TRIALS REPORT

2006

Perpetual Flowering Carnations

Trials Office

The Royal Horticultural Society Garden, Wisley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB

AGM AGM

Perpetual Flowering Carnation entries recommended for the Award of Garden

Merit (H1)

The Perpetual Flowering Carnation Trials Sub-committee recommended the

Society's AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT (H1) , given to plants which have proved to be excellent for garden use, to:

Kiro = 'Lonkirok'

PBR AGM(H1)2006

Sent by Mr S Bailey Petals yellow. Kiro was recommended for an AGM by the majority of the members present 6:1. The recommendation was proposed due to the outstanding quality of the flowers, the vibrant colour, form and its ability to provide flowers throughout the year together with a clove scent.

Available from sender

Other plants included in the trial, but not recommended for the Award of Garden Merit:

Sangria was not recommended for any award as it was unable to provide flowers for every month although the flowers that were provided were usually good quality. Rififi was not recommended for any awards although the committee found it to be a consistent performer with a strong scent it was felt that form and colour did not reach the standards we wish to achieve.

Lady Green was not recommended for any awards as it was unable to produce blooms throughout the year and it was felt there were better green carnations available.

Florence Franklin was not recommended for any awards although it produced flowers for most of the year the flowers were small and the plant appeared to be reverting to Ann Franklin from which it sported.

Clifford Pipperoo was recommended for further assessment. This variety performed consistently over the course of the trial producing more flowers Dec/Jan/Feb than any other variety with the exception of Rififi. It was felt the flowers were perhaps on the small side but were of good colour and form, consistently produced and on good stems. Worth another look!

The ongoing trial is assessing six further varieties for 2005 – 2007. Already some striking flowers have been noted! Thanks must go to the RHS for providing the facilities for the trials to be undertaken and to the staff who have kept the plants growing so well throughout the trial as well as the trials office for their support and advice. Peter Booker Chairman PFC Trials Committee

Trial Notes Objective: The purpose of this trial is to ascertain the qualities of the plant and

flowers on a given period of time and to ensure that they are in fact “perpetual flowering”.

Culture: Cuttings were taken in October and rooted in 100% perlite. These

were grown on, stopped once (pinching out the leader at the sixth node to encourage the production of side shoots) and potted into

9cm (3½") pots. They were received at Wisley at this stage in February 2005. In

May the plants were stopped and potted on into 10cm pots, using a peat-reduced compost with added vermiculite. In mid July 2005 they were finally potted on into 25cm pots. The plants were supported by canes and plastic rings.

Blooms were removed as they faded, snapped off at the sixth node below the flower on younger plants or at the eighth node on older plants (this varied according to the quality of breaks and to the cultivar being grown).

The glasshouse temperature was maintained at 9°C (48°F) minimum and plentiful ventilation given to maintain a buoyant atmosphere. A balanced (1:1:1 NPK) liquid general fertiliser was applied at each watering. A pesticide was applied against red spider mite as required.

Entries: There were six entries submitted for trial as listed below. Records: A record of the number of flowers produced each week and how long

each one lasted was kept throughout the two year duration of the trial.

Findings: During the course of the trial attacks of red spider mite occurred on

all plants as well as an attack of rust. There were also minor incidences of virus, which were found not to be a serious problem. A graph of cut flower numbers for each month during 2005 and 2006 can be seen below.

Graph to show cut flower totals for Trial 2004-2006

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Kiro =

'Lonkirok'

'Sangria' 'Rififi' 'Lady

Green'

'Florence

Franklin'

'Clifford

Piperoo'

Cultivar

no

. c

ut

flo

we

rs

Aug-05

Sep-05

Oct-05

Nov-05

Dec-05

Jan-06

Feb-06

Mar-06

Judging: Members of the Perpetual Flowering Carnation Trials Sub-

committee inspected the trial on the first Wednesday of every other month from August 2004 to April 2006. At the final visit in April 2006 members were asked to comment and vote on each plant. The Subcommittee’s recommendation for the Award of Garden Merit to one entry was agreed at the April 2006 meeting of the RHS Carnation and Pinks Committee.

The Sub-committee assessed each entry using the following

criteria:- Flower: form and size 5 points Plant: Habit (incl. stem) 5 points

Colour 2 points Health 5 points Scent 2 points Calyx 1 point

Plants, Senders and Awards: AGM = Award of Garden Merit H1 = plants requiring heated glass

Award No Name Description Sender AGM (H1) 2006 1 Kiro = 'Lonkirok' a yellow self S E Bailey 2 'Sangria' a crimson self S E Bailey 3 'Rififi' a pink ground fancy S E Bailey 4 'Lady Green' a green self S E Bailey 5 'Florence Franklin' an apricot ground fancy M Woodfield 6 'Clifford Piperoo' a white ground fancy M Woodfield

Names and addresses of Senders of plants to the Trial

• Mr M Woodfield, Woodend, Clifford Chambers, Stratford-on-Avon,

Warwickshire, CV37 8HR

• Mr S Bailey, Steven Bailey Ltd., Silver Street, Sway, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 6ZA

An illustrated copy of this report is available on the RHS Website at www.rhs.org.uk/plants/planttrials.asp

Further information can be obtained from: Trials Office, The Royal Horticultural Society, Wisley, Woking,

Surrey GU23 6QB Tel no. 01483 212439 email: trials@rhs.org.uk