Helianthus 'Dorado Select'
Trial: Annual
Years Trialed: 2002
Good Qualities:
Sunny yellow/orange flowers; Short stiff petals, overlap, good color (orange), dark disk, no pollen; Earlier than 'Sunbright' but extremely similar in shape, etc.; Pinched plants yielded bouquet-sized stems, seemed to be okay variety; Handles well in field - doesn't damage easily; Thick, hardy stems, beautiful short orange petals offset by rich, dark brown disc; Produces lots of axillary flowers, consistent color; Color, pollen free, size, earliness; Good form, foliage, bloomed earlier than other test suns, very robust.
Problems:
Wide variation in height (2); I didn't like the short petals; Prone to deformed (stems); Thick stems, not very select, multi-branching; Stems too thick, some tall branched off-types; Extremely thick stems - awkward - difficult too handle; Wilted quickly, large foliage.
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 | 2.0 | 32.5 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 142 |
| Range of Responses | 1-8 | 17-66 | 1-4 | 1-4 | 1-4 | 1-5 | 3-5 | 18-432 |
(1) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Supplier
Seedsense Ltd.
7, Bradfield Close
North Walsham
Norfolk NR28 oHL England
Comments:
Similar to 'Sunbright' and lots of others; Single stems good, matured in 57 days with a flower diameter (average) of 3 2 inches; Harvest time 7/26-7/29 (Zone 6/7); After initial bloom cut, sturdy 36-60 inch side branches developed with bouquet size bloom.