Sep 9, 2013

Summer Summit yields seed winners

Seed industry judges for the 2013 All-America Selections (AAS) Summer Summit selected top flower and vegetable varieties at the Stokes Seeds Trial Farm at St. Catharines, Ontario on Aug. 14.

An opportunity was given to European, Canadian and U.S. seed companies to gain knowledge of flower and vegetable varieties through observations made by Stokes’ sales and farm research teams. Evaluations submitted to AAS help determine flower and vegetable AAS winners seen by commercial growers and home gardeners in the coming years.

An AAS Trial Ground is a location where a professional horticulturist works in their field and where the AAS entries are planted next to comparisons or check varieties. Stokes Seeds houses a trial ground on the 34-acre research farm.

All-America Selections is an independent, non-profit organization that tests varieties throughout North America.

The 2014 Vegetable Award went to the Dwarf French extra fine Bean – “Mascotte” that is well adapted for window boxes and pots as well as for the garden. Characteristics include straight, long, round and stringless, extra-fine crisp pods.

The 2014 Bedding Plant Award Winner was the early flowering Gaura – “Sparkle White.” The plant has a long period of bloom, a controlled habit and strong branching.

Stokes Seeds is a fourth-generation family owned business led by chairman John Gale and president Wayne Gale. Both are past presidents of AAS.

Stokes serves commercial growers across Canada and the U.S.