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All-America Selections Announces 2007 Seed-Grown Flowers and Vegetables Winners
All-America Selections, a non-profit organization that evaluates new seed-grown flowers and vegetables, announced its first round of 2007 winners to commemorate its 75th anniversary. The four winners are exemplary new additions for annual and vegetable gardens. Putnam County residents will find the seeds and nursery-grown plants at local nurseries and garden centers later this spring, according to Dianne Olsen of Putnam County Cornell Cooperative Extensions.
A new Celosia plumosa, called "Fresh Look Gold," will delight gardeners looking for a rich, deep golden yellow. The plumes don't "wimp out" in rain and are excellent for drying. While germination is easy, Celosia requires about 12 weeks of leaf growth before it blooms, so home gardeners need to start it early or buy plants. Another new plant that needs early seeding is a Petunia called "Opera Supreme Pink Morn," which promises not to need deadheading to remain in bloom. This petunia is a big, spreading plant, growing as large as three to four feet, so it will be terrific for bedding areas or in large, dramatic containers.
A new bedding vinca (actually Catharanthus roseus), "Pacific Burgundy Halo," has dark burgundy flowers with white centers and glossy, dark green foliage. I don't know why more gardeners do not use annual vincas - they are splendid, drought-tolerant plants for sunny spots and can even handle some afternoon shade. A quick bloomer, "Pacific Burgundy Halo" will flower in only 60 days from sowing the seed. The "Holy Mole" pepper, a seveninch long, chocolate-brown pepper is perfect for making Spanish mole sauce, a sweetspicy brown sauce for chicken. This pepper is resistant to tobacco mosaic virus and is an easy, 85-day harvest, about one or two weeks earlier than other sweet peppers.
For more information and pictures of the AAS winners, go to
w w w . a l l - americaselections.org
And don't forget to ask your local nursery or garden center for the seeds or plants next spring.
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