All-America Selections (AAS), with over 90 years of trials and award winners, is the only national, non-profit plant trialing program in North America. Reiman Gardens is proud to be both a trial site for ornamentals, edibles, and perennials showcased as both in-ground and containerized trials and a display garden highlighting recent winners. Check out the AAS website for trial and display sites, winners, blogs, and so much more!
Here in central Iowa, we're just about a week away from our frost-free date and are ready to get out there and plant! There are tons of plants at your local independent garden center or plant sale, but if you are still hoping to grow some great plants from seed this summer, I've got a couple of suggestions from the AAS Winners collection:
Brassica oleracea 'Katarina': 'Katarina' cabbage is a winner from 2016 that grows happily in-ground or in a patio container. Judges appreciated early maturity and adaptation to summer heat. From seeding to harvest is just under two months, so now is the perfect time to get 'Katarina' out into the garden for summer BBQ side-dishes!
Zinnia elegans 'Crestar Mix': This zinnia mix is know as crested or scabiosa-flowered and brings a new look with bold colors to your yard! This mix would be great to plant for a cutting garden as plants grow up 1.5-2' tall. Plenty of bright tones, first flowers in just 45 days from sowing, you could have beautiful bouquets by mid-June!
Brassica juncea 'Green Wave': This mustard won an AAS award in 1957 and is still available; Johnny's Seeds calls it their spiciest green mustard! 'Green Wave' is ready for harvest in just 21 days for baby leaf. Perfect to mix into salads or stir-fry, it is slow to bolt and is gorgeous to boot!
Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Yard and Garden, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on May 5, 2025. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.