Celosia 'Toreador Red'
Trial: Annual
Years Trialed: 2002
Good Qualities:
A very fine Alook at me@ red color (5); Uniform height and broad spread to plants, many stems, very nice; Large combs; Head shape - a nice even sine wave type 'comb' as head; Very well received by wholesale and retail florists - I dried some and it turned out very well - I think it would make a very good dried flower; Looks good fresh and dried - Nice size of blooms, about fist-size with laterals being smaller, holds well, for a long time, both in the field and in the vase; Large, full, round heads.
Problems:
Too short (4); Thick stems (2); Lack of uniformity, could have been weather or possible shading of the row by adjacent (taller) plants.
Trial Data
| Yield (stems/plant) | Stem Length (inches) | Market Appreciation Rating - Wholesale (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Retail (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Consumer (1) | Repeat Again Rating (2) | Ease of Cultivation Rating (2) | Average Spacing (in2) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 4.2 | 17.6 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 61 |
| Range of Responses | 1-15 | 5-42 | 4 | 4-5 | 3-5 | 2-5 | 3-5 | 18-144 |
(1) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Supplier
Fred C. Gloeckner
600 Mamaroneck Ave.
Harrison, NY 10528-1613
Comments:
Editor note: See the Postharvest Report in this issue for vase life and handling information. Similar to 'Bombays' (2); Strips easily, strong stem; Similar to many other cultivars - Nice, but 'Temple Bells', Cramer's cultivars, and other have more realistic stems; I always sell out on Celosia cristatas, if not fresh, then dry; Wished I had more of this one, will probably try removing center to encourage move and longer laterals in the future.