Progress 04/05/07 to 04/04/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The University Floral Trial Garden was created in June 2007 to provide information and services to enhance the profitability of the lower shore region's green industry and improve the quality of life for residents living in this area. The green industry is the second largest agriculture sector in Maryland, however, the lower shore region, which includes Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties, only represents a small portion of horticulture sales and services in the state. The University Floral Trial Garden was developed to enhance ornamental horticulture by providing growers, retailers, and home gardeners with unbiased evaluations of new plant varieties and how they perform in the landscape under local growing conditions. Trial gardens evaluate which plants can thrive in the local climate and ultimately determine which new plants to introduce to the local greenhouse and landscape industries. The university trials were conducted every summer from 2007-2011, and a total of 368 plants were evaluated. Ball Horticultural Company, PanAmerican Seed Company, Ball FloraPlant, Selecta First Class, Inc., and Athens Select were the seed companies that participated in the trials. The trial garden was open to the public every day from early morning until dusk. Open houses and an Ag Field Day also provided opportunities for the local green industry, gardeners, and the local community to visit the trial garden and learn about the annual bedding plants being evaluated. Two posters were presented at the American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference. Each year the trial garden results were shared with the stakeholders who participated in the trials. The trial results were also posted on the University Trial Garden website- http://www.umes.edu/Agriculture. PARTICIPANTS: Ball Horticultural Company, PanAmerican Seed Company, Ball FloralPlant, and Athens Select are the companies that participated in the trial. Mrs. Ginny Rosenkranz, Maryland Cooperative Extension commercial horticulturist and consultant on the project, conducted the observations involving the insect and disease resistance of the plants and helped to distribute the trial results to local nurserymen, landscapers, and master gardeners. TARGET AUDIENCES: Stakeholders (seed companies), commercial plant growers, plant breeders, retailers, and the local home gardener are the target audiences for this effort. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The UMES trial garden has been highly publicized in the local news on three separate occasions fulfilling one of its goals to highlight the programs and research being conducted within the UMES Agricultural Experiment Station. In 2009, the UMES Floral Trial Garden became an All-America Selections (AAS) Display Garden. Becoming a registered AAS display garden greatly benefits the profitability of the green industry in the lower shore region and provides visibility, credibility, and pride to the university and the departmental programs. The trial garden has also greatly benefited the stakeholders/seed companies that participate in the trials. They share the results to the growers in the Maryland area so that they can better identify top performing products to grow and have available for landscape and home consumers in the Maryland region. They also share the results with the rest of their sales team, marketing/advertising, customer service, seed and vegetative product supply departments and their product managers and breeders who can also make recommendations to those growers, garden writers, and others who are important leaders in the horticulture industry on the Atlantic coast. The trial results are also used to develop additional varieties that will perform well under the east coast growing conditions. Undergraduate and graduate students have gained practical experience in research and plant evaluation protocols, as well as experience in poster and oral presentations. The trial garden is also used as a living laboratory, which enhances our academic courses in the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The 2010 UMES Floral Trial Garden began June 2010. Ball Horticultural Company, PanAmerican Seed Company, Ball FloralPlant, and Athens Select are the companies that participated in the trial. Seeds were received in March 2010, germinated in a plant growth chamber, and then placed in a greenhouse. Cuttings were received April 2010. The plants were watered and fertilized as needed and maintained according to accepted principles of maintenance. Plants in the greenhouse were fertilized with liquid Miracle Gro. Thirty-eight flowers were planted in the trial garden the week of June 1, 2010. Six plants from each flower variety were evaluated, by three evaluators, on a visual assessment of characteristics every two weeks from June to August. The flower varieties were rated on a single numerical rating from 1 to 5, with 5 being optimum and 1 indicating that the plant had died (see below). The average of the evaluators' assessment was determined. The plants were watered by hand for the first few weeks of the trials. In the previous years, a sprinkler irrigation system was used for the first few weeks to get the plants established. As a result, some plants received too much water and experienced root rot and others did not receive enough water. Due to the hand watering, the plants performed much better in the trials. Hand weeding was performed throughout the trial. It was extremely hot and humid this summer especially in July. We had several heat waves over the summer with temperatures over 100o F. The flowers were fertilized with Miracle Gro Liquafeed All Purpose Plant Food (12-4-8) once in June and once in July. The commercial horticulturist, a consultant on the project, conducted the observations of insect and disease resistance in the plants. Height and width data were also collected. All American Selections Flower Display Garden: In 2009, the university trial garden became a registered All America Selections (AAS) Flower Display Garden. Sixteen AAS winners from 2006-2010 were also displayed in the 2010 Floral Trial Garden. Dissemination of Results: The trial garden results were shared with the seed companies that participated in the trial. The trial results were also posted on the University Trial Garden website- http://www.umes.edu/Agriculture. PARTICIPANTS: Ball Horticultural Company, PanAmerican Seed Company, Ball FloralPlant, and Athens Select are the companies that participated in the trial. Mrs. Ginny Rosenkranz, Maryland Cooperative Extension commercial horticulturist and consultant on the project, conducted the observations involving the insect and disease resistance of the plants and helped to distribute the trial results to local nurserymen, landscapers, and master gardeners. TARGET AUDIENCES: Commercial plant growers, plant breeders, retailers, and the local home gardener are the target audiences for this effort. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Outcomes/Impacts The University Floral Trial Garden is open every day during the summer and into the fall from dawn to dusk. Visitors to the garden are able to conduct self-guided tours. The garden was also featured on the WMDT-TV public affairs show, Good Things Delmarva. The trial garden is also utilized for student research experience and in course instruction in the departmental programs at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Results: Nineteen varieties, including Calibrachoa Cabaret 'Cherry Rose Improved,' Pennisetum 'Princess Molly,' Petunia 'Black Velvet,' Petunia Shock Wave 'Coconut,' and Vinca Mediterranean XP 'Rose Hal,' received an overall rating of 4.0 and above. The complete trial results were made available to growers, breeders, master and home gardeners, and the local community through the UMES Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences website.
Publications
- The trial results are posted on the University Trial Garden website- http://www.umes.edu/Agriculture. 2007-2011
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The 2009 UMES Floral Trial Garden began June 2009. Ball Horticultural Company, PanAmerican Seed Company, Ball FloralPlant, Selecta First Class Inc., and Athens Select are the companies that participated in the trial. Seeds were received in March 2009, germinated in a plant growth chamber, and then placed in a greenhouse. Cuttings were received April 2009. The plants were watered and fertilized as needed and maintained according to accepted principles of maintenance. Plants in the greenhouse were fertilized with liquid Miracle Gro. Seventy-two flowers were planted in the trial garden the week of June 1, 2009. Six plants from each flower variety were evaluated, by three evaluators, on a visual assessment of characteristics every two weeks from June to August. The flower varieties were rated on a single numerical rating from 1 to 5, with 5 being optimum and 1 indicating that the plant had died (see below). The average of the evaluators' assessment was determined. Although a sprinkler system was available, it was only utilized for the first few days after planting. Maryland had a lot of storms and rain activity during the month of June. Due to the heavy precipitation during the first few weeks in June, the plants were really stressed. Most of the plants had not recovered transplant shock and were also affected by too much moisture along with hot temperatures. The flowers were fertilized with Miracle Gro Liquafeed All Purpose Plant Food (12-4-8) on June 11, 2009, and July 2, 2009. The commercial horticulturist, a consultant on the project, conducted observations involving the insect and disease resistance of the plants. Height and width data were also collected. Dissemination of Results: The trial garden results were shared with the participating seed companies that participated in the trial, nurserymen, landscapers, master gardeners, and the local residents that attended the Ag Field Day held on September 12, 2009. The trial results were also posted on the University Trial Garden website-http://www.umes.edu/Agriculture. PARTICIPANTS: Ball Horticultural Company, PanAmerican Seed Company, Ball FloralPlant, Selecta First Class Inc., and Athens Select are the companies that participated in the trial. Mrs. Ginny Rosenkranz, Maryland Cooperative Extension Commercial Horticulturist and consultant on the project, conducted the observations involving the insect and disease resistance of the plants and helped to distribute the trial results to local nurserymen, landscapers, and master gardeners. TARGET AUDIENCES: Commercial plant growers, plant breeders, retailers, and the local home gardener are the target audiences for this effort. The trial garden is also utilized for student research experience and in course instruction in the departmental programs at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Farmers, home gardeners, master gardeners, and the local community were invited to the field day. The visitors conducted self-guided tours of the trial garden. The Ag Field Day was highly publicized and was featured on the WMDT-TV public affairs show-Good Things Demarva. Results: Twenty-seven varieties, including Coleus Versa 'Green Halo', Coleus Versa 'Crimson Gold', Euphorbia Breathless 'Blush', Magadi 'Blue', Petunia Shock Wave 'Rose', Plectranthus 'Silver Crest', and Scaevola 'Blue Print' received an overall rating of 4.0 and above. The complete trial results were made available to growers, breeders, master and home gardeners, and the local community through the UMES Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences website.
Publications
- The 2009 trial results are published on the University Trial Garden website- http://www.umes.edu/Agriculture.
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The 2008 UMES Floral Trial Garden began June 2008. Ball Horticultural Company, PanAmerican Seed Company, Ball FloralPlant, Athens Select, and USDA, ARS, are the companies that participated in the trial. Seeds were received in March 2008, germinated in a plant growth chamber, and then placed in a greenhouse. The plants were watered and fertilized as needed, and maintained according to accepted principles of maintenance. Plants in the greenhouse were fertilized with liquid Miracle Gro. Four plants were shipped through the mail from Athens Select. The plants were extremely dry when they arrived and three of them did not perform well throughout the trail evaluations. They did, however, start to flourish after the evaluations. The flowers were planted in the trial garden the week of June 5, 2008. A three-month slow release fertilizer (10-10-10) was incorporated into the soil during planting. Nine plants from each flower variety were evaluated, by three evaluators, on a visual assessment of characteristics every two weeks from June to September. The flower varieties were rated on a single numerical rating from 1 to 5; with 5 being optimum and 1 indicating that the plant had died (see below). The average of the evaluators' assessment was determined. Maryland had a heat wave the second week after the plants were planted in the garden. Most of the plants had not recovered transplant shock and were affected by the heat wave. The flowers were fertilized with Miracle Gro Liquafeed All Purpose Plant Food (12-4-8) on June 19, 2008. Maryland also had a lot of storms and rain activity during the month of June. The Commercial Horticulturist, a consultant on the project, conducted the observations of insect and disease resistance of the plants. Height and width data were collected on August 18, 2008. Dissemination of Results: The trial garden results were shared with the participating seed companies that participated in the trial and the local residents that attended the 2008 open house. The trial results were also posted on the University Trial Garden website- http://www.umes.edu/Agriculture. PARTICIPANTS: Ball Horticultural Company, PanAmerican Seed Company, Ball FloralPlant, Athens Select, and USDA, ARS, are the companies and agencies that participated in the trial. Mrs. Ginny Rosenkranz, Maryland Cooperative Extension Commercial Horticulturist and a consultant on the project, conducted the observations of insect and disease resistance of the plants. TARGET AUDIENCES: Commercial plant growers, plant breeders, retailers, and the local home gardener are the target audiences for this effort. Trial gardens provide the target audiences with unbiased evaluations of plant cultivar performance in the landscape under local growing conditions. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
An open house was held on August 20, 2008. Home gardeners (17), master gardeners (4), and others (8) attended the open house. The thirty visitors to the trial garden were given the opportunity to participate in the evaluation of plants. They rated the plants on flower color, foliage, and overall landscape performance. The open house was highly publicized. The two local news crews covered the story and the seed companies were recognized during the interviews. Results: Eleven varieties including Coleus 'Henna'; Eragrostis 'Wind Dancer'; Ornamental Pepper 'Purple Flash'; Petunia Wave 'Purple'; and Zinnia Zahara 'Scarlet' received an overall rating of 3.85 and above. The complete trial results were made available to growers, breeders, master and home gardeners, and the local community through the UMES Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences website.
Publications
- Brett Smith, Corrie P. Cotton, Fawzy M. Hashem, and Intsar Eljak (2008) University Trial Garden: Open House Evaluation by Industry & Local Community. HortScience, Vol. 43 (4): 1173 ABST
- Corrie P. Cotton, Rachel Andrews, Brett Smith, Nathan Collier, and Fawzy M. Hashem (2008) University Trial Garden: Research, Education, and Outreach. HortScience, Vol. 43 (4): 1174 ABST
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The UMES Floral Trial Garden was created in June 2007 to provide information and services to enhance the profitability of the lower shore region's green industry, and improve the quality of life for residents living in this area (Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worchester counties). The University Floral Trial Garden was developed to enhance ornamental horticulture by providing growers, retailers, and home gardeners with unbiased evaluations of plant cultivar performance in the landscape under local growing conditions. The function of the trial garden is research, education, outreach, and evaluation and introduction of new plant cultivars to the greenhouse and landscape industries. Undergraduate and graduate students also gained practical experience in research and plant evaluation protocols. The trial garden is used as a living laboratory to enhance our academic courses in the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences, and to attract the campus and local community to the university for leisure recreation, open houses, and educational and outreach initiatives. The university trial garden was open to the public everyday from early morning until dusk. Three seed companies participated in the 2007 floral trials. Seeds were received in early March, germinated in a plant growth chamber and then placed in a greenhouse. Rooted cuttings were received in early May. The cuttings were transplanted and grown in the greenhouse. The plants were watered and fertilized as needed, and maintained according to accepted principles of maintenance. Ninety-seven flowers were planted in the trial garden the week of June 5, 2007. A 3-month slow release fertilizer (10-10-10) was incorporated into the soil during planting. Each plant was evaluated, by 3 evaluators, on a visual assessment of characteristics every two weeks from June to September. The flower varieties were rated on a single numerical rating from 1 to 5, with 5 being optimum and 1 indicating that the plant had died. The average of the evaluators' assessment was determined. A sprinkler irrigation system was utilized for the first three weeks. Hand weeding was performed throughout the trial. Dissemination of Results: The trial garden results were shared with the three seed companies that participated in the trial. A University Trial Garden website was created to display the trial results. The overall rating and a time performance graph are displayed for each plant. A photograph of each plant is also displayed with its rating. A copy of all of the ratings is also available on the website. The link to the website was also sent to the Maryland Cooperative Extension to be place on the Home Gardner website. Two research posters were presented at the American Society for Horticulture Science 2008 Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. One poster presented the research data from the entire floral trials and the other poster presented the data obtained for the open house. PARTICIPANTS: Corrie Cotton is the PI on the project. Ginny Rosenkranz is a Commercial Horticulture, Extension Educator for the Maryland Cooperative Extension. She is a consultant on the project. During the first year of this project, four undergraduate student were provided with hands-on experiences by working in a greenhouse and field setting. The students were responsible for starting the flower varieties from seed and/or rooted cuttings, caring for them in the greenhouse, transplanting the plants into the field, making bi-monthly plant evaluations, and the daily maintenance of the garden. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for this project is plant growers, plant breeders, retailers, nursery and landscape professionals and the home gardener. The target audience was able to participate in the university trials during the open house. The trial results were placed on the university website and disseminated to the open house participants at the end of the trial. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
An Open House was held on August 1, 2007. Home gardeners (9), master gardeners (4), and nursery/greenhouse (2) and landscape professionals (1), and others (4) were invited to the open house. The twenty visitors to the trial garden were given the opportunity to participate in the evaluation of the plants. They rated the plants on flower color, foliage, and overall landscape performance. A copy of the trial results along with the seed company's information were mailed to all of the open house participants. Results: Forty-four varieties including African Daisy FlowerPower 'Silver Purple'; Angelonia Serena 'White'; Calibrachoa MiniFamous 'Purple'; Geranium Designer 'Light Pink Sizzle'; Lantana Landmark 'Citrus'; Petunia Carpet 'Pink Improved'; Snapdragon Angelonia Angelmist 'Lavender Bicolor'; Verbena Lascar 'Light Pink' and Coleus 'Electric Lime' all received high ratings with excellent foliage coverage and rich flower color. The complete trial results were made available to growers, breeders, master and home gardeners, and the local community through the UMES Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences website.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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