The 2020 Penn State Flower Trials: Challenges Overcome

In a typical year, we have over one hundred Penn State Extension Master Gardeners and Penn State Extension Floricultural Advisory Board members who provide a significant contribution to the physical labor required for producing and maintaining the trials. These wonderful volunteers were not allowed on site due to Pennsylvania state policies and those of Penn State University regarding Covid-19.

The flower trials display was produced in 2020 by the Penn State Extension trials team staff, Penn State educators, Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center (SEAREC) staff, and SEAREC interns. With the reduced workforce, it took longer to complete production compared to previous years. Trials Director Sinclair Adam and Trials Associate Deneen Shaffer coordinated the program in collaboration with SEAREC Director Professor Alyssa Collins, and the Penn State Floricultural Advisory Board in 2020.

Figure 1. Zinnia Preciosa Orange, American Takii (left), Ipomoea Sweet Caroline Medusa Green, Proven Winners (right). Photos: Sinclair Adam, Penn State

All those who contributed to the Penn State Flower Trials in 2020 at SEAREC were deemed essential workers by the university and did a wonderful job with the trials. Appreciation for the contributions of Allegheny County Penn State Extension Master Gardeners, Hershey Gardens staff, and Dauphin County Penn State Extension Master Gardeners must be expressed as well. Considering the circumstances in 2020, the flower trials program was successful. "It was a wonderful experience to produce, maintain, and trial the plants in most of our usual sites located across the state even with the pandemic", said Sinclair Adam, Penn State Flower Trials Director. "We are very fortunate to have such committed people who contributed so much to these efforts". It is equally great that the companies who provide the plants were so supportive in these challenging times". Penn State Extension educators Krystal Snyder and Nick Flax (who also sit on the Floricultural Advisory Board) made significant contributions in plant culture, production, and program outreach.

Southcentral PA (Lancaster and Dauphin County flower trial sites) experienced the hottest year on record during the months of June–August, while rainfall was close to average during this period. In western PA, the flower trials site at North Park in Allegheny County also experienced excessive heat but received more rainfall than average. Plants are trialed in containers at SEAREC (Lancaster County), but at Hershey Gardens in Dauphin County and North Park the flower trial plants are tested and displayed in the ground. At SEAREC the container number was reduced from three to two containers per entry, which provided a production reduction that was sustainable with the reduced workforce. Plants were not trialed in Centre County in 2020.

Figure 2. Cyperus Cleopatra, Kientzler North America (left), Coleus ColorBlaze Royale Cherry Brandy, Proven Winners (right).  Photos: Sinclair Adam, Penn State

An in-ground perennial trial is conducted at SEAREC as well and the plants entered in this aspect of the Penn State Flower Trials are tested for three consecutive years. This part of the trials went on as usual but was planted a week later than in previous years. In 2020, 1,030 container and in-ground entries were rated at SEAREC. Final results are up on the Penn State Flower Trials web pages for 2020.

"This year Nick Flax, Krystal Snyder, and I created five Penn State Flower Trials videos accessible on our web pages and YouTube showcasing the trials," said Sinclair Adam "As well as a two-and-one-half hour Virtual Field Day which ran on July 23 and drew 494 attendees." "It is interesting to work with new outreach methods in these times, and we are learning a great deal. The video series was developed to give clients more opportunities to view entries at different times of the growing season," said Krystal Snyder.

Figure 3. Salvia Cathedral Blue Bicolor, GreenFuse Botanicals (left), Melampodium Showstar, Benary (right). Photos: Sinclair Adam, Penn State

The importance of these plant trial programs can't be understated, especially when confronting the impact of climate change and weather-induced environmental stresses. New varieties are the lifeblood of our industry and researching plants for their ability to perform is a very good way to evaluate success (or not) in regional and local conditions. "There should be a strong support for plant trials in the future, as this is the best way to encourage strong breeding lines, and outstanding selections", said Sinclair Adam. The Penn State Flower Trials program strives to help breeders, growers, and retailers make sound decisions on varieties for the Mid-Atlantic region, the increased virtual presence has brought the flower trials to more clients than usual. We plan to continue virtual offerings in the future.

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