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If you are looking for some new plant varieties to grow in your garden this year; All-American Selections (AAS) has announced 7 new AAS winners for 2020. AAS is one of the oldest and more well-known, non-profit plant trialing organizations in North America. The plants are considered the best-of-the-best by AAS judges. Each plant is grown adjacent to other top-performing plants in their category, in designated gardens located in geographically diverse areas all across the U.S. and Canada. These top 7 winners all out-performed their counterparts, earning them the esteemed AAS award.

Many are familiar with AAS plants; however, many are not aware of the judging and scoring process that goes into finding these yearly contenders. From the AAS website, Paul James, AAS judge, explains the process. “I evaluated lots of things, disease resistance, plant vigor, and hardiness. However, when judging a new fruit or vegetable, ultimately flavor is the test.” Color, flower form, total yield, the length of flowering or harvest, and overall performance are all considered in the judging process. Judges score every entry from zero to five, with five being the highest. According to the AAS website, only entries that meet the scoring criteria are considered for a possible AAS award.

There are two new perennial flowers that have won the AAS award this year. The first; Sombrero Baja Burgundy. This coneflower – or Echinacea – wins attentions because of its “vibrant, deep violet-red blossoms. This flower was trialed over three tough winters, and it came out strong and alive on the other end of the season. Judges granted this beauty an award because of its standout hardiness, sturdy branches, and floriferous blooming habit. It is considered a dual-purpose plant, because of its deer-resistance label, and its popularity among the pollinators.

The second winning perennial is a Rudbeckia called American Gold. A golden-yellow flower with a deep, black center and perfectly arched petals. It’s 2-inch wide foliage is covered in tiny hairs, a trait that has been bred for its resistance to septoria leaf spot, a fungus that looks like little black specks on the leaves. This flower is considered a hybrid because even in wet, humid conditions, it shows no sign of fungus.

There were three different tomato varieties that won the AAS award this year. Celano, a hybrid tomato, is said to be an early producer, with fruit weighing more than half an ounce each. When compared to other market tomatoes, judges granted this award to Celano because of its sweeter taste, good texture, deep red color, phenomenal yield, and resistance to early blight.

Early Resilience, a Roma tomato, has a deep red interior color, and a good quality flesh that makes this specific fruit a good choice for canning and cooking. Judges noted that Early Resilience was “very resistant” to blossom end rot, which resulted in a higher yield, and less fruit loss.

Galahad, a new tomato variety, has shown to have a “high level of late blight resistance because both parents are resistant.” Judges granted the AAS award to this plant, because of its great taste, high productivity, and its strong resistance to disease.

Green Light Cucumber, has won the hearts of many AAS judges. The plant produces a high yield of attractive mini cucumbers; that mature earlier than its competitors, and produces a superior taste.

Mambo watermelon, a perfectly round melon with a picturesque, dark green rind and deep red flesh. Judges said the Mambo will not overripen if you can’t harvest right away. Each melon will weight around 11 pounds at maturity, which is 75 days from transplant. The mambo received an award because it is one of the easiest in the watermelon family because of its high seed germination and vigorous vines.