Vaughn Fletcher has spend more than three decades in the gardening manufacture . He believes playing area trial like the ones performed by Texas A&M AgriLife Research in Overton are critical to helping grower make informed decisions about the cosmetic plant they produce for public intake .
On June 30 , he go to the yearly AgriLife Research horticulture field of battle daytime to inform himself about around 350 plant variety on display .
The athletic field day was hold at the bedding flora trial garden at the Bruce McMillan Jr. Foundation East Farm and included the container plant life trial and demonstration garden at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Overton .
Zesty Purple Zinnias were a big bang among attender at the 2022 Texas A&M AgriLife Research field trials in Overton . ( Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Adam Russell )
Brent Pemberton , Ph.D. , retired AgriLife Research cosmetic horticulturist , started the athletic field visitation and field daylight to cope with the need of commercial ejaculate companies , local greenhouse managers , and gardening fancier who desire more information about how variety performed .
Gathering data in the fieldFletcher consults now and write about the various trials he attends and plant he sees around the United States . Previously , he drop 35 year in horticultural brokerage sales for ornamental company like Syngenta and McHutchison . He has look the annual East Texas Horticulture Field Day for more than 15 geezerhood .
Denver Daisy Rudbeckia were a smash with pollinator . The flowers were buzzing with a miscellany of bee species . ( Texas A&M AgriLife photograph by Adam Russell )
The field day is a public showcase of cosmetic industrial plant variety , most of which have been freshly released or are pending waiver , under theatre tryout conditions that test their performance in East Texas . There are also many well - established standard salmagundi in the trial garden to give AgriLife Research relative data for the test plant . Some years , up to 500 ornamental varieties are on display .
Fletcher allege the trial provide twelvemonth - to - year perspective and scientific data regarding how plants perform . The trials educated him about what varieties perform well under varied conditions , so he could provide agriculturalist with recommendations regarding what potpourri are desirable of propagation .
The trials help evaluate novel addition for wider nursery and retail availability and merchandising , he say .
“ tryout like this put up very valuable information for company , ” he said . “ company are very materialistic when they consider flora varieties because they want proven victor . So , gather information in the field is crucial for new works or varieties that have been overlook . ”
Around 350 ornamental plant assortment were on public display at the 2022 East Texas Horticulture Field Day in Overton . ( Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Adam Russell )
The trialsThe field twenty-four hour period has become an opportunity to showcase plants and educate industry professionals and the public about the weather condition under which plant perform best .
Companies like Syngenta , which has trials in the field of study this year , provide seeds or cuttings from the selections they want test and enshroud the cost of materials to lead the trial . A bully spate of the labor to produce and embed them is provided by area Texas Master Gardener Volunteer , who expend the test as a path of gather hours required by the overlord gardener program .
This twelvemonth at the Overton trials , it was the early heat that tested many varieties , sound out Erin Smith , AgriLife Research horticulture enquiry associate , Overton .
Each season delivers weather that produces condition better for some plant than in previous year , and each year there are exceptional examples of plants grown , she said . The timing of the event , which typically occurs in mid to late June , provides a unequaled snap of plant performance .
Celosias performed very well under the heat and sunshine at the 2022 Texas A&M AgriLife Research study trial in Overton . ( Texas A&M AgriLife photograph by Adam Russell )
Several of the trials are considered “ sun and shade ” varieties , which means varieties are tested under full sunshine and under the wraith provided artificially with a 30 % shade material . Some variety that performed comparatively well in the wraith had difficulty in the other heat energy and full sun this time of year .
Lantanas , caladium , vincas , zinnias , phlox , and hibiscus plants have performed exceptionally well so far under the problematical conditions this year , Smith said .
“ The heat amount on so early that many of the heat - sore flora really skin , ” she said . “ The trials are about carrying into action over the totality of the season . The field sidereal day can be a good indicant of how plants might front at this clip of year , but the data we collect between planting and frost is what the trials are all about . ”
Trialed plants and time of year - long result summaries , People ’s Choice leaning , and other information from the field run and other cosmetic inquiry over the years at the Overton nub are available atEast Texas Ornamental Plant Evaluations .
For more information : Texas A&M AgriLife Extensionwww.agrilifetoday.tamu.edu
