Grimes Horticulture

Propagation Soil Management for Spring Crops

By FHG Technical Services

Regardless of propagation method, by seed or by cuttings (vegetative propagation), proper management of the growing medium is one of the keys to successful spring crops.

Seed Propagation
Germination mixes should be:

Free of sticks and other debris
Free of weed seed and disease organisms
Lightweight and fine textured
Physical properties test should reflect a 10-12% air-filled porosity
Low in nutrients - EC should be less than 1.0 mS/cm (saturated media extract)*
Managed to maintain pH of 5.5-5.8*

During Seedling Germination

Maintain soil temperature at 68-86°F*
Cover seeds if required*
Use acid treatments to adjust water alkalinity to a 60-100 ppm bicarbonate level if necessary
Fafard® Germination Mix and Fafard Young Plant Mix are made with sphagnum peat, fine perlite and vermiculite. Fafard PP Mix is made with sphagnum peat and fine perlite and Fafard Plug Mix #1, is a germination mix made with 100% sphagnum peat.

Vegetative Propagation
Fafard growing media 1P Mix, 2 Mix and 2P Mix are recommended.

For vegetative propagation

Mix air-filled porosity should be at least in the 12-18% range
Maintain pH at 5.5-6.0 and EC below 1.0 mS/cm (SME)
Fertilize as soon as the plants come out of mist in anticipation of transplanting
Use bottom heat (68-77° F soil temperature)
Time mist to keep humidity high and the substrate moist. Once roots form, the misting intervals and duration should be reduced to avoid an over-saturated condition.
The incorporation of biofungicides or a controlled-release fertilizer, like Osmocote® Start, can encourage faster rooting and reduced crop time

* Check the culture sheets for each crop to confirm details regarding EC, pH, temperature and more.

Osmocote® is a registered trademark of Everris International BV, its affiliates, or partners.

Tips for Growth Management of Key Vegetative Spring Crops

By Karl Trellinger, Syngenta Technical Services Representative

Growth management of vegetative spring crops starts with using proper temperature management whenever possible after plants are well established. For cool morning DIP, start lowering temperature to 50° F an hour before sunrise and maintain for two to three hours. Petunias grow best when temperature is between 65 and 75°F during the day and 55 and 60°F at night. They can thrive in a colder environment, but this may delay flowering. For geraniums, verbenas, calibrachoas, and lobelias, 70 – 75° F day and 60 – 65° F night temperatures are ideal after plants are established.

Be conservative in regard to applying plant growth regulators, especially if you use new products or grow new varieties. Early growth regulation, proper fertilization (including periodic media testing) and high light conditions are essential for great quality.

When applying drenches of Bonzi® plant growth regulator, be sure to use consistent volumes and crop specific rates. Geraniums, especially Caliente®, are very sensitive to Bonzi.

Geraniums

Pinch: Pinching is only needed on vigorous ivy geraniums, Blizzard® Cascades and Compact Cascades.

Plant Growth Regulators (PGR): Early PGR sprays are essential for high-quality geraniums. For more compact varieties like Tango®, compact ivies and Caliente®, a spray of Florel® growth regulator at 350 parts per million (ppm) two weeks after planting, followed by a Cycocel® growth regulator spray at 750 ppm to 1,000 ppm should work well. For vigorous ivies like Cascades, Blizzard and Calliope®, Florel sprays at 350 ppm two and three weeks after planting, followed by sprays of Bonzi at 2.5 ppm or Cycocel (750ppm – 1,000 ppm) plus B-Nine® growth regulator (1,000 – 1,500 ppm) are recommended.

To slow down the growth or hold vigorous geraniums like Rocky Mountain™ or Calliope, drench with Bonzi a few weeks before finishing at 0.1 ppm. Make sure the Bonzi does not drip into the crops grown below, if you apply it to hanging baskets. Do not drench Caliente with Bonzi.

Verbenas

Pinch: One pinch is needed on all verbenas, ideally in propagation. Trailing verbenas growing in gallons, baskets and larger containers should receive a second pinch. The second pinch can occur in propagation if rooting in a large jumbo plug or after transplant of the rooted cutting.

Plant Growth Regulators: Spray with 2,500 to 3,500 ppm B-Nine or 5 to 15 ppm Sumagic® growth regulator to keep plants in check. The key to achieving well-rounded and compact plants without stretching is a drench with Bonzi at 2 to 3 ppm three to four weeks before finishing. Some growers spray Florel at 350 to 500 ppm early on to improve branching or to substitute for a second pinch.

Petunias

Pinch: Generally only one pinch is needed for most pot sizes. Extra-large pots or baskets can be pinched twice. Use a viricide such as Virkon®-S, RelyOn™ or Trisodium phosphate (TSP) when pinching or trimming after at least every variety.

Plant Growth Regulators: An early application of Florel at 350 to 500 ppm can be used to enhance branching on petunias. To keep the plant size in check, use sprays of B-Nine at 2,500 to 3,500 ppm or Sumagic 15 – 20 ppm. Bonzi drenches at 1 – 3 ppm also work nicely mid-season. Small-flowered Picnic™ varieties generally only need a Bonzi drench at 1 ppm, while more vigorous Whispers™ and Sanguna® varieties typically require 2 – 3 ppm.

Lobelias

Pinch: One pinch, ideally done in propagation, is enough for small and midsize pots. Trailing types will benefit from a second pinch a few weeks after transplant. The second pinch is not as crucial for Techno® Heat Upright types. When pinching, use excellent sanitation, including viricides like Virkon-S, RelyOn or Trisodium phosphate (TSP).

Plant Growth Regulators: Spray with 2,500 ppm B-Nine or 5 to 10 ppm Sumagic to keep growth under control. Bonzi drenches at 1 ppm work well three to five weeks before sale.

Calibrachoas

Pinch: 4.5-inch or quart containers require one pinch (during propagation) while gallon containers or baskets require one in propagation and one after planting. When growing baskets, trimming the branches once they grow over the edge of the baskets results in the most uniform and even plants. Use a viricide such as Virkon-S, RelyOn or Trisodium phosphate (TSP) when pinching or trimming after at least every variety. An early spray of Florel at 350 to 500 ppm can be used to enhance branching or in place of the second pinch.

Plant Growth Regulators: Spray with 2,500 – 5,000 ppm B-Nine, 10 – 20 ppm Sumagic or 5 – 10 ppm Topflor™. The key to achieving well rounded and compact plants without stretching is a drench with Bonzi three to four weeks before finishing. A drench with 1 ppm Bonzi could be enough for compact varieties like Callie® Rose or Callie Light Blue while 3 ppm might be best for vigorous varieties like Callie Bright Red or Callie Star Rose.

©2012 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label instructions before buying or using Syngenta products. The instructions contain important conditions of sale, including limitations of warranty and remedy. Caliente®, Calliope®, Blizzard®, Bonzi®, Callie®, Picnic™, Rocky Mountain™, Sanguna®, Tango®, Techno®, Whispers™, and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. RelyOn™ and Virkon®-S are trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates. B-Nine® is a registered trademark of Chemtura Corporation. Florel® is a registered trademark of Monterey Lawn and Garden Products, Inc. Sumagic® is a registered trademark of Valent U.S.A. Corporation. Topflor™ is a trademark of SePRO Corporation. Cycocel® is a registered trademark of OHP, Inc.

Direct Sowing Vegetable Seeds

By Ken Harr, Technical Services, Syngenta Flowers

Traditionally, in a bedding plant production plan for greenhouses, vegetable seeds are seeded in plug trays, typically in 288's, 128's and 144's, then transplanted into their finished containers. However, in continuing efforts to maximize efficiencies, more growers are looking for ways to direct sow vegetables into their final containers to lessen the effects of transplant, labor and the time it can take to move and space them. Additionally, there are some distinct advantages to direct sowing large-seed crops such as squash, melons and cucumbers because less transplant shock will be incurred. For example, if distress to the root system is minimized, the plants will become established in the garden faster.

Crop Time

The ideal crop time for direct-sown vegetables will depend on both the crop and the container size. Generally, larger containers will allow for larger, more mature transplants. Compared to smaller containers, it has been observed that transplants grown in larger volumes of soil result in higher and earlier yields. Growers who choose to direct sow vegetable seeds must adjust their growing practices and schedules for different crop species and container sizes.

Table 1.

Crop	Container size	Crop time
Tomato Better Bush	606, 4", 10"	4 - 6 weeks
Pepper Crusader	606, 4", 10"	4 - 6 weeks
Zucchini Golden Dawn III	4", 10"	3 - 5 weeks
Watermelon Sangria	4"	3 weeks
Broccoli Concord	606, 4"	5 - 6 weeks

 

Temperature

When germinating and growing vegetable plants, temperature is critical for producing top-quality crops. Optimum temperatures are listed in Table 2.

Table 2.

Crop	Germination Temp	Days to Germination	Growing Day Temp	Growing Night Temp
Tomato	70 - 74°F	3 - 4 days	65 - 70°F	55 - 64°F
Pepper	72 - 76°F	4 - 6 days	65 - 70°F	62 - 66°F
Zucchini	72 - 76°F	2 - 3 days	70 - 74°F	55 - 64°F
Watermelon	72 - 76°F	2 - 3 days	70 - 74°F	55 - 64°F
Broccoli	65 - 72°F	2 - 3 days	55 - 62°F	52 - 62°F

 

Finishing

In finishing vegetable crops, hardening-off or toning the plants is important to ensure top-quality plants at retail. A few ways to help tone the plants and acclimate them for retails displays include lowering the greenhouse temperatures, lowering overhead air circulation and moving plants outside.

Vegetative Annual Disease Management

By Jane Trolinger, Ph.D., Syngenta Flowers Technical Services

Vegetative annual crops can be affected during production by several different diseases, some of which can be devastating. Recently, two types of pathogens have been problematic for calibrachoa, New Guinea impatiens, petunia and verbena: Botrytis, an ubiquitous fungus known as gray mold; and the tospoviruses, Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus ("INSV") and Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus ("TSWV"). Here are some tips for managing Botrytis and tospoviruses in the greenhouse. To prevent Botrytis:

• Remove and discard severely affected plants and clean diseased plant parts (e.g., senescing leaves) from healthy plants. Bag and remove from the greenhouse.
• Practice thorough sanitation in the greenhouse, especially debris removal from below the bench and aisles, and daily garbage can removal and cleaning. This will ensure Botrytis is not sporulating on any plant tissues or debris and prevent it from spreading to otherwise healthy plants.
• Avoid injury to plants.
• Avoid excess nitrogen.
• Prevent high humidity conditions by providing sufficient plant spacing and air circulation, and by reducing overhead watering. Botrytis spores need a film of water to germinate, so keeping the leaves as dry as possible reduces the chances of Botrytis being able to thrive.
• Use appropriate fungicides. Please note that ignoring cultural controls for Botrytis and depending solely on fungicide control is not a good idea. For the most effective control, first manipulate environmental conditions to be unfavorable to Botrytis, and then use appropriate fungicides.
• Some fungicides that are effective for controlling Botrytis include: fungicide (chlorothalonil), fungicide (fludioxonil), OHP 26 GT^®-0 fungicide (iprodione), Decree^® fungicide (fenhexamid), fungicide (azoxystrobin) and fungicide (cyprodinil and fludioxonil). Please be aware that resistance to iprodione and, more recently, fenhexamid, has been reported.

 

Impatiens necrotic spot virus ("INSV") and tomato spotted wilt virus ("TSWV") are transmitted by western flower thrips ("WFT"), so the best way to control these viruses is to control the thrips, which are considered one of the most serious pests on ornamental crops. In addition to vectoring the tospoviruses, WFT damage plants directly by feeding. Generally, INSV is a more frequent problem in greenhouses than TSWV. Key information to prevent tospoviruses:

• Thrips can pick up the virus only as immatures, but immature thrips cannot transmit tospoviruses. Thrips can transmit the virus only as adults, but adult thrips cannot acquire tospoviruses. So, tospoviruses are transmitted by thrips only when immature thrips acquire the virus, pupate and emerge as viruliferous adults.
• All stages of thrips must be controlled to control tospoviruses. Control of thrips pupae in the growing medium is best accomplished by drench applications.
• Tospoviruses are actually difficult to mechanically transmit. It's highly unlikely that tospoviruses will spread by normal handling of plants in greenhouses. The risk of spreading tospoviruses is higher on cutting knives or pruning equipment because sap transmission is possible.

 

In a greenhouse, all symptomatic plants should be removed and/or destroyed, and daily scouting should be conducted to remove any plants with further development of symptoms. This must be accomplished while spraying rigorously to control all stages of WFT. Other diseases of the vegetative annuals are:

• Calibrachoa: Phytophthora crown and stem rot and Tobacco Mosaic Virus ("TMV")
• New Guinea Impatiens: Alternaria leaf spot, Rhizoctonia web blight, Septoria and Pseudomonas leaf spot
• Petunia: Phytophthora crown rot, Powdery mildew, Rhizoctonia web blight, Sclerotinia crown rot and Tobacco Mosaic Virus ("TMV")
• Verbena: Alternaria, Cercospora and Corynespora leaf spots, Powdery mildew, Rhizoctonia root and crown rot, Thielaviopsis root rot, Potyvirus (Poty) and Bidens Mottle Virus ("BiMoV")

 

Scout your crops regularly for problems and get a head start on disease issues by dealing with them from the start. It is much better to prevent problems and keep them under control rather than suffer the losses they can cause.

Improve Performance of Bedding Plants at Retail and for the Consumer

By Karl Trellinger, Syngenta Technical Services

The difference in retail performance between a soft, stretchy plant and a well-toned, properly fertilized and acclimated plant is tremendous. While a soft, under-fertilized plant may barely make it through the weekend at retail, a well-fertilized, compact plant that has been hardened-off can perform well for the consumer, after four-to-six days in a normal retail environment. Plants with good shelf life should have the following characteristics:

• Long-lasting flowers
• Colored buds with the ability to readily open at store level
• High tolerance to cold, wind, heat and drought
• Quick rebound from shipping, handling and adverse weather conditions
• Compact at the store and grows readily after planting

Stretchy, soft plants are prone to damage during handling and exposure to wind at retail

Well-grown, properly growth-regulated and fertilized geraniums ensure quick sell through and great performance for the consumer

Below are the key aspects during production that can influence post-harvest quality:

• Fertilization: It is crucial to properly fertilize the plants until they get shipped to prevent yellow foliage and reduced flower power for the consumer. For the last two-to-three weeks, switch to a low phosphorus and low ammonium-nitrogen fertilizer like 13-2-13, 14-0-14, 15-3-20, or similar blends to avoid lush and stretchy growth. Unless a Cal-Mag™ fertilizer is being used, provide additional magnesium sulfate weekly or bi-weekly depending on the crop to avoid interveinal chlorosis, which often can appear at the end of the crop.

 

For best consumer performance, include (depending on species) a low-to-medium rate, five-to-six or seven-to-eight month controlled release fertilizer.

• Media: Select well-aerated media with adequate water-holding capacity, and monitor nutrient levels, EC, and pH bi-weekly. If plants are shipped to retail with high EC levels in the media, roots could burn if the media dries out at retail.
• Light/Temperature: Provide proper spacing to avoid diseases, lower leaf-yellowing and stretchy growth. To acclimate plants to retail and consumer environments, lower the temperatures for the last three weeks of production while reducing watering frequency.
• Moisture Management: Especially under cloudy and rainy conditions, keep plants dryer than usual. This also helps in keeping the humidity in the greenhouse as low as possible. Make sure that greenhouses are properly ventilated with good horizontal airflow and dehumidification.
• Growth Regulation: Adequate plant growth regulation is a great tool to tone the plant, but should not be used to cover up insufficient feeding, overwatering or insufficient light conditions. Always apply plant growth regulators (PGRs) at low rates in order to adjust to changing climate conditions and avoid over-application. Avoid high-rate PGR drenches at the end of production that might result in stunting and poor growth/flowering for the end consumer. Most spring annuals can benefit from Bonzi® plant growth regulator drench three-to-four weeks before shipping to avoid stretch.
  

Bonzi drenches three-to-four weeks before shipping result in compact, sturdy plants that are less susceptible to damage during shipping and at retail

• Before Shipping: If shipping long distances and/or weather conditions are poor, remove spent blooms, old foliage and spray with a fungicide, such as Palladium® fungicide, to protect against foliar leaf spots and Botrytis. Avoid fungicides that leave a residue or can burn flowers.
• Shipping Temperatures: A shipping temperature of 42°F works for most crops. Cold-sensitive crops like vincas, begonias, salvias, New Guinea impatiens, sweet potato vines and others should be shipped at 55°F.

Ensure Hard Work in Production Pays Off at Retail

Place various species in sun or shade depending on their needs. It is crucial that store personnel are properly trained and that they take the time to check on plants and water them before they get too dry, especially under hot and windy conditions. Plants should be displayed where they can be irrigated easily and thoroughly.

Perennials: Summer vs. Late Winter Transplanting Options

By FHG Technical Services

Large perennial growers transplant nearly year-round to produce crops that meet their market needs. For growers who choose the summer transplant option, the cost savings on liners and balancing the workload makes up for additional costs during the long growing cycle. Winter transplanting offers timing predictability at a high yield. Transplanting perennials in May adds product depth during garden mum season, a competitive advantage compared to growers who only offer mums, pansies, and ornamental cabbage or kale.

Summer Transplanting

The goal for summer transplanting is to have well-rooted plants that are prepared to go dormant and survive the winter. For early spring-blooming perennials, vernalization is required to induce flowering. This is achieved naturally when plants are transplanted in late summer and grown through the winter. Aubrieta Audrey^™, Aurinia Summit^™ and Iberis Tahoe^™ are three gems to offer for summer transplanting.

Summer transplanting can save money on upfront costs. Smaller liners or bare root plants (number two grade) are less expensive than larger plants and are ideal for summer transplanting. Younger and smaller plants cost less but add time, effort and cost to the overall crop. The longer the crop cycle, the more opportunities there are for disease and insect problems. Overwintering perennials is rarely 100 percent successful. Fafard^® 3B Mix (middle-weight) with aged pine bark is an excellent, well-drained growing media to help carry perennials through the winter. Fungicide-preventive treatments such as Hurricane^® WDG fungicide for root rot pathogens are required.

Late Winter Transplanting

Many growers opt to transplant from February to April. When transplanted on time and grown slowly in a heated greenhouse (50 to 60°F days and 45 to 50°F nights), perennials can be featured in advertisements targeting particular sale dates from May through June. For late spring and summer sales, "first year flowering" perennials are good choices. Some examples are Digitalis Camelot^™, Aquilegia Origami^™ and Lupinus Camelot for one-quart and one-gallon pots. Generally, crop timing for a one-gallon pot transplanted from a 72-size liner ranges from 10 to 12 weeks in February and six to eight weeks in April.

Preventive fungicides are necessary in late winter transplanting, but only one or two applications may be needed during the crop cycle. Subdue MAXX^® fungicide tank-mixed with Medallion^® fungicide will provide excellent root rot and foliar disease control.

Bonus: May Transplanting

Growers can expand their offering during garden mum season by transplanting perennials in May or early June. Ideally, selected crops are "first year flowering" and will bloom late August through September or early October. Salvia Merleau^®, EchinaceaPrairie Splendor^™ and Gaillardia Granada^™ will easily complement Yoder^® Garden Mum deliveries. They are also propagated from seed, so input costs will be lower.

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