First Five AAS Winners for the 2017 Garden Season Announced

All-America Selections, the only trialing organization for plants that demonstrate great garden performance throughout North America, presents the first five AAS Winners for the 2017 garden season.

Each of the following award-winning varieties was trialed in North America by professional, independent judges during one growing season. Each AAS entry is trialed next to one or two comparison varieties that are considered best-in-class among those currently on the market. With a July announcement, these AAS Winners are available for immediate purchase.

This first group of AAS Winners for 2017 includes:
Celosia Asian Garden (National Winner)
Okra Candle Fire F1 (National Winner)
Pea Patio Pride (Regional Winner)
Squash Honeybaby F1 (Regional Winner)
Watermelon Mini Love F1 (National Winner)

With this announcement, these varieties become available for immediate sale to the commercial and home garden markets. Links on each company name below the descriptions lead to the appropriate email address from which to order that variety. Brokers, growers, mail order and seed packet companies can purchase these varieties immediately. Retailers and consumers will find these AAS Winners for sale for the 2017 gardening season as supply becomes available throughout the chain of distribution. Garden communicators are free to begin writing about these varieties now to build anticipation for 2017 gardens. Each AAS Winner will be marketed through an extensive Social Media and public relations campaign.

Display Gardens grow, label and display AAS Winners from the past five years.

Celosia Asian Garden

AAS 2017 Ornamental from Seed Winner
National Winner

This spiked beauty claimed victory in North America’s trial sites to become the first ever AAS Winner from Japanese breeding company Murakami Seed. The judges gave this entry high marks in the greenhouse for the good branching, almost bushy growth habit and early-to-bloom flower spikes.

In the garden, Asian Garden celosia continued to bloom on sturdy stems, keeping the bright pink color all summer long, holding up even through some of the first frosts of the season. The AAS Judges commented on the fact that this celosia was a pollinator-magnet, making this AAS Winner a sure bet for pollinator-friendly gardens.

Bred by Murakami Seed Co., Ltd.

AAS® Winner Data
Genus species: Celosia argentea
Common name: Celosia
Flower color: Pink
Foliage color: Green with pink veins
Flower size: 1-2 inch spikes
Plant height: 30-40 inches
Plant type: Annual
Garden location: Full sun
Garden spacing: 12-15 inches
Closest comparisons on market: Flamingo

Okra Candle Fire F1

AAS 2017 Edible Winner
National Winner

A unique red okra with pods that are round, not ribbed, and a brighter red color than the reddish burgundy okras currently available. This high-performing AAS Winner received high marks for productivity, taste, texture and tenderness as well as the ornamental value of red pods on red stems. One judge noted that Candle Fire okra was quite maintenance free to grow, except for the frequent harvesting, which is a great thing! Candle Fire thrives in the heat and is disease resistant even in hot humid climates like the south where it’s perfect for traditional fried okra.

Bred by Known-You Seed Co. Ltd

AAS® Winner Data
Genus species: Hibiscus esculentus
Common name: Okra
Fruit size: 4-5 inches
Fruit shape: Round
Fruit color: Red
Plant type: Annual
Plant height: 4 feet
Plant habit: Vigorous, well-branching
Garden location: Full sun
Garden spacing: 2 feet apart
Length of time to harvest: 60 days from sowing seed, 45 days from transplant
Closest comparisons on market: Carmine Splendor F1, Red Burgundy

Pea Patio Pride

AAS 2017 Edible Winner
Regional Winner – Southeast

This compact beauty produces sweet, uniform pods that are very tender when harvested early. With only 40 days needed to maturity, Patio Pride can be one of your first spring harvests, or one of the last fall harvests from your Southeastern garden! This pea is wonderful when planted in containers and is ideal for succession planting yielding a consistent harvest over many weeks. Plant in patio containers with cool season flowers for a beautiful combination ornamental and edible display. Direct seeding is recommended; seed 3-4 seeds every 6 inches then thin to one seedling every 6-8 inches.

Bred by Terra Organics

AAS® Winner Data
Genus species: Pisum sativum
Common name: Pea
Fruit flavor: Tender, sweet
Fruit size: 2-3 inches
Fruit shape: Elongated pod
Fruit color: Green
Plant type: Annual
Plant height: 10 inches if not trained on a support
Plant habit: Compact
Garden location: Full sun
Garden spacing: 10 inches apart
Length of time to harvest: 40 days from sowing seed, transplanting not recommended
Closest comparisons on market: Tom Thumb, Avalanche

Squash Honeybaby F1

AAS 2017 Edible Winner
Regional Winner – Heartland

Honeybaby is a very productive variety of winter squash producing numerous fruits on a compact plant. These shorter vines grow 2-3 feet in a semi-bush habit showing great garden vigor which results in healthier plants that resisted powdery mildew later into the season, especially in the Southeast. Short, wide fruits are slightly larger, sweet and nutty and more meaty than similar comparison varieties. Honeybaby is delicious steamed, baked or made into soups and stews. Plant as soon as soil temperatures reach 65 degrees to ensure maturity in 90-100 days.

Bred by Seeds By Design

AAS® Winner Data
Genus species: Cucurbita mushata
Common name: Winter Squash
Fruit flavor: Nutty, sweet
Fruit size: 6-7 inches
Fruit shape: Light bulb
Fruit color: Orange interior, tan exterior
Plant type: Annual
Plant height: 9-10 inches
Plant habit: Compact, semi-bush
Garden location: Full sun
Garden spacing: 2 feet apart
Length of time to harvest: 90-100 days from sowing seed
Closest comparisons on market: Honeynut, Butterscotch F1

Watermelon Mini Love F1

AAS 2017 Edible Winner
National Winner

This personal-sized Asian watermelon is perfect for smaller families and smaller gardens. Shorter vines (3-4’) still produce up to six fruits per plant and can be grown in smaller spaces. Several judges commented on the crack and split resistant rinds, important for reducing crop loss. For culinary purposes this deep red fleshed watermelon has a thin but strong rind that can be carved into attractive shapes for fruit salad presentations. Mini Love has a high sugar content resulting in sweet and crisp, juicy flesh that will be a true summer delight for watermelon lovers.

Bred by HM. Clause

AAS® Winner Data
Genus species: Citrullus lanatus
Common name: Watermelon
Fruit flavor: Crisp, sweet
Fruit size: 6-11 pounds
Fruit shape: Blocky round
Fruit color: Red flesh, green striped rind
Plant type: Annual
Plant spread: 3-4 feet
Plant habit: Compact
Garden location: Full sun
Garden spacing: 4 feet
Length of time to harvest: 80 days from sowing seed, 70 days from transplant
Closest comparisons on market: Shiny Boy F1, Bush Sugar Baby