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| Achimenes 'Yellow English Rose' |
The Achimenes project has been
progressing for over a year. Most small
production greenhouses do not do any R & D.
Research and Development requires a lot of time and money with unknown
financial return.
Commercial production is set up to have
something to sell all the time and grow it with the lowest cost and shortest
time as possible.
The (Development) of Achimenes will
use known horticultural practices but there is a lot of trial and error
(Research). What is the schedule, the timing, the light levels, temperature, insects and diseases to fight. How is the stock base managed?
There is no mention of Achimenes in
any trade magazine. Achimenes has not
shown up at any trade shows nor been featured at this Spring’s California new
varieties showcase.
If anybody is working on Achimenes,
they are staying quiet, just like us.
If there is no competition for your
product, it means either it’s very different or there is no demand for it.
If a viable crop can be grown, we
need a sign that this work has paid off.
I was able to pick up some rhizomes at the Northern Illinois Gesneriad Show a few weeks back. I just noticed this morning that two of the four varieties are sprouting. I'm hoping to move them out to my shaded porch in a few weeks when the weather is nicer.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you are growing some Achimenes. Varieties seem to have their own clock on when to start. Warm and long days is part of it. But it must be length of time being dormant, also.
ReplyDeleteOnce you have tips growing, it is best to pinch to get more branches, therefore, more flowers.
What are your variety names?
Hope to hear of your success.
I have 'Coral Sunset', 'Summer Sunset', 'Peach Glow', and 'Weinerwaltzer'. There weren't a lot of varieties to choose from but the grower who was selling the rhizomes suggested these were among her best. So far, only 'Weinerwatzer' hasn't sprouted.
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, I do intend to pinch them when they are big enough.
I'm not familiar with your varieties, but I'm sure they will be pretty. We are still learning about what can be selected as good traits. We know that heat tolerance is a requirement. And breaking dormancy is variable.
ReplyDeleteThey're all up now. I've been able to find photos of all but 'Weinerwaltzer' on line. I'm wondering if that may be an older European variety. I was initially amused by the name, but then I realized it is probably German for Vienna Waltz(er).
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