Master Gardener seed trials give Minnesota green thumbs the inside edge on best picks

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu

Red carrot trial results from Master Gardener Nick Lamon. The Malbec carrot is on the far right.

Looking for the ideal addition to your menu? Give Malbec a try. As in Malbec, the red carrot, though the Malbec red wine could be fine fare, too.

The Malbec red carrot topped its category in the University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener 42nd annual seed trials. So did the Derby butter daisy, which judges proclaimed was "definitely the most floriferous variety in the trial."

This year, Master Gardeners from a record 56 Minnesota counties conducted trials seeking the best varieties of flowers and vegetables. They grew hundreds of plants to find the top performing mustard greens, sauce tomatoes, pink cleome, purple and red basil, small watermelons and green pole beans, in addition to red carrots and butter daisies. Participating gardeners do not know the identity of the varieties they’re growing. 

"Every year reveals some unexpected results and 2023 was no exception," said Sue Schleiss, a Hennepin County Master Gardener who helps lead the tests. 

Master Gardeners discovered better alternatives to the most widely available pole beans. Other tests defied recommended practice, such as mini-watermelons. Contrary to most recommendations, Master Gardeners found they should be started indoors in Minnesota.  

See what varieties earned kudos from Master Gardeners and which ones earned a thumbs down.