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All-America Selections Announces 2022 Winners
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ll-America Selections (AAS) is an independent non-profit organization that tests new, never-before-sold varieties for the home gardener. After a full season of anonymous trialing by volunteer horticulture professionals, only the top garden performers are given the AAS Winner award designation for their superior performance. Thank you to AAS for providing descriptions and photos of these exciting new varieties. While planning to include any of these winners for the next gardening season, keep in mind availability. Often these jewels are hard to come by in the first year. Before heading out, call your local garden centers and ask for these plants or seeds by name. Also, see the AAS buyer’s guide for names of companies that sell AAS winning seeds and plants. Visit all-americaselections.org/buy-winners for more information.
Begonia Viking™ Explorer Rose on Green F1 2022 AAS Ornamental Winner Erase that sea-faring conqueror image and replace it with this 10
January 2022 | kcgmag.com
garden-faring beauty that performs exceptionally well and has high impact color. This trailing begonia “explores” the garden by spreading and spilling its branches over the edges of hanging baskets and containers. Prolific rose-colored flowers stand out against the glossy green foliage and do so all season long. It has a strong tolerance to heat and many diseases, as well as both wet and dry conditions. “Stellar performance for containers” states one AAS Judge. “Good plant with season-long integrity,” says another. These new Vikings are sure to be a garden favorite. Eggplant Icicle F1 2022 AAS Edible-Vegetable Winner This cylindrical white eggplant earned the prestigious AAS award for several reasons. The Icicle plant has fewer spines than most eggplants, making for a less painful harvest! With larger fruits than other white eggplants, it produces a nice yield while also providing fewer seeds. The large, durable, and vigorous plants hold up to insect damage and the environment. The pure white skin does not tend
to yellow like many other white varieties of eggplant. The improved taste and texture has universal appeal (whether fresh or cooked), one judge served it to his children: “Even my 11-year-old asked for seconds when I breaded and fried them at home.” That’s a culinary testimonial! Lettuce Bauer 2022 AAS Edible – Vegetable Winner Oakleaf lettuce is a delicious and versatile edible that is super easy (and fast) to grow in the garden. Harvest at the baby leaf stage or grow into the rosette-shaped full-sized head. Bauer will please with its darker green color and nicely uniform compact size that can be grown almost anywhere… in-ground, containers, or window boxes. The dense heads produce a plethora of sweet, crisp sturdy leaves. Now all you need is your favorite vinaigrette! One judge went a step further and tried growing Bauer in a home aeroponics system. He reported that it did brilliantly, making it an excellent candidate for controlled environment production.
Pepper Buffy F1 2022 AAS Edible – Vegetable Winner Will this Buffy fend off bloodsucking supernatural beings? We’re not sure, but we do know it’s one very delicious hot pepper! “I dig this fiery little pepper!” says one judge. “I have nothing negative to say about this variety,” exclaims another. This Buffy will do right by you by producing a good yield of juicy, thick-walled green to red fruits on strong, healthy upright plants. Buffy’s fruits are more attractive than the comparisons as well as slightly larger making them perfect for flavorful sport peppers but also for use in other applications. The peppers are held high on the plant adding ornamental value to the garden. Buffy was faster to mature than Tobasco in the AAS trials with a bit less heat than Ascent until the seeds are added in. In summary, Buffy deserves its moment of recognition and deserves a place in your garden. Pepper Dragonfly F1 2022 AAS Edible-Vegetable Winner Dragonfly pepper plants produce beautiful purple peppers that
