(For ·:xpl.m;ition of ioomotcs. " . "‘. and **2 see page 7.)

 -11-
VARI ETI ES TESTED*
Hei ht Jul 20 Au . 5 Comments**
Fiesta 10-12** very good very good rose and white
variation
" Gay Paris 15-17** very good very good wine-purple
and white
Glacier 8-14** good fair white
Highlight 9-11** very good very good deep salmon
_ Lyric 11-13** poor fair salmon pink;
double
Peach Blossom 9-11** very good very good white shading
to salmon
Razzle-Dazzle fair fair mixture of
red, deep blue,
and crimson
Red Magic 10-12** very good good bright red
with yellow
throat
Spring Song 8-10** good very good salmon pink
Vesuvius 9-11** very good good deep rose red;
ruffled edges
White Cascade 8-9** good fair white; ruffled
edges
White Magic 8-12** good good white; ruffled
edges
 HLOX
Radiant Mixture 5-7** fair poor mixture
X
Twinkles 8** very good fair mixture; small
pointed petal
flowers
Dwarf Mix 8-9** very good poor mixture
Twinkles (Red) 5-6** very good fair red shades
Twinkles (Salmon) 5-6** very good poor pink shades
Dwarf Master Blend 7-9** excellent poor mixture
or explanation of footnotes, *,   and ***, see page 7.) l

 -12-
VARIETIES TESTED*
Hei ht Jul 20 Au . 5 Comments**
PORTULACA
Mixture 8-10** very good very good mixture
SA LVIA
America 24-26** good; few good red; dwarf,
flowers bushy
Brazier 16-18** good very good scarlet V
Cardinal 26-28** good; few good intense red V
flowers with dark
foliage
Copper King 12-14** good very good red with copp
on calyx
Evening Glow 22-24** good; few good lavender ros 
flowers
Red Bird 12-14** very good excellent red
Regal Purple 26-28** excellent very good deep violet
blue
Royal Blue 37-40** very good good deep blue
Royal White 37-39** excellent good white V
Violet Flame 24-26** good; few very good dark violet
flowers purple
St. John's Fire 18-20** very good very good deep red
Whitefire 16-18** good good creamy whit  _
Scarlet Pygmy 15-17** good very good scarlet
Rose Flame 22-24** good good; few scarlet
flowers
SCABIOSA .
Gt. Mix 18-20** good poor mixture
SWEET PEAS
Salmon Cream Pink poor poor salmon
(For explanation of footnotes, *, *‘*, and *5**, see page 7.) V

 -13..
VARIETIES TESTED*
V Hei ht Jul r20 Au . 5 Comments**
ERBENA
` Amethyst 5-7** very good very good med blue
Mixture 9-11** very good very good mixture
NCA
Coquette 13-15** very good very good rosy pink
` Bright Eye 13-15** very good very good white flowers;
red centers
 STURTIUM
Golden Gleam fair fair golden yellow
Orange fair fair orange
. NNIA
Bonanza 26-28** very good fair golden yellow
Envy 24-26** very good very good chartreuse
Firecracker 30-32** excellent very good scarlet-red
quilled cactus
type petals
Old Mexico 20-24** very good very good deep mahogany
red edged with
bright gold
shades
Persian Carpet 18-22** very good very good Bi-color flo— ,
wers with
pointed petals;
range of color
Pink Buttons 16-18** very good fair rose pink and
salmon small
flowers
Princess 28-30** very good fair soft salmon-
pink
Red Man 24-26** very good good scarlet
 r explanation of footnotes, *, **, and ***, see page 7.)

 -14-
VARIETIES TESTED*
Hei ht Jul 20 Au  . 5 Comments**
River of Gold 22-24** very good very good gold shades
State fair Mix 36-38** very good very good mixture
Thumbelina 5-7** very good very good dwarf; mixtur
Wild Cherry 24-26** excellent very good violet rose »
Whirligig 22-24** very good: fair various brigh 
colors in cir-
cular pattern 
Yellow Zenith 26-30** very good very good clear yellow
Miss University 24-36** poor poor mixture
FLOWERING TOBACCO
Limelight 32-34** very good very good limegreen
Scarlet queen 32-34** good good deep red
(For cxpianmon of footnotes, *, **, and ***, see page 7.) _
I

 -15-
. TOP VARIETIES OF 1966
Celosia Petunia
Fireglow Plum Dandy
Golden Feather Star Trophy
Rose Empress Purple Plum
Giant Empress Bridesmaid
‘ Cardinal Imp. Kewpie
Spring Song
Marigold Zinnia
Doubloon Wild Cherry
Sparky Mix Firec raoker
Lemon Yellow Princess
Double Eagle Pink Buttons V
~ Spry Old Mexico
Brittany Whirligig
2M—4— 67