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| Achimenes 'Red Elf' by Ron |
Achimenes
--- The beginning of the campaign, Part III
A commercial horticultural crop
takes a long time to develop.
Impatiens were a weed until Claude
Hope and Ball Seed Company created a hybridizing station in Costa Rica. After many years, Impatiens became the
dominate summer shade annual. Then a
devastating fungus, Downy Mildew, crippled Impatiens.
In the meantime, New Guinea
Impatiens, which also started as roadside weeds, filled in for the shady
annual. There are national field trials
for annuals to compare varieties. That
is a joke with New Guinea Impatiens because there are no bad ones. They are all superior flowering shade and sun
plants.
These are two examples of
horticultural innovation. Achimenes are
already beyond the weed stage of development.
Modern day hybrids are already exceptional.
So how many years will it take to
establish Achimenes as a popular flowering shade annual?
We need the World’s best varieties,
a champion producer and a stable supply system.
I tried growing Achimenes back in the 80s under lights with my African violets and other gesneriads. I was moderately successful, but I'm looking forward to trying them outdoors this summer. I think that once I get them established they will be perfect hanging basket plants for my shady front porch and rear deck area.
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