CULTURE REPORT It's a top seller and at least 20 years old, but it was always problematic in production. The new one has a more compact habit, higher flower count and better disease resistance. The original variety was the most vigorous and could get really wild looking in a gallon pot. The new Lavender Dawn is an upgrade, but not a replacement, to Magic Salmon. Plants are more compact and loaded with smaller blooms that start out dark lavender and lighten with age. It's an excellent choice for Easter promotions in Northern markets. Red Halo is truly distinctive with red daisy blooms and a white ring around red center eyes. It would be great for Valentine's Day promotions in the South. We've published two new tools to help you choose Senetti varieties. One is a chart that sorts the varieties by vigor and bloom time (Figure 1). Figure 1. SORTING SENETTI VARIETIES BY VIGOR AND EARLINESS Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Week 13 Week 14 HIGH Vigor Blue Deep Blue Light Blue Bicolor Magenta Magenta Bicolor Pink Bicolor Violet Bicolor White MEDIUM Vigor Blue Bicolor Improved Blue Halo Lavender Dawn Magic Salmon Red Halo Rose Glow Ruby Red Super Blue Violet White Red Heart COMPACT Baby Blue Baby Magenta Baby Magenta Bicolor Baby True Blue * * * * * * * * * * * * PRODUCTION PLANNING With the early spring sales window, Senetti has its own season, beginning in January in the South and March in the North. Plants will tolerate cool temperatures down to 35° F. This also gives growers the option of growing Senetti " low and slow " under cooler temperatures, as an energy-saving crop. Crop time is 10 to 20 weeks depending on final size, temperature and number of cuttings transplanted. GREENHOUSE PRODUCT NEWS 35 * * * * * * * * * * Blue Bicolor Improved The other is grading varieties as Senetti Select based on performance in stock production. Ten varieties have earned the Senetti Select designation. These varieties demonstrate the most disease resistance and resilience during cutting harvests and are marked with a blue 'S' on pages 30-31 in the catalog.