Matthiola 'Extra Early All Double White'
Trial: Annual
Years Trialed: 2001
Good Qualities:
All doubles (3), no singles, no selection necessary; Very early (2); Beautiful variety, one of the few to have lived in Chicago and flowered; Nice stem length and very full heads, still blooming in October - stem length now is a little shorter (zone 5); Fast crop; Produced well, might be as nice as 'Cheerful White'; Good stems; Fragrance and clear white color that held up well without browning.
Problems:
Small flower heads; None; Never bloomed (zone 6b); Absolutely worthless! looks very weedy, very nitrogen Adeficient@; Did not elongate as much, or look as good as Cheerful series; No disease - no insects; Too short, melted in heat; Flowered 2 weeks earlier than planned.
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 | 1.7 | 17.2 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 66 |
| Range of Responses | 1-5 | 10-28 | 1-5 | 1-5 | 1-5 | 1-5 | 3-5 | 21-144 |
(1) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Supplier
American Takii
301 Natividad Rd.
Salinas, CA 93906
Comments:
Outside stock is difficult to grow in N.H. because we had a late winter and early summer heat; Stock does not do well here in S. Vermont B I tried to grab the shortest days possible, but plants did not begin to bloom until mid August (our longest days) B They were by far the best stock I've ever grown - beautiful clear white, lovely odor, but very stunted, short (caused by, I believe the VT climate).