Aster 'Serenade Blue'
Trial: Annual
Years Trialed: 1998
Good Qualities:
Great color (3); Nice spray type stems (2); Long vaselife (2); Well-branched (2); Good flower form; Didn't seem to get the usual Aster yellows; Good show. Was accepted in market with enthusiasm; Flowers ~3cm, small daisy-like flower; Novelty flower; Full sprays
Problems:
Not uniform for timing compared to other members of the series; Aster yellows can be a problem here (a few plants showed signs); Very late flowering when direct seeded; Did not produce enough dollars/square foot in greenhouse - could be a good candidate for field production; Leaves around flowers turned a dark purple ~too dry?
Trial Data
| Yield (stems/plant) | Stem Length (inches) | Market Appreciation Rating (1) | Repeat Again Rating (1) | Ease of Cultivation Rating (1) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 7.8 | 20.9 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4.4 |
(1) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Supplier
Sakata Seed America, Inc.
18095 Serene Dr.
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Comments:
Blue was last to flower of three serenade colors.