For those who did not go down to the trials field at Wisley this summer, you missed a great surprise. The humble snapdragon was an unexpected spectacle that lasted from June to October.
For a complete list of antirrhinum cultivars under trial click here
The best cultivars of 2004 will be sown and grown again in 2005 without any spray programme to assess their susceptibility/resistance to rust
The Floral Trials Committee decided to accept all the offers of entries from the worldwide seedhouses - this meant that 221 entries were grown. Seed was sown into trays in February. The seedlings were transplanted into modules.
On transplanting in early May, some of the small plants in their modules were not sufficiently soaked in water prior to being planted. This resulted in them not becoming established, the roots remaining in a tight pot shape, and the plant slowly dying through lack of moisture.
The trial had three types - dwarf, medium sized and tall. The latter have been bred for the cut flower trade and proved to have extremely large central spikes in an amazing spectrum of colours. Unfortunately, these are not generally available to the general public, but the interest they generated may encourage retail seed merchants to include some in their catalogues. No doubt in the cut flower trade, these first spikes are harvested and the plant then discarded. However, in the trial the central spike was deadheaded and the subsequent laterals, though smaller, were still very good value for cut flower for the house. For garden decoration, these tall cultivars would need staking - or good stalwart neighbours as props. It was noted that the dwarf cultivars could be used in containers to good effect.
Flowering started early in June, especially in the dwarf section of the trial. However, during the summer it was noted that antirrhinum are not continuous in their flowering. After their first flush there is a period of up to two weeks before the second flush and this pattern continues throughout the summer.
Deadheading of half the plants of each entry, had variable results. Some cultivars benefited, whereas with others - even those within the same series - it had little effect on quantity and quality of new flowers.
Rust disease is known to have devastating results on antirrhinum - especially when a lot of plants are grown close together; small groups of plants in gardens do not usually pose such a problem. Some breeding has been undertaken and claims made for rust resistant cultivars. It is known that some cultivars are particularly susceptible and this would risk the infection spreading rapidly through the trial. It was therefore decided that a spray programme should be put in place; a fungicide was used fortnightly on the trial until the end of August. The incidence of rust was then monitored and recorded, with interesting results. All entries had some rust by mid-October, quite a number (approximately 55 of the 221 entries) showed some resistance, whereas others, particularly the tall cultivars were quick to succumb.
The Committee decided that the recommendations for the AGM should be put on hold until the plants underwent a further assessment to establish their susceptibility to rust. These plants will be grown without any spray and the results recorded. AGMs will be announced in 2005 after this assessment has taken place.