Home Garden Variety Trials

Tennessee Home Garden Variety Trials 2018 Image credit: Randi Nott, Greene County

Which variety should I grow? This is an important question. Growing a well-adapted variety can result in higher yields, more flavorful produce, and reduced chemical applications to control pests and diseases. Unfortunately, it is also a tough question to answer. Because of the high cost of trialing vegetable varieties, there is very little information on variety performance specific to the various regions within Tennessee. By taking a community based approach to vegetable trialing, we can answer this important question. How do I get involved? All gardeners are welcome to participate, whether a gardening novice or an Extension Master Gardener. There are three easy steps to getting involved. Step 1: Select your trial Applications are available at your local extension office and online. Take a minute to flip through this seed catalogue and check out the available trials for this year. Each trial contains two varieties that you will grow side by side to compare throughout the season. You can select multiple trials (max of 5). A small fee of $1 per trial will be assessed to help cover the cost of seed. An additional fee of $3 to cover shipping also applies to all orders. We think it is especially important for children to be involved with gardening and to learn about the science behind evaluating our food sources. Because of this, each participant under 18 yrs old will receive one free trial per year. Extra kid-focused material will also be included with each child s trial. 1 Step 2: Grow your garden After we receive your application, we will send you a kit containg information on the trials you selected. Each kit will contain the following: - seed for two varieties - plot labels and a map to prepare your rows - information specific to the crop species you selected, including planting date, plant spacing, nutrient requirements, et. - an evaluation sheet Step 3: Tell us what you think Fill out your evaluation sheet throughout the growing season (see page 2 for an example). Be sure to note things like germination, disease susceptibility, yield, and flavor. You can also let people know how your trials are performing throughout the season by posting pictures on social media using #TNgardenVarTrial. At the end of the season, we will compile all of the results from across the state into an annual report. We hope that you will join us in answering the question, which variety will grow best in my home garden Dr. Virginia Sykes Assistant Professor Variety Testing and Agroecology vsykes@utk.edu, 865-974-7285 Dr. Natalie Bumgarner Assistant Professor Residential and Consumer Horticulture nbumgarn@utk.edu, 865-974-7324

Bean, green pole Cultivar Trial (Example) 2018 Home Garden Trial #002 Gardener name: TN county: Date sown in garden: Which cul var: Kentucky Wonder Kentucky Blue Same Comments Germinated best? Had healthier plants? Produced the first beans? Produced higher yields? Had more a rac ve beans? Tasted be er? Overall Performance Ra ng Kentucky Wonder Kentucky Blue Rate each cul var on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1= poor, 5= good, and 1= excellent. Be discerning and don t give both a 10. Preference Circle the variety you prefer. Don t circle both- make a choice! Kentucky Wonder Kentucky Blue Please tell us why you preferred the one you circled: Preference Circle the variety you would recommend for TN home gardens. Kentucky Wonder Kentucky Blue Both Neither Please write any addi onal comments on the back of this sheet. No iden fying informa on about your garden evalua ons will be shared and submission of this evalua on is completely voluntary. Informa on will be used to assist home gardeners in TN select the best vegetables for their home gardens. By submi ng these responses, you are consen ng to the informa on being used for educa on purposes by the University of Tennessee. Send completed forms or ques ons to: Natalie Bumgarner, UT Extension, 2431 Joe Johnson Drive, 252 Ellington Plant Sciences, Knoxville, TN, 37996 or nbumgarn@utk.edu. Thanks for your par cipa on!!

2018 Vegetable Trials Bean 1. Green Snap 2. Green Pole Crockett 60 days. Robust plants. 4.5-5, slender, dark green pods. Resistance to BB, BBS, BMV, CTM, HB, and R. (Untreated Seychelles 55 days. 7-9 plants, 4-6 pods. Resistance to BMV. (Untreated Jade II 60 days. Vigourous, upright plants. 6-7 pods. Resistance to BMV, CTM, and R. (Untreated 3. Half Runner 4. Bush Romano Volunteer Half Runner 60 days. Multiple hand harvests. Resistance to BCMV and R. (Treated Kentucky Wonder 73 days. 6-8 plants. 7-9, thick, slightly curved pods, stringless when young. Resistance to BMV and R. (Untreated Roma II 56 days. Upright bush. 5-6, medium green pods. Resistance to BMV. (Untreated Mountaineer Half Runner 60 days. Semi-runner. Resistance to BCMV. (Treated Jumbo 55 days. Upright to short runner growth habit. 7-10, dark green pods. Resistance to BMV. (Untreated Disease abbreviations: BB (Bacterial Blight), BBS (Bacterial Brown Spot), BMV (Bean Mosaic Virus), BCMV (Bean Common Mosaic Virus), CTM(Curly Top Beet Mosaic Virus), HB (Halo Blight), R (Common Rust) 3

2018 Vegetable Trials 5. Lima Bean Fordhook 242 70 days. Widely grown bush lima with dependable, good yield. Pale green pod with white seed. (Treated 6. Okra Okra Candle Fire 60 days. Round, red okra for color, productivity, and taste. (F1, Untreated Speckled Dixie Butterpea 75 days. Vigorous plant with green pod and brown to red speckled bean. (Treated 7. Bicolor Supersweet* 8. Ornamental American Dream 77 days. 6-7 plants. Good germination, tender sweet kernels, good tip fill. Resistance to northern corn leaf blight (F1, Treated Honey N Pearl 76 days. Good flavor and holding ability. Garden standard - 1988 AAS winner. (F1, Treated Corn Clemson Spineless 60 days. Light green pod with cream flowers. Traditional garden favorite and Southern standard. 1939 AAS winner. (Untreated Glass Gem 120 days. 10 plant. 6-8 ear with translucent kernels in a rainbow of colors. Requires long growing season. (Untreated Miniature Colored Popcorn 105 days. 6-7 plants. 3-4 ear with multi-colored kernels. (Untreated *Supersweet (sh2) corn hybrids must be isolated from non-sh2 hybrids 4

2018 Vegetable Trials Cucumber 9. Compact 10. Garden Slicer Saladmore General Lee Patio Snacker Olympian 55 days, semi-bush vine, 7-8 fruit can be harvested small or full size, resistant to A, CMV, PM, and SC. Monoecious. (F1, Untreated Seed.) 52 days. Widely adapted, but bred for the South. 8-8.5, green, slicing cucumber. Resistance to CMV, DM, PM, and SC. Gyonecious. (F1, Untreated 50 days. Small vine with 2-3 radius. 6 fruit. Gynoecious, Parthenocarpic. (F1, Untreated 52 days. 8-9, straight, green, slicing cucumber. Uniform production and appearance. Resistance to A, ALS, DM, PM, and SC. Gynoecious. (F1, Untreated Muskmelon 11. Thin-Skinned Cucumber Genetics Diva 58 days. 6-8 fruit. Produces all female flowers that do not require pollination. Resistance to A, DM, PM, and SC. (F1, Untreated Cucumbers can vary in regards to plant sexual morphology. This can impact plant productivity and fruit characteristics. A few relevant terms are listed below: Monoecious - separate male and female flowers are found on the same plant Gynoecious - having only female flowers Parthenocarpic - can develop mature fruit without fertilization, resulting fruit is seedless Amiga 55 days. 6 fruit. Thin-skinned Beit alpha type cucumber for outdoor production. Resistance to CMV, DM, PM, PRV, and ZYMV. (F1, Untreated Disease abbreviations: A (Anthracnose), ALS (Angular Leaf Spot), CMV (Cucumber Mosaic Virus), DM (Downy Mildew), PM (Powdery Mildew), PRV (Papaya Ringspot Virus), SC (Scab), ZYMV (Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus) 5

2018 Vegetable Trials Muskmelon 12. Personal-sized Sugar Cube 80 days. Widely adapted. 2-4 lb fruit. Resitance to FW, PM, WMV, PRV, and ZYMV. (F1, Untreated Minnesota Midget 70 days. Compact plants. Early, 4-6 fruit. Resistance to FW. (Untreated William Nester, Knox County - 2018 Watermelon Taste Tester Watermelon 13. Compact 14. Standard Vining Mini Love Starlight Sugar Pot New Orchid 70 days. Short vine. 7-9 lb, red-fleshed, seeded melon. AAS winner. Resistance to A. (F1, Untreated 75 days. 10-12 lb, round, red-fleshed, seed melon with good crispness and flavor. (F1, Untreated 80 days. Compact plant. 8-10 lb, red-fleshed, seeded melon. (F1, Untreated 75 days. Compact vine. 8-10 lb, round, yellow-fleshed, melon. Resistance to hollow heart. (F1, Untreated Disease abbreviations: FW (Fusarium Wilt), PM (Powdery Mildew), WMV (Watermelon Mosaic Virus), PRV (Papaya Ringspot Virus), ZYDV (Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus) 6

2018 Vegetable Trials Pumpkin 15. Small Edible/Ornamental 16. Medium Edible/Ornamental Baby Bear Pepitas Blaze Cinnamon Girl 105 days. 1.5-2 lbs, deep orange fruit. Edible flesh and semi-hull-less seeds for roasting. Good storage quality. (Untreated 90 days. 9-12 lb, multi-colored fruit. Edible flesh and hulless seeds for roasting. PM tolerance, SRR resistance. (F1, Untreated 95 days. Good yields and a short vine. 3 lb, yellow and orange striped fruit. Resistance to powdery mildew. (F1, Untreated 100 days. Short vines. 3-6 lb, dark orange fruit with good handle. Resistance to PM. (F1, Untreated 17. Novelty Carving Knucklehead 105 days. Moderate vine. Medium to large 12-16 lb jack-o-lantern type fruit with warts. (F1, Untreated Gumdrop 100 days. Medium 11-13 lb jack-o-lantern type fruit with unique appearance. (F1, Untreated Dean Towers, Cumberland County 2017 trial participant 7

2018 Vegetable Trials Summer Squash 18. Green 19. Yellow Raven Tempest Tigress Slik Pik YS 26 48 days. Semi-open plant with moderate spines and concentrated fruit set. Very deep green fruit. (F1, Untreated 54 days. Vigorous plant. Yellow crookneck with slight ribbing and stripes. Pick at 4-7. (F1, Untreated 45 days. High yielding, open plant. Medium green fruit. Resistance to PRV, WMV, ZYMV. (F1, Untreated 48 days. Attractive yellow crookneck that has spineless petioles for less fruit damage. (F1, Untreated 20. Speciality Bossa Nova 45 days. Caserta type zucchini, compact plant, dark and light green mottled fruit, 6-8 long, 8-10 oz, resistant to WMV and ZYMV (F1, Untreated Flamino 50 days. Costata type fruit with moderate spines and more compact vine. Edible flowers. (F1, Untreated Disease abbreviations: (PRV) Papaya Ringspot Virus, (WMV) Watermelon Mosaic Virus, (ZYMV) Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus 8

2018 Vegetable Trials 21. Butternut Butterscotch 100 days. Short vine. Small (1-2 lb) fruit. Resistance to powdery mildew. (F1, Untreated Honeynut 110 days. Short Vine. Small (1/2-1 lb) fruit. Resistance to powdery mildew. (Untreated Squash 22. Winter Sunshine 95 days. Vigorous, short vine. Bright orange Kabocha type, 3-5 lbs, good for many culinary applications. AAS winner. Resistance to black rot. (F1, Untreated Bush Delicata 90 days. Bush habit. Oblong fruit have white skin with green stripes and orange flesh. (Untreated 23. Genovese Basil Eleonora 65 days. Intermediate resistance to downy mildew. Dolce Fresca 70 days. Combination culinary and container value with a compact shape. Erin Bell and daughter Eliza, Davidson County - 2017 trial participants Photo Credit - Pam Swoner, Davidson County 9

Credits This project is conducted for educational purposes only. No profits are made from this program. Descriptions and photographs of varieties in this catalog were compiled from various seed company catalogues, including Harris Seeds, Johnny s Selected Seeds, All American Selections, Territorial Seeds, Bonnie Plants, and Holmes Seed. We would like to give special thanks to our industry collaborators PanAmerican Seed and Johnny s Selected Seeds for their help in making this program affordable to all participants. We would also like to thank our volunteers who help to prepare and ship trial kits. More Information For more information on the University of Tennessee Home Garden Variety Trial program, please visit our website at extension.tennessee.edu/ MasterGardener/Pages/ Vegetable Garden Trials.aspx or contact us directly Dr. Virginia Sykes Assistant Professor Variety Testing and Agroecology vsykes@utk.edu, 865-974-7285 Dr. Natalie Bumgarner Assistant Professor Residential and Consumer Horticulture nbumgarn@utk.edu, 865-974-7324 10