AAS DESIGNATION A SEAL OF APPROVAL FOR NEW PLANTS
With so many new plant introductions coming at us each year, it’s difficult to know how any one of these plants will perform in our particular region. Unless new plant trials are carried out, with impartial critiquing, we can’t be sure of a plant’s cold hardiness, tolerance to heat, performance in wet weather, disease and pest resistance and a wealth of other criteria that would help us decide if a plant will do well in our gardens.
Back in 1932, Ray Hastings, president of the Southern Seedsman Association of Atlanta, Georgia, proposed the concept of All-America Selections as a means for gardeners to learn about new varieties that were significantly improved over existing ones. He also suggested a network of trial grounds throughout North America in various climates where both flower and vegetable varieties could be impartially assessed by qualified judges.
Because of his foresight, the All-America Selections were established and later that year the first 30 AAS awards were announced, proclaiming their excellence in a wide variety of climatic situations. Today, AAS is the only non-profit plant trialling organization in North America, and their mission statement continues to be: “To promote new garden varieties with superior garden performance, judged in impartial trials in North America.”
The purpose of AAS is to test new, unsold cultivars and to earn gardeners’ trust in their selections. For years, AAS tested both annual and vegetable seed varieties, but in the last few years, they have expanded into vegetative annuals such as geraniums and herbaceous perennials.
There are about 200 trial gardens across North America, including many in Canada, that are dedicated to comparing and judging new plant varieties, as well as display gardens showcasing prior winners. The display gardens are usually found within public gardens and arboretums and at universities.
In B.C., West Coast Seeds trial and judge vegetables, and at Minter Country Garden, we trial vegetative annuals and seed annuals. As an AAS judge, I’m very impressed with the strict criteria and detail involved in the judging. From germination and flowering to outside performance, the new varieties are compared to their closest rivals.
There must be significant positive differences in performance to receive an award. Each new variety goes through a very thorough evaluation. The bottom line: It must be a very good or a great plant to merit receiving an AAS award.
To date for 2018, cuphea Floriglory Diana is the vegetative annual winner. Its hundreds of tiny mauve-pink flowers create such a show that the tiny leaves are hardly visible. It has amazing sun, heat and rain tolerance and grows about 30-by-30 centimetres. Although not well-known in colour gardens, it really is worth a try.
The seed annual gypsophila Gypsy White Improved also offers great weather tolerance, and this miniature double baby’s breath has a very unique ball form.
The ornamental pepper Onyx is impressive with its vibrant red fruits and almost black foliage. As a late summer novelty, it is ideal for garden displays or in pots.
South Pacific Orange, another winner in the South Pacific series, has a striking unique orange colour and keeps going until October.
Zinnia Queeny Lime Orange has a colour pattern like nothing else in your garden. Its large, dahlia-like blooms evolve from dark coral, peach and orange to a light peach — it’s a showstopper!
There are some wonderful edible AAS winners for 2018. One of the first pak choi (or bok choy) to resist bolting is Asian Delight F1. Growing only 12 to 15 cm, it has tender white stems and rich dark green leaves, and the fact it grows for longer is a huge bonus.
Tomato Valentine F1 is one to watch. It’s a superior grape tomato with a sugar brix of seven to nine — that’s sweet! Producing only 55 days from seed, it’s a winner for containers or gardens.
A new sweet corn, Sweet American Dream, is another very tender bi-colour that matures in 77 days from seed.
If you love peppers, Hungarian Mexican Sunrise F1 will get your attention. An earlier variety, it’s semi-hot fruit can be eaten fresh at any stage, and they are wonderful pickled, too.
These are just some of the 2018 winners that will be available for your garden this spring.
Every year there are new vegetable and annual varieties coming out — some will carry the AAS designation. So, this coming spring when you purchase seeds from seed racks at your local garden retailer or order from seed companies, look for the AAS designation. Even when choosing annuals and vegetables plants off garden store shelves, look for AAS Selections on the plant tags — it means they are remarkably improved varieties and will make wonderful additions to your garden. Give them a try!