Cultivation trials conducted at Benary prove that the exceptional Scabiosa 'Ritz Blue' can be flowered in spring, along with pansies. Potential selling dates include mid-March, mid-April and late April.
Growers have acknowledged the enormous potential of 'Ritz Blue' ever since this FastraX perennial was first introduced. As a summer pot item, Scabiosa 'Ritz Blue' is a vernalization-free fast crop for straightforward and programmable production. Its well-branched globe-shaped habit that reaches a garden height up to 25 cm, combined with durable, very dainty sky blue flowers and great versatility, makes Scabiosa 'Ritz Blue' a great choice for retailers.
Due to this supreme plant quality, Scabiosa 'Ritz Blue' was, for the first time, subjected to a number of cultivation trials in Hann. Münden in order to determine whether it was suitable for spring production and whether it was appropriate for production alongside pansies as a high-quality supplement to existing spring assortments. The initial results are promising: Three of a total of five cultivation variants can be applied in spring. The fastest spring production yields blooming plants in mid-March. It is possible to produce Scabiosa 'Ritz' for mid-April or late April sales alongside pansies. This FastraX perennial can also be used in the B&B range for early May sales or as a summer pot item to suit its natural flowering period from June through September.
What conclusions follow from Benary's trials? Scabiosa 'Ritz Blue' is well suited for spring production. Crop management may need to vary between locations and should be tested and adjusted to suit specific site conditions. Producers and retailers have real benefits from these findings: extra business with high sales potential in early spring, the B&B period, and in the summer because Scabiosa 'Ritz Blue' features high flexibility in production. With a long shelf life, combined with great versatility, Scabiosa 'Ritz Blue' guarantees strong interest at the retail, stimulating impulsive and repeat buys.
Ute Kaiser, Benary's Product Manager, takes stock: "Scabiosa 'Ritz Blue' can't of course replace the classical spring flowers, such as pansies, bellis, or myosotis. This FastraX perennial is, however, a serious prime-quality supplement to the spring classics. It can be placed at the top end of the price segment as a spring-flowering perennial, counteracting the current trend towards low prices in the weather-sensitive spring business."
With Scabiosa 'Ritz Blue', Benary is upholding the company's tradition of creating fascinating, profitable spring-flowering perennials. Other major items from Benary's range of alternative spring crops include Doronicum 'Little Leo', Aquilegia 'Spring Magic'®, Primula 'Crescendo'® and many more.
