Trial of Garden Chrysanthemum 2007 (An RHS Long Term Trial)

AGM AGM Trial of Garden Chrysanthemum 2007 (An RHS Long Term Trial) There were 137 entries in this Long Term trial of Garden Chrysanthemums, which were assessed by the Chrysanthemum Committee in 2007 for the Award of Garden Merit. Trial Objectives: To assess, compare and demonstrate a range of cultivars submitted by individuals, raisers and nurserymen, following preliminary assessment by the Chrysanthemum Committee. Entries: 4 Ground hugging cushion mums (Nos. 1-4) 52 Cushion mums (Nos. 5-56) 2 Belgian mums (Nos. 57-58) 32 Spray chrysanthemums (Nos. 59-89) 28 Disbudded chrysanthemums (Nos. 90-117) 20 Hardy chrysanthemums (Nos. 118-137) The Chrysanthemum Committee judged the entries in this trial on 21 August, 11 September, 25 September and 9 October 2007 for the Award of Garden Merit, using the following criteria: Vigour : habit : health : length of flowering period colour/ colour stability and quality of bloom : weather tolerance The Committee awarded the Society's AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT (H3) to the following: CUSHION MUMS 'Chicane' AGM (H3) 2007 Sent by Cleangro Ltd, available from B & Q stores nationwide. Single spray, height to 29cm, vigorous, compact, bushy and free flowering. Erect, loose sprays. Flower head diameter to 3cm, florets short, broad, blunt and distinct. Incurved spoon florets, red-purple 70B, reverse pale purple 75B. Disc 1cm diameter, yellow 13A. 50% flowering 10/9/07. Single deep pink spoon with yellow eye, forms neat uniform floriferous mounds. The following AGM awards to Cushion Mums cannot be ratified until availability has been confirmed: 'Dolly' subject to availability Sent by Yoder Toddington. Double spray, height to 35cm, vigorous, bushy spreading and free flowering. Erect, compact sprays. Flower head diameter to 5cm, florets short, broad, overlapping and blunt. Flat incurved inner florets closest to

greyed-orange N163B, and outer florets closest yellow-orange 14B, reverse greyed-yellow 162B at centre becoming greyed-orange 168D at tips. 50% flowering 10/9/07. A vigorous, floriferous bright orange mum that spreads to form large, uniform mounds. 'Nina' subject to availability Sent by Yoder Toddington. Semi-double anemone spray, height to 27cm, vigorous, bushy, spreading and free flowering. Erect compact sprays. Flower head diameter 4.5cm, florets short, narrow, overlapping and pointed. Flat incurved, inner florets, red-purple N74C and greyed-orange N163A at centre. Outer florets mainly incurved, red-purple N74D, reverse purple 76C. 50% flowering 10/9/07. Many mid pink anemone flowers that last and age well on large, neat, uniform mounds. SPRAYS 'Cream Talbot Parade' (29c Cr) AGM (H3) 2007 Sent by and available from Mr D Horn. Semi-double spray, height to 105cm, vigorous, bushy and free flowering. Erect, loose sprays. Flower head diameter to 10cm, ray florets short, narrow, pointed, in overlapping whorls. Flat, incurved inner florets yellow 5A and incurved outer florets closest to yellow 4D (cream), reverse white 155C. 50% flowering 17/8/07. A lovely creamy reflexed spray Chrysanthemum, with flowers staying fresh for a long time. DISBUDS 'Millennium' (25b Y) AGM (H3) 2007 Sent by Mr F Charlton, available from Frank Charlton Chrysanthemums, 7 Winslow Close, Witherwack, Sunderland, SR5 5RZ and Halls of Heddon Nurseries, Heddon on the Wall, Northumberland, NE15 0JS Medium, reflexed disbud, height to 130cm, vigorous, bushy and free flowering. Erect compact disbudded blooms. Flower head diameter 15cm, florets long, broad, blunt and overlapping. Curled, Incurved inner florets and recurved outer florets, overall colour closest to yellow 9A. 50% flowering 31/08/07. Light yellow medium intermediate disbud, stands up well to wet weather, very floriferous.

HARDY CHRYSANTHEMUMS 'Ruby Raynor' (21 B) AGM (H4) 2007 Sent by Mrs J Barker, available from Norwell Nurseries, Woodhouse Road, Norwell, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG23 6JX Semi-double spray, height to 80cm, vigorous, bushy and free flowering. Erect, compact sprays. Flower head diameter to 7.5cm, ray florets short, broad, pointed, in overlapping whorls. Incurved inner florets and recurved outer florets closest to yellow 12A, reverse paler yellow 12C. 50% flowering 30/8/07. Bronze semi-double hardy Chrysanthemum, very floriferous with a long flowering period from mid July to mid October. Disbudded and Non-Disbudded Forms: Disbudded Non-Disbudded (Spray) Chrysanthemum Flower head Forms: Single Incurved Intermediate Reflexed Fully Reflexed Anemone-centered Pompon Spoon-shaped

Quill-shaped Spider-form Images taken from RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants (c) DK Images Cultivation: The trial plot was tractor rotovated in October 2006 and the plot prepared and sown with Caliente Mustard. To reduce the effects of soil borne pest and diseases that Chrysanthemums can be susceptible to, it is important to sterilise the soil. Previously a chemical sterilant, Basamid, has been used, for 2007 Wisley introduced a green manure, Caliente Mustard, to their programme. This is specially bred as a soil improver with the added benefit of having bio-fumigant properties. In April 2007 the Mustard was watered before being mown, tractor rotovated and sealed under black polythene for 2 weeks. Once in contact with the moist soil the chopped plant material broke down to release biologically active compounds that help to suppress weeds, root rot and nematodes (eelworm). The polythene was removed in early May. The ground was then hand raked and marked out. Black membrane was put down and support posts erected. This is the first year that the Chrysanthemums have been planted through membrane, used to avoid splash back when watering the trial, which could increase the transference of disease. The spray and disbudded chrysanthemums were planted on 15 May and the cushion 'mums on 30 May. On 23 April the spray and disbudded entries were stopped by removal of the terminal bud, encouraging plants to bush out and hastening development of side branches, which will bear the flowers. Cushion 'mums were pinched out to encourage bushy plants and even flowering on 15 June. Spray stocks, after initial stopping, were allowed to grow naturally; disbud entries after initial 'stopping', continue to be disbudded so that only one flower per stem is produced. Chrysanthemums need regular watering to obtain the best results. These plants were never allowed to dry out and as the plants grow, the amount of water was increased. Plants were sprayed routinely for pest and disease control. Findings: The trial performed much better in 2007 than it had done in 2006. The occurrence of White Rust was minimal due to a careful preventative spray programme and cultural care when receiving fresh stock and propagating material at Wisley. However a higher level of Eelworm was found in the trial this year. It was a particularly wet summer at Wisley in 2007 and Eelworm can spread more rapidly when the foliage remains wet. http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1001/leaf_bud_eelworm.asp Eelworm is usually eradicated by hot water treatment of stools when they are lifted at the end of the season. In future those senders without the facilities to hot water treat stools prior to taking cuttings will be asked to send stools for hot water treatment and propagation at Wisley, rather than sending untreated un-rooted cuttings the following spring. Some random patches of entries were considered to be growing undersize in 2007. The committee thought this may be due to the fabric through which the entries had been planted. The fabric mulch had proved effective in preventing splash back and related fungal spore spread, but there was some concern that the closeness of the weave resulted in prevention of water penetration. It was agreed that in 2008 the same material should be used but with irrigation lines placed beneath to overcome problems relating to lack of water penetration. It was also considered that the Caliente Mustard, incorporated in the soil prior to planting, may not have broken down sufficiently. This could have caused stunted growth by withdrawing available Nitrogen from the Chrysanthemums in the early stages of their vegetative development. It was

agreed that the Caliente Mustard would be used as a soil improver with bio-fumigant properties again in 2008 with a few modifications to the programme of use. As the mustard crop had not been lush enough in 2007, nitrogen fertiliser would be applied on sowing and again in February to encourage lush, juicy material for incorporation in April 2008. At the time of incorporation there would be a third application of Nitrogen after flailing to assist break down of the incorporated material, then a final application before planting out trial entries. Once the mustard was incorporated it would be covered for 3 weeks as opposed to 2 to ensure the green material break down sufficiently, this would aid the bio-fumigant properties of the mustard and ideally prevent the mustard from holding the nitrogen away from the Chrysanthemum plants. GARDEN CHRYSANTHEMUM TRIAL 2007 INDEX No Cultivar AGM Sender Ground cover 1 Creeper Pink Cleangro Ltd 2 Creeper Dark Pink Cleangro Ltd 3 Creeper Red Cleangro Ltd 4 Creeper Yellow Cleangro Ltd Cushion mums 5 White Light s Cleangro Ltd 6 Magical Cleangro Ltd 7 Pitstop AGM 03 Cleangro Ltd 8 Conjuror Cleangro Ltd 9 Interval Cleangro Ltd 10 Emperor Cleangro Ltd 11 Starstruck Pink Cleangro Ltd 12 Chicane Cleangro Ltd 13 Fantasy Cleangro Ltd 14 Concerto AGM 04 Cleangro Ltd 15 Tinseltown AGM 04 Cleangro Ltd 16 Chorus Cleangro Ltd 17 Syllabub AGM 03 Cleangro Ltd 18 Gala AGM 04 Cleangro Ltd 19 Gala Crimson Cleangro Ltd 20 Allegro Cleangro Ltd 21 Majorette AGM 03 Cleangro Ltd 22 Jazzy Cleangro Ltd 23 Action AGM 06 Cleangro Ltd 24 Matinee AGM 05 Cleangro Ltd 25 Intermezzo Cleangro Ltd 26 Popcorn AGM 03 Cleangro Ltd 27 Boulevard Yellow AGM 05 Cleangro Ltd 28 Lemon Fizz Cleangro Ltd 29 Mermaid AGM 03 Cleangro Ltd 30 Linda = Lindayo AGM 06 Yoder Toddington 31 Gigi White Yoder Toddington 32 Braque AGM 05 Yoder Toddington 33 Gigi Yoder Toddington 34 Gigi Pink Yoder Toddington 35 Braque Pink Yoder Toddington 36 Nina Yoder Toddington 37 Ursula Yoder Toddington 38 Gudrun Yoder Toddington 39 Morgan Yoder Toddington 40 Turner AGM 02 Yoder Toddington 41 Tabitha Yoder Toddington 42 Jolly Cheryl Yoder Toddington 43 Marlene Red Yoder Toddington

44 Sherry Yoder Toddington 45 Marlene Yoder Toddington 46 Shelley Yoder Toddington 47 Dolly Yoder Toddington 48 'Festive Ursula' Yoder Toddington 49 Gigi Gold Yoder Toddington 50 Michele Yoder Toddington 51 Kerry Yoder Toddington 52 Gold Cheryl Yoder Toddington 53 Annika Yoder Toddington 54 Ines Yoder Toddington 55 Klara Yoder Toddington 56 'Sunny Ursula' Yoder Toddington Belgian mums 57 'Domenico Orange' FlorElite Plants & Seeds Ltd 58 'Akilon Pink' FlorElite Plants & Seeds Ltd Sprays 59 'Denise' AGM 93 Mrs J Barker 60 Purple Margaret Dixon D Horn 61 Margaret Dixon' D Horn 62 'Lucy' AGM 03 D Horn 63 Penine Marie AGM 97 Halls of Heddon 64 Pennine Oriel Walkers Nurseries 65 Orno Walkers Nurseries 66 Myss Carol Southway Nurseries 67 Myss Saffron Southway Nurseries 68 Wendy AGM 93 W B Wade 69 Bronze Dee Gem Walkers Nurseries 69A Karen Taylor AGM 04 F Charlton 70 Caukeel Copper Southway Nurseries 71 'Pennine Canary' AGM 93 W B Wade 72 Cherry Nathalie Walkers Nurseries 73 'Purple Talbot Parade' AGM 03 F Charlton 74 Nathalie AGM 94 Walkers Nurseries 75 'Freddie' G Freestone 76 Cream Talbot Maid D Horn 77 Myss Marion Southway Nurseries 78 Cream Talbot Parade' D Horn 79 'White Margaret' AGM 93 Walkers Nurseries 80 Anna Marie AGM 93 Harold Walker 81 Primrose Enbee Wedding NCS 82 Rita McMahon AGM 05 Halls of Heddon 83 'Joshua Hunter' AGM 06 L Hunter 84 Southway Summit Southway Nurseries 85 Southway Savoy Southway Nurseries 86 Upton Rose Walkers Nurseries 87 Southway Sheba Walkers Nurseries 88 'Daphne Davis' AGM 05 G Garratt 89 Enbee Gift NCS Disbuds 90 'Bronze Max Riley' AGM 01 Walkers Nurseries 91 Yvonne Arnaud AGM 93 D Horn 92 Primrose Bruera NCS 93 Brietner D Horn 94 Percy Salter D Horn 95 'Membury' AGM 93 Halls of Heddon 96 Early Red Cloak NCS 97 Red Bellair A McDougall

98 Regalia AGM 93 D Horn 99 Bellair A McDougall 100 Pretty Polly NCS 101 'Barnado's Hope' S Oldham 102 Rosedew AGM 93 NCS 103 Willy Gettings F Charlton 104 Debbie Charlton F Charlton 105 'Allouise' AGM 93 Walkers Nurseries 106 Angora AGM 97 D Horn 107 Peach Allouise AGM 93 Walkers Nurseries 108 'White Allouise' AGM 93 Walkers Nurseries 109 'Creamist' AGM 93 Woolmans 110 Les Proctor G Freestone 111 Tennis NCS 112 Muriel Vipas NCS 113 Primrose Muriel Vipas NCS 114 Dana AGM 93 Halls of Heddon 115 'Millennium' F Charlton 116 'Horace Hockedy' AGM 04 G Freestone 117 Betty Deeming G Freestone Hardy Chrysanthemums 118 Ruby Raynor' Mrs J Barker 119 Nancy Perry' Mrs J Barker 120 Perry's Peach' Mrs J Barker 121 Ailine' Mrs J Barker 122 Aunt Millicent' Mrs J Barker 123 Grandchild' Mrs J Barker 124 Mary' Mrs J Barker 125 Brightness' Mrs J Barker 126 Ruby Mound' AGM 06 Mrs J Barker 127 Sea Urchin' AGM 07 Mrs J Barker 128 Columbine Mrs J Barker 129 Starlet Mrs J Barker 130 Yellow Starlet Mrs J Barker 131 Nell Gwynn Mrs J Barker 132 Mauve Gem Mrs J Barker 133 Carmine Blush Mrs J Barker 134 White Gem Mrs J Barker 135 Shining Light Mrs J Barker 136 Louise Mrs J Barker 137 Spartan Seagull Mrs J Barker Sender Information Cleangro Ltd, Leythorne Nursery, Vinnetrow Road, Chichester, West Sussex PO20 1QD FlorElite, Hoogeweg 12, 2231 MS Rijnsberg, Holland Frank Charlton Chrysanthemums, 24 Redesdale Road, Redhouse Estate, Sunderland SR5 5HA Mr G Freestone, Freestones Chrysanthemums, 105 Mancetter Road, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV10 0HP Halls of Heddon, West Heddon Nursery, Heddon-on-the-Wall, Newcastle upon Tyne NE15 0JS Mr D T Horn, Evreham House, 57 Wood Lane, Fleet, Hants GU151 3ED National Chrysanthemum Society (NCS), Plant Sales, Wood View, 15a Moorcroft Road, Hutton, Weston Super Mare BS24 9RW Southway Nurseries, Box No.66, Cottingham, East Yorks, HU16 4AS Walkers Nurseries & Plant Centre, Huntington, Chester CH3 6EA Yoder Toddington, Toddington Lane, Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 7PL Woolmans Plants, Rookery Farm, Joys Bank, Holbeach St. John, Spalding, Lincolnshire PE12 8SG The following are c/o The Trials Office: - Mrs J Barker, Mr L Hunter, Mr A McDougall, Mr W B Wade

Further information can be obtained from The Trials Office, The Royal Horticultural Society Garden, Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB Tel No. 01483479797 e-mail: trials@rhs.org.uk More information about RHS Trials and other illustrated final reports can be found on the RHS Website at www.rhs.org.uk/plants/plant_trials.asp The National Chrysanthemum Society publish a 'Chrysanthemum Guide' which is available from the society, priced at 13.95 To join the National Chrysanthemum Society write to the Membership Manager, 317 Plessey Road, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 3LJ.