The Ohio State University Learning Gardens Pansy/Viola Cultivar Trial 2004 - 05 FALL Results By Monica Kmetz-Gonzalez and Dr. Claudio Pasian The Ohio State University Department of Horticulture & Crop Science This was the fifth year we conducted our Fall Pansy and Viola Trials. Plants were transplanted outside in late September to early October, and evaluated later in the Fall, then throughout the Winter and Spring. This report presents the results of our Fall evaluations, both the Plant Characteristic Evaluation performed by the Trials Leader and Trials Manager, and the Consumer Preference Evaluation performed by our team of Master Gardeners. Results of the Spring evaluation will be presented later this year.  See tables with results and photos below. Trial Site Location: The trial was conducted in a new in-ground trial site adjacent to our Departmental buildings, in an area of high visibility on the Columbus campus. The beds are located in full sun. Plant Material: Seed from participating breeders and distributors was grown on once again for us this year by Mr. Bob Barnitz of Bob's Market & Greenhouse, Mason, WV. There were 24 Pansy entries (11 "panola" types) and 9 Violas, bringing the total number of cultivars evaluated to 33. Procedure: Plants were received in our greenhouses on 9/29 in 2 ¼" cell paks. A Plantshield drench (@ full rate 5 oz/100 gal) was applied on the following day. Fifteen plants per cultivar were transplanted in-ground between September 30 to October 5. Spacing was 15" between plants in a row, 12" between rows of the same cultivar, and 18" between different cultivars. Post-planting fertilization occurred on October 7 with 200 ppm N 20-10-20 via Dosatron. Weather Conditions: Temperatures in October were warmer than normal, providing good growth and establishment of the plants. Precipitation was average. Plants were also watered as needed. November temperatures and precipitation were average for this area. The first hard freeze occurred in early December. Evaluations and Results: Two types of evaluations were performed. 1 ) Plant Characteristics were evaluated in depth by our Trials group. Ratings were based on a 1- 5 scale (1 = Not Acceptable, 5 = Exceptional).  The following characteristics were evaluated: Flower Quality/Appearance: Aesthetics, color, health, and appearance Flower Number: 1 = Low, 5 = Very floriferous Vegetative Growth/Foliage: Vegetative vigor, aesthetics/color, health, and appearance Overall: Overall rating for the group, taking all the above criteria into consideration. 2) Consumer Preference Evaluations were performed by our Team of Master Gardeners. These evaluations were based purely on personal preference, on a 1 - 5 scale (5 = Exceptional) rating the overall appearance of the individual cultivars. Results presented are as follows. Plant types are grouped within the tables. Plant Characteristic Evaluations: Performed 11/8/04 by the Trials Leader and Trials Managers = Table 1 Consumer Preference Evaluations: Performed 11/9/04 by our 8 member team of Master Gardeners = Table 2 TOP PERFORMERS: Top performers (4.0+ rating) in evaluations performed by the Trials Leader and Trials Managers were: "Panola" type: 'Nature Ocean', 'Panola Blue Sky', 'Panola Violet Picotee', and 'Nature Beacon'. Pansies: 'Matrix Ocean' Violas: 'Sorbet Icy Blue' . Top performers (4.0+ average) in our Consumer Preference Trial, as rated by our Master Gardener Team were: "Panola" type: 'Nature Beacon', 'Panola Blue Sky', 'Panola Violet Picotee', and 'Nature Blue'. Pansies: 'Matrix Ocean' and 'Matrix Blue Frost'. Violas: 'Gem Icy Blue' and 'Sorbet Icy Blue' . Top overall performer for all plant types in the Consumer Preference Trial was 'Matrix Ocean'. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: We would like to acknowledge our dedicated team of Master Gardeners who helped in all phases of this trial. Thanks to David Snodgrass, Greenhouse Supervisor, and Annette Duetz, Learning Gardens Supervisor, for their assistance. We thank Mr. Bob Barnitz of Bob's Market & Greenhouse for seeding and growing on the transplants. We thank Bioworks for their donation of "Plantshield". And we thank the following companies for their participation in this year's trial: Benary = http://www.benary.com PanAmerican Seeds = http://www.panamseed.com Takii = http://www.takii.com