2000/01 OSU LEARNING GARDEN FALL PANSY - VIOLA TRIAL RESULTS By Monica Kmetz-Gonzalez and Dr. Claudio Pasian Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, The OSU, Columbus, OH A Fall Pansy/Viola trial was conducted for the first time at the Ohio State University from September 2000 to May 2001. Below, you will find a couple of tables with the results of the trial. Plants representing 60 cultivars were generously donated by Mr. Bob Barnitz of Bob's Market & Greenhouse, Mason, WV. Ten well developed plants per cultivar were planted in raised soil-beds on September 18, 2000. No mulch was used for cold protection or weed control. Ten days after planting and on October 16, the beds were fertilized with a 20-10-20 fertilizer solution at a rate of 200 ppm nitrogen. The fall evaluation was conducted by 7 evaluators while the spring evaluation was conducted by 18 persons: OSU faculty, staff, students, Chadwick Arboretum volunteers and Master Gardeners (Photo 1) (Photo 2). Using a scale 1 - 5 (1 = Poor, 5 = Excellent), they evaluated three plant characteristics: "flowers", "leaves" (foliage), and "uniformity". The category "overall" represents the average of "foliage" and "flower" evaluations. The tables contain results of the evaluations conducted on October 31 - November 2, 2000 and April 23 - 25, 2001. Overall, most cultivars fared very well considering it was a cold winter with minimal snow-cover and no mulch was used (Photo 3). Some of the cultivars stayed green (although stressed) all winter and were the first in showing color in early Spring, even before daffodils and tulips began flowering. We thank David Snodgrass, Marcia Feller, Jim Vent and all evaluators for their important assistance. Take a view of the trial: (Photo 4) (Photo 5) (Photo 6) (Photo 7)