Consolida 'Sidney Lilac'
Trial: Annual
Year Trialed: 2004
Year of Trial: First (from 2004 report)
Good Qualities:
Great color (7); Really long stems; Annual larkspur with excellent results; Tight floret, strong branching; Same growing habit as rest of series; In the tunnel, if main stem cut high, lower branches long enough to be useful in subsequent harvests; Strength; Did well, comparable to other larkspur varieties, consolida does better in our climate if planted in fall, Zone 6/7; Vigorous.
Problems:
Low germination.(3); More susceptible to fungus, rots, diseases and plagues than any of my other larkspurs; Needed to be very well hydrated when cutting or flopped; Didn’t grow great in summer heat and drought, imagine that!; Poor emergence in the tunnel when direct-seeded in bed, slow growing-harvest not possible until mid-July, lasted only for a month (Zone 5); Needed netting.
Postharvest:
Water only, held in cooler.
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 (1) | Ease of Cultivation Rating (1) | Average Spacing (in2) | Average Postharvest Life (days) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 4.2 | 25.3 | 4.0 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 44 | 10.4 |
| Range of Responses | 1-15 | 14-39 | 4 | 2-4 | 2-5 | 1-5 | 1-5 | 16-120 | 7-21 |
(1) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Supplier
Kieft Seeds
Comments:
Similar to QIS Lilac, but Sydney Lilac is a richer color; Best larkspur we have ever grown; I have never had good success with Delphinium consolida.