Vegetable & Flower Winners for 2009

By Rita Kemme

Each year hundreds of new flower and vegetable plants are trialed and judged by independent, unpaid judges of All America Selections (AAS). The mission of AAS is "To promote new garden varieties with superior garden performance judged in impartial trials in North America. They've been doing this since 1932.

AAS judges look for varieties with qualities that are superior to plants already on the market. These qualities can include growth habit, adaptability, color, scent, taste and overall performance. Since they are judged in a cross section of gardens and climates, they are considered to be good choices for most home gardens. However since every garden and every gardener is unique, growing an award winning plant is not always possible. But it's fun to try.

Here are the best of the 2009 season.

This year there was only one flower named to the list, along with three vegetables.

Viola F1 'Rain Blue and Purple' is the cool season Bedding Plant Award Winner. This variety creates a spreading pool of cool blue colors. The plants are cold and heat tolerant resulting in flowers throughout the seasons. Viola 'Rain Blue and Purple' will bloom in the south during fall and winter; and in the north in the spring and summer. There is always a season of bloom for 'Rain Blue and Purple'. Another appealing trait is that the one and a half inch blooms change color from purple and white to purple and blue as they mature. Few flowers change colors naturally and 'Rain Blue and Purple' is one of them. The plants spread 10 to 14 inches in the garden or container. The trailing habit is perfectly designed for hanging baskets or patio urns. 'Rain Blue and Purple was bred by Tokita Seed Co. Ltd., Saitama, Japan. Seed and plants of this AAS winner will be available from your favorite retailer. Johnny Jump-Up is the common name for this flower. It will grow six inches in height. Space them 10 to 12 inches apart in the garden. Closest companions on the market are 'Alpine

Violet & White', and 'Viola F1 'Rebel Blue'.

One of the vegetable winners is Eggplant F1 'Gretel'. 'Gretel' is the earliest white eggplant. Any gardener will agree, the earlier the better, since waiting for the best tasting, most nutritious food from our gardens is not easy. The glossy white mini-fruit are produced in clusters and can be harvested in 55 days depending upon growing conditions. Like all eggplants, 'Gretel' will grow rapidly under warm temperatures, over 55 degrees, day and night temperature. The pure white fruit has few seeds and are sweet with tender skin even if they mature beyond the ideal fruit size of three to four inches. This trait means gardeners have a longer timeline to harvest fruit. 'Gretel' plants are relatively small, about three feet wide and tall. Since the plant is small, it is adaptable to the popular trend of growing edibles in containers. It is recommended to use a rather large container about 16 inches deep. This winner was bred by Seminis Vegetable Seeds, Oxnard, Ca. I'll write about the other two vegetables next week. Information taken from www.all-americaselections.org/Winners.asp

Timely Tips

Remember to feed the birds. It's fun watching them and if you attract them to your garden they will also scratch up weed seeds and search out insects. Remember to keep giving them water, too, as natural sources may be frozen.

Keep the leaves of your houseplants free of dust by washing them occasionally. Dust will cut down on the light the leaves receive and hinder plant growth.

Question of the Week

How can I keep rabbits from damaging my young trees this winter? Quarter-inch or half-inch hardware cloth is ideal for keeping rabbits, field mice, voles, and other small rodents from eating the bark of trees and bushes. Make cylinders of the wire large enough so they do not touch the tree. If the ground is not frozen, sink the wire three inches into the soil to prevent rodents from digging under it. Plastic tree wrap made for this purpose can be used even when the ground is frozen.