New garden mum trials debut in Ontario

Attendees were able evaluate the performance of garden mums for early, mid and late-season. This information can help growers reduce PGR use and schedule their mum varieties based on performance. "There were cool enough nights in early August to set buds," says Sawaya, even amid the heavy winds and rain.

Travelling from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., Jared Hielema of Sunshine Express Garden Centre walked among the trial looking for big, flowering varieties with rounded habits. The garden centre has its own production facility, and they're particularly interested in something with 'presence,' says Hielema. Something on the larger side with a pleasing flower-to-foliage ratio.

Dümmen Orange representatives QiuXia Chen and Rick Rabb were on site for the official open house. With just six to seven years on the market, Dümmen Orange is relatively new to the segment compared to some of the other breeders and brokers present. But that means the team is keeping a close eye on performance.

"We want colours that last," says Chen, who oversees the mum portfolio. Visiting trials across North America, she's also looking for disease resistance, flower size and habit, comparing the performance of identical genetics across regions. Trial performance will also influence their recommendations for particular regions.

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Source: Greenhouse Canada