12/15/1997

All-America Selections Show Gardeners the Best for Their Gardens

AUBURN, Ala. - Since 1992, Auburn University researchers have been "test driving" vegetable and flower varieties as a part of the All-America Selections (AAS) program.

The objective of the AAS Display Garden at the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station System's E.V. Smith Research Center in Shorter is to show central Alabamians what will grow well in their gardens, according to Bridget Behe, associate professor of horticulture at Auburn University's College of Agriculture.

AAS was established in 1932 as a nonprofit educational organization to test new cultivars nationwide, said Mary Beth Musgrove, extension program associate in horticulture.

"Gardening is the number one hobby, nationally," Behe said. About 75 percent of Americans are gardeners, she said. The AAS Display Garden gives gardeners in Alabama a look at how many varieties perform.

"We have some practical research that can help people do well in their gardening," said Behe. "It's like test driving the plants before spending the money."

Up to 400 flower and vegetable cultivars are planted in the garden each summer. However, only new, previously unsold varieties may be entered for trial, Musgrove said. Data is collected on the plants every two weeks to plot their performance.

The garden is given minimal maintenance -- weeding, but little pesticide use -- to give gardeners an idea of how plants perform under conditions that are easy to sustain, Behe said. The plants are given no shade and receive one inch of rainfall or irrigation per week.

"Flowers are judged on color, disease resistance and ability to flower over a long period under extreme weather conditions, such as extreme heat and humidity found in the Southeastern United States," Musgrove said.

Vegetables are evaluated for flavor, disease resistance, space efficiency, appearance and yield, Musgrove said.

Each year a few flower and vegetable varieties are chosen as nationwide winners for their performance. The AAS Winners for 1997 were Crystal White zinnias, Gypsy gypsophilia, Prestige Scarlet celosia cristata, Dynamo cabbage, Cajun Delight okra and Siam Queen Thai basil.

AAS Winners can be identified by the red, white and blue AAS shield in seed catalogs and on seed packets and labels. In addition to the Display Garden at E.V. Smith Research Center, there are two other Display Gardens in Alabama: Bellengrath Gardens in Mobile and the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham.

"Official All-America Display Gardens are open to the public throughout the growing season," Musgrove said. "Gardeners can visit these Display Gardens and judge performance of varieties for themselves."

Behe said the best time to visit the E.V. Smith Display Garden to see ideal summer performance is in mid- to late August.

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News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
by Anna M. Lee

12/15/97