NATIONAL SWEET PEA TRIALS AT ASKHAM BRYAN AND SPARSHOLT 2015
by Jim McDonald (from 2016 Annual)
This is the report from the two locations. At both sites we were able to carry out assessments on some quality grown plants. The comments from both teams were that they had been grown well, the sites were always neat and tidy and records had been kept for the weekly work carried out.
At SPARSHOLT we have to thank Jamie Cryer and Susanne French and students from the work experience class for producing the plants and flowers. I was always made welcome when visiting and I always received prompt replies to my emails.
The seeds were sown in mid-November and planting out done in early April. From the onset the plants were of a good quality. The ground preparation was completed before Christmas and a month before planting a new irrigation system was installed to cater for the possibility of extreme hot days. This was followed by applying Blood, Fish & Bone, Potassium Sulphate and Grow organic pellets. The ground was completely covered with weed suppressant. At the end of March support frames were erected and the plants, eight per clump were planted.
Mary and I put on a small stand at the Sparsholt Open Day on 16th May which created much interest. The plants were looking good with flowers on one variety. On the 16th June we visited the site and rogued all varieties. The Team then did the assessment during the last week in June and first weeks in July.
PRINCIPAL AWARDS
George Priestley Award for Best Sweet Pea at Askham Bryan
No. 15 Lavender on Cream - Raiser Mr. C.A. Beane
F.C. Harriss Award for Best Sweet Pea at Sparsholt
No. 2 White - Raiser Mr. S. Harrod
REPORTS ON ALL VARIETIES AT SPARSHOLT ARE AS FOLLOWS:-
No. 1 S. Harrod White Code XIV–ONE
Has exhibition potential. Good placement. Bold flowers. One plant had pinking in the flowers – could grow out. Not full of flowers at bottom of clumps for garden decoration.
Award - Exhibition 2. (A.M.)
No. 2 S. Harrod White Code XIV-FEE
Has exhibition qualities. Good placement. Not rolled wings. Two excellent clumps. Full of flowers to make a good garden decoration. Vigorous. Best all-round variety at the trial.
Award - Garden Decoration 3. (H.C.). Exhibition 2. (A.M.)
No. 3 R. Place Red Code 13208
Acacia leaves. Flowers weak for exhibition. Had frill. Both clumps full of flower.
Award - Garden Decoration 2. (A.M.).
No. 4 S. Harrod Cerise Code XIV-TOO
Colour – Salmon on white. Only one clump to judge. Plain standard and wings. Good placement. Even colour. Vigorous growth.
Award - Garden Decoration 2. (A.M.).
No. 5 S. Harrod Orange pink Code XIV-FOR
Vigorous growth. Full of flower. Some plain blooms.
Award - Garden Decoration 2. (A.M.). Exhibition 3. (H.C.)
No. 6 S. Harrod Orange pink Code XIV-SIX
Similar in many ways to No. 5 with more frill in the petals. Good placement of flowers. Would go well cordon grown. Had plenty of flowers all the way through the clumps.
Award - Garden Decoration 2.(A.M.) Exhibition 3. (H.C.).
No. 7 C. McAleer Cerise (Josie) Code 6mO2
Colour – Magenta. Nice colour. Some malformation. Wings and standard plain. Plenty of flowers in both clumps.
Award - Garden Decoration 2. (A.M.).
No. 8 A. Hubbuck Magenta pink Code AAH1
Rogues in both clumps. Not assessed. Possible clean up and resubmit.
No. 9 P. Kerton Pink Code 211
Colour - Lavender/pink? Delicate colour, some bleaching. Plenty of weight in the blooms and form was good. Grown with shading has potential for exhibition.
No. 10 D. Fitton Pink Code DRF/3
Rogues in clumps. Not assessed.
No. 11 R. Parsons Lavender Code 09083
Rogues in both clumps. Not assessed.
No. 12 R. Parsons Lavender bi-colour Code 13143
Not many bi-colours. Big percentage mid to light blue. With so many variations propose
re-submit with correct colour. Not assessed.
No. 13 S. Harrod Mauve Code XIV-EVN
Only one clump available. Flowers weak and plain. Not assessed. Propose re-submit.
No. 14 S. Harrod Maroon Code XIV-ATE
Strong even colour. Vigorous plants with potential for exhibition. Good covering of flowers.
Award - Garden Decoration 3. (H.C.). Exhibition 3. (H.C.).
No. 15 C.A. Beane Lavender on cream Code 29A2
Some virus on both clumps, not due to greenfly, possible pollen beetle. One rogue, flowers small. No awards. Recommend re-submit.
No. 16 A. Hubbuck Lavender mauve Code AH2
Only one clump due to poor germination. Rogues in the clump. Not assessed.
No. 17 D. Fitton Dark maroon Code DRF/1
Rogues in both clumps. Not assessed. The dark maroon in the clumps looked good.
Recommend re-submit.
No. 18 D. Fitton Mauve Code DRF/2
Rogues in both clumps. Not assessed. Recommend reselect and re-submit.
No. 19 R. Parsons Salmon pink Code 13176
Good colour. Flowers sparse on clumps. Some plain standards and wings. No awards.
No 20 S. Harrod Salmon pink Code XIV-FYV
Two separate colour clumps. One as stated (1 rogue), one mauve (true colour), not like any other colour grown in the trials. Not assessed. Propose re-submit correct colour.
No. 21 S. Harrod Salmon cerise Code XIV-NYN
Colour – orange pink. Striking colour. Full of flower in both clumps. Petals not a lot of frill.
Awards – Garden Decoration 2. (A.M.). Exhibition 3. (H.C.).
No. 22 G. King Mauve stripe on white Code 13063
Not full of flower in clumps. Has potential for exhibition. A stripe with a different colour. Similar form to Sir Jimmy Shand. No awards.
No. 23 R. Place Crimson stripe on white Code 13216
Some variation in colour. Had two rogues. No awards. Recommend re-submit when even colour.
No. 24 C. A. Beane Orange stripe on white Code PTJ064W
Full of flower on both clumps. Would look good in borders and for flower arranging. Petals a little plain for exhibition.
Award - Garden Decoration 2. (A.M.).
No. 25 C.A. Beane Lavender stripe on white Code PTJ064X
Acacia leaves. True colour. Ideal for floral art work. One clump not as strong growing as the other.
Award - Garden Decoration 3. (H.C.)
No. 26 J. Reardon Pale pink/pale mauve bicolour Code A/1/6/06
Not assessed. Too many roges in both clumps. The flowers that were correct were more Grandiflora type, but nice combination. Propose reselect and re-submit.
No. 27 P. Kerton Maroon stripe Code 196
Good colour and true. Size of blooms not large enough for exhibition. Too dainty. Not suitable for garden decoration, would not stand out. No awards.
ASKHAM BRYAN - I would just like to record a big thank you to Aaron Hickman, his staff and the students who put in a tremendous lot of hard work to make these trials happen.
Cultivation – Seed was sown on the 16th October, 2014. 1litre long tom pots were used, 5 seeds sown to a pot. The compost used was 70% peat, 30% loam. Added to this mixture EXEMPTA (soil insecticide) and Osmocote fertilizer (3 to 4 months). They were grown on in a polytunnel and planted out 21st April, 2015. This was slightly later than planned due to availability of the students.
Soil preparation used was chicken pellets and Fish, Blood & Bone worked into a raised bed. After planting out the sweet peas were given a feed of liquid seaweed. A weekly foliar feed using Miracle Grow until flowering commenced, then changed to Maxicrop with potash also delivered as a foliar feed.
No sign of aphids were seen during the trial. The only pest problem encountered was the floristry lecturer and students eyeing up the flowers for their classes!!!
The plants were supported on chicken wire frames and 7ft bamboo canes. The plants were in 2 clumps and allowed to grow naturally up the frames.
Judging - The judging was carried out on the 30th June, 7th July with the final judging done on the 14th July. Of the 27 entries, 8 contained rogues and were not judged. The judging team, seen in the 2015 NSPS Annual, was split into two teams with a team leader for each. The students attended one of the judgings and were allocated to one of the teams. During judging several visitors as observers attended with permission of the college. It was agreed next year that some of the judging panel will help with the cultivation e.g. planting out.
REPORTS ON ALL VARIETIES AT ASKHAM BRYAN ARE AS FOLLOWS:-
No. 1 S. Harrod White Code XIV-ONE
Award - Exhibition 3. (H.C.).
No. 2 S. Harrod White Code XIV-FEE
Award - Exhbition 3. (H.C.). Garden Decoration 3. (H.C.)
No. 3 R. Place Red Code 13208
Colour – Crimson. Acacia leaf. Good stems. No award.
No. 4 S. Harrod Cerise Code XIV-TOO
Award - Exhibition 3. (H.C.). Garden Decoration 3. (H.C.)
No. 5 S. Harrod Orange pink Code XIV-FOR
No award.
No. 6 S. Harrod Orange pink Code XIV-SIX
Nice colour. Re-submit. No award
No. 7 C. McAleer Magenta Code 6m02
No award.
No. 8 A. Hubbuck Magenta pink Code AAH1
Colour – Pale pink/mauve Rogues
No. 9 P. Kerton Pink Code 211
Colour – Lilac pink. No award.
No. 10 D. Fitton Pink Code DRF/3
Colour – Mid blue Rogues
No. 11 R. Parsons Lavender Code 09083
Colour – Cream Acacia leaf Rogues
No. 12 R. Parsons Lavender Code 13143
Bi-colour. Colour Pale blue Rogues Re-select
No. 13 S. Harrod Mauve Code XIV-EVN
No award.
No. 14 S. Harrod Maroon Code XIV-ATE
No award.
No. 15 C.A. Beane Lavender on cream Code 29A2
Awards Exhibition 3. (H.C.). Garden Decoration 2 (A.M.) Best sweet pea on trial
No. 16 A. Hubbuck Lavender/mauve Code AH2
1 rogue. Award - Exhibition 3 (H.C.)
No. 17 D. Fitton Dark maroon Code DRF/1
Rogues. Mixed
No. 18 D. Fitton Mauve Code DRF/2
Colour – pink and purple. Rogues
No. 19 R. Parsons Salmon pink Code 13176
1 rogue cream. Re-submit. No award
No. 20 S. Harrod Salmon pink Code XIV-FYV
Re-submit. Award - Garden Decoration 3 (H.C.)
No. 21 S. Harrod Salmon cerise Code XIV-NYN
2 maroon. Rogues
No. 22 G. King Mauve stripe on white Code 13063
No award.
No. 23 R. Place Maroon stripe on white Code 13216
Acacia leaf. 1 rogue blue flake
No. 24 C.A. Beane Orange stripe on white Code PTJ064W
Award – Garden Decoration 2. (A.M.)
No. 25 C.A. Beane Lavender stripe on white Code PTJO64X
Award – Garden Decoration 2. (A.M.). Best acacia leaf in trial.
No. 26 J. Reardon Pink/mauve bi-colour Code A/1/6/06
Rogues
No. 27 P. Kerton Maroon stripe Code 196
1 rogue maroon solid colour. No award.
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