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Greenhouse News

Annual Flower Trial Field Day, Penn State Southeast Research and Extension Center(Landisville Farm)
Save the Date: Thursday, July 26, 2012

Penn State Extension, Penn State Agricultural Research and the Pennsylvania Floriculture Advisory Committee are working on this summer’s Flower Trials Open House program. As always, there will be exceptional speakers, fabulous weather and the stars of the show, the Flower Trials. Be sure to keep this date in your calendars.

 

Downy mildew on impatiens: disease detected in Florida
Know the downy mildew disease and don’t let it devastate your greenhouse’s impatiens.

Mary K. Hausbeck and Jeanne Himmelein, Michigan State University Extension, Department of Plant Pathology

Michigan growers first learned of downy mildew on impatiens in 2004 when this disease wreaked havoc in many of their greenhouses. After a couple of years, disease scouting and fungicide use appeared to pay off and downy mildew on impatiens no longer seemed to be a major threat. Today, downy mildew of impatiens has everyone’s attention, especially with the current outbreak in both greenhouses and the landscape in Florida.

Downy mildew can survive in the landscape
A specialized type of downy mildew spore or “seed” has been found inside of diseased impatiens stems in the U.S. landscape and can contaminate the plant beds. This spore type is called an “oospore” and its job is to survive for a long period of time through unfavorable and extreme temperatures, or when an impatiens crop is not available.

Historically, impatiens plantings have been relied on to provide a vibrant splash of color in landscape beds that are shady and not always suitable for a wide range of plant material. Landscapers and homeowners alike tend to designate specific areas for their impatiens. If those beds become contaminated with downy mildew oospores, impatiens planted into those beds could become diseased and be defoliated.  Homeowners won’t have access to effective fungicides to protect their impatiens beds and landscape contractors would have to apply fungicides treatments each week during wet weather. It is likely that impatiens could lose their place in our landscapes if they cannot be grown reliably.

 

Downy mildew moves on the wind

The symptoms of downy mildew on impatiens include a slight to pronounced yellowing of the foliage that may appear mottled or stippled (Photo 1) or plant stunting (Photo 2). A whitish fuzz or powdery-like substance develops on the underside of the leaves (Photo 3). This white material is actually a type of downy mildew spore or seed called the sporangium (Photo 4). A sporangium is designed to move via air currents, especially when the weather is overcast and humid. This type of spore cannot survive for a long period of time or withstand harsh environmental conditions. However, the ability of these sporangia to move for miles on the air currents makes downy mildew a communicable disease. This means that if one greenhouse grower has downy mildew on their impatiens, then impatiens growing in a nearby greenhouse will also likely develop this disease. The sporangia can move readily out of one greenhouse into another via the vents.  Impatiens growing in the landscape are vulnerable to sporangia that originate from diseased impatiens growing in greenhouses or in the landscape.

 

Downy mildew reproduces like a rabbit

This pathogen can make an astronomical number of sporangia in a brief period of time when the weather is humid or wet. In 2004, some growers commented that when they watered their infected impatiens, it seemed to “snow” in the greenhouse. That “snow” was actually the sporangia of the downy mildew pathogen being dislodged from the leaves by the water. Individual sporangia are microscopic. Huge numbers of sporangia must be clumped together in order for them to be visible with the naked eye. That means that there is no time to waste! Underestimating the potential of this pathogen to reproduce and cause an epidemic in a brief period of time is a common mistake. Waiting too long to begin a fungicide program, choosing the wrong fungicide, or letting too many days pass between fungicides applications should be avoided.

 

Downy mildew can adapt to fungicides

The downy mildew on impatiens is a specialized mold that is restricted to the impatiens group of plants. Many other crops also have their own specialized downy mildew and we’ve learned that as a group, the downy mildews are quite adept at changing on a genetic level so that they can overcome fungicides. Therefore, a fungicide program must be well thought out and utilize multiple fungicides that have proven activity against downy mildew. Using fungicides preventively, prior to the development of downy mildew, is also helpful in delaying resistance in the downy mildew pathogen. Initiating a fungicide program in the midst of a raging downy mildew epidemic increases the risk of the downy mildew pathogen developing resistance. Alternating fungicides and tankmixing two fungicides with different ways of attacking the downy mildew can also be an important strategy in managing the disease and helping to prevent the development of fungicide resistance.

 

Related MSU Extension article: "Alternative choices if downy mildew infested your impatiens last year" Dr. Hausbeck’s work is funded in part by  MSU’sAgBioResearch.

 

This article was published on   MSU  Extension  News .  For more information from 
MSU  Extension, visit  http://news.msue.msu.edu.
To contact an expert in your area,visit  http://expert.msue.msu.edu , or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464)

 

Scenes from the Dick Berry Greenhouse in March as the Flower Trials unfold for 2012 .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 2012 Greenhouse News

Miller’s Plant Farm Nitelighter: March 22, 2012

Join your fellow greenhouse growers for the next Pennsylvania Floriculture Advisory Board educational event at
Miller’s Plant Farm, 430 Indian Rock Dam Road, York, PA  17403, 717-741-2631. The nitelighter starts at 5:00 PM. Our hosts for this event: Dave Miller, Diane Miller, Dustyn
Miller, Steve Slyder, &  Greg Watson. 

Despite poor economic outlook for bedding plants and high unemployment, Miller’s forged ahead in 2010 -11 and built a new retail greenhouse separately from their production site.  The night lighter will focus on their decision making process and some of the hoops they had to jump through to get this done in time for the Spring 2011 sales season. Look for the official invitation in your email very soon.

Miller's Greenhouse on Opening

Using Controlled Release Fertilizer in the Greenhouse

Fred Hulme, Ph. D. –Director of Technical Services, Horticulture, Everris NA, Inc.
This article was reprinted from Greenhouse Grower with permission from the Author.

The ideal fertilizer program provides all the essential elements in required amounts and ratios to coincide with plant nutrient demands, minimizing waste and maximizing crop quality and profits.  Unfortunately, there are inefficiencies, waste (nutrient run-off) and/or luxurious consumption (such as excess phosphorous and stretching) in many current fertilizer programs. Nutrient deficiency symptoms often are not obvious. Plants might just not reach their full potential, appearing slightly off color or stunted or requiring a longer production time.

By employing best nutrient management practices, growers can use fertilizers as efficiently and effectively as possible to achieve both high-quality growth and profitable return on investment with minimal environmental impact.  These practices include:

• Proper fertilizer selection
• Proper fertilizer use –using the correct rates or concentrations at the right time
• Employing best management practices to minimize problems like leaching
• Regular measuring and monitoring crops

Water Soluble Fertilizer

Using water soluble fertilizers (WSFs) to feed greenhouse crops has been a standard practice for over 50 years. WSFs were initially developed when growers grew cut flowers in beds of mineral soil and applied agriculture granules (e.g. 10-10-10). Over the years, most growers have shifted to soilless growing media, yet have not adapted their fertilizer practices accordingly. During this time WSFs have demonstrated some excellent, positive benefits to growers. WSFs offer concentrated, quickly-available nutrients that can easily be injected through irrigation systems. They also give growers the flexibility to change nutrient content and ratios via different formulations and concentrations. Growers can also use WSFs to customize fertilizer programs and solve problems with blending and prescriptive additions. Finally, it’s relatively easy to monitor EC and WSF to assist with root zone pH control. 

On the other hand, WSF technology also has some shortcomings. It’s the equivalent of fertilizer “fast food”— single applications don’t persist for more than a few days. WSF nutrients can easily be leached from soilless media, even with drip tubes. Selecting the correct formulation can be confusing, and its handling, mixing dosing and monitoring requires special care. You can’t use WSF effectively in cool, cloudy conditions since  plants can’t be fed when they can’t be irrigated frequently enough. It’s also difficult to use WSF when you’re producing multiple crops with different nutrient needs but using one single injection/irrigation system. WSF can cause dramatic fluctuations in root zone pH and EC over time, as EC rises and pH depresses when plants are fertigated. Conversely, EC is reduced and pH goes up between fertigations as nutrients are used up by the crops. Furthermore, WSF can be expensive, particularly when used on longer-term crops. Finally, when crops leave the greenhouse, crops no longer receive nutrients, often causing quality issues down the supply chain.

Controlled Release Fertilizer

Another category of fertilizer technology, controlled release fertilizers (CRFs) can be used in tandem with WSF (or as a replacement for WSFs for some crops). CRFs can provide solutions to some of the issues experienced when using WSFs alone. CRFs are polymer-coated fertilizers that can be incorporated into the growing media at planting and feed a crop for an extended period of time, both during production and after. CRFs slowly and continuously dose water soluble nutrients into the root zone at very low concentrations—the ultimate in constant liquid feed.

CRFs offer many benefits. Applying them to crops is easy and cost-effective. Growers can easily vary CRF rates in the same growing space for different crops. CRFs provide slow, constant feeding even when water can’t be applied (e.g. cool and cloudy conditions.) CRFs can substantially reduce nutrient run-off while also providing significant post-production nutrition at the garden center and even in the homeowner’s landscape. While CRFs may cost more per pound than WSFs, their positive effects on plant quality makes them more economically beneficial.

Tips for Using CRF in the Greenhouse

Using CRF in the greenhouse isn’t quite as straightforward as using it in a nursery setting. However, by following these tips, growers can effectively implement CRF in the greenhouse:

• Remember, root zone temperature drives CRF nutrient release. Thus, CRF will release nutrients more quickly as temperatures rise; it’s important to consider this carefully when selecting products and rates. Everris recommends homogenous, complete, 100-percent-coated products (e.g. Osmocote Plus) for greenhouse production.
• Don’t trust bag label rates for greenhouse crops.  These rates are generally intended for container nursery use, and rates for greenhouse crops should be much lower.
• If you incorporate CRF into growing media, you need to use the mix up in two to four weeks.  The CRF will begin to release nutrients as soon as it is blended into the soil mix. Quick use of the media will ensure that soluble salts don’t build up in the mix and that the crop has full access to nutrients from the CRF.
• It is more difficult to monitor growing media with CRF mixed into it.  If you’ve selected the proper rates, EC in the root zone will actually be lower than the EC to which you’ve become accustomed if you’ve only used WSF in the past. Visual assessment of crops and tissue analysis are more useful testing tools, especially when the fertilizer program consists entirely of CRF.

Performance

Everris has conducted and sponsored a great deal of research on CRF performance over the past few years. The company’s goal was to explore the viability and practicality of CRF as a primary nutrient source for greenhouse crops in both production and post-production phases. Test crops included bedding plants, short-term pot crops (eight weeks or less), fall mums and poinsettia. Crops were grown in a variety of greenhouse conditions in spring, summer and fall. The research focused on CRF performance, nutrient leaching, nutrient efficiency, root zone environment, cost and return on investment.   Here are a few of the overall trends uncovered by this research:

• It is easily possible to grow a variety of greenhouse crop types using CRF as a primary fertilizer source or I combination with WSF.  Researchers were consistently able to achieve superior or comparable plant growth with CRF compared to WSF.
• Available CRF longevities and rate selection offer flexibility in nutritional programs.
• Traditional overhead irrigation with WSF can be extremely wasteful. Drip systems will reduce nutrient leaching, but they still can be quite wasteful. CRF can reduce nutrient leaching significantly (by a factor of tenfold or more in some studies).
• CRF can be highly efficient, and it is possible grow a crop with less fertilizer, significantly reducing a grower’s fertilizer cost (especially for bigger, longer-term crops)
• CRF can simplify root zone management, minimizing the stress of pH and EC swings.
• CRF can provide excellent post-harvest performance leading to less crop shrinkage in the garden center and greater consumer acceptance, as plants are nourished by residual CRF nutrients in the landscape.

Getting Started

Switching from an entirely WSF-based fertilizer to using CRF in the greenhouse is a fundamental change. Everris recommends that growers start at lower rates (three to six pounds of a 100-percent-coated, homogenous, complete CRF that includes micronutrients per cubic yard for most greenhouse crops and situations.) This process will help growers become more comfortable with CRF before adapting rates upwards to match their environments, growing systems and production goals.  Rates will need to be higher for heavy feeding plants like hardy mums.  If uncertain contact your fertilizer supplier for guidance with product selection and rates. It’s also best to trial CRF on a small scale before jumping in to its use head-first.

Combination Fertilizer Programs

Using WSF and CRF technologies together often produces excellent results with less dramatic change.  Remember to reduce WSF concentrations to account for CRF.  Growers who produce a wide variety of crops should use one concentration of WSF on all crops and supplement with CRF for heavy feeders like vegetative petunias.  Combination fertilizer programs (low-to-medium rate of CRF) along with supplemental applications of lower-concentrate WSF as needed can round out a potentially inefficient fertilizer program and provide numerous benefits;

WSF gives growers options to react to specific situations that arise, such as pH issues, micronutrient deficiencies and N draft from green bark.

CRF provides continuous, low-level, base feed to the root zone when you can’t use water soluble fertilizers during cool, wet or cloudy weather or busy shipping times. 

CRF can make up for WSF applications lost to leaching from rainfall or excessive irrigation.

CRF continues fertilizing for the garden center or homeowner, leading to good post harvest benefits, greater customer satisfaction and repeat customers for growers, retailers and the industry as a whole.

 

Fungus Gnat and Shorefly Control in Greenhouses

Rick Yates, GGSPro Technical Support Manager, Griffin Greenhouse and Nursery Supplies, Inc.

Fungus gnats are a major pest of greenhouse crops, but don’t always get the attention they deserve. As immature larvae, they feed on and damage roots, stems and occasionally leaves that come in contact with the soil.

For young seedlings and cuttings in propagation, the damage can be fatal. Equally problematic, adult fungus gnats transport root and crown rot disease organisms from pot to pot in their travels including: Fusarium, Pythium and Thielaviopsis. Shoreflies are often misidentified as fungus gnats. While adults are able to spread pathogens the larvae are not damaging. High adult populations deposit tiny black fecal deposits on foliage and detract from aesthetic appeal. The foundation for good management is habitat modification and sanitation. Integrated control also includes chemical and biological tactics. Specific control recommendations can be obtained from your qualified crop advisor.

 

 

Habitat Modification and Sanitation is the first line of defense against fungus gnats and shoreflies. Take steps to improve drainage. Fungus gnats prefer moist areas where they feed on fungi, plant roots and decaying matter. Manage moisture in the crop through careful soil media selection and irrigation practices. Shoreflies are semi-aquatic and breed in areas of standing water. Monitor areas along baseboards and places that remain wet after irrigations. Remove weeds to reduce a source of food for larvae and pathogens that can spread to crops.

 

Clean up excess accumulations of potting media and other debris from the floors. Eliminate algae by chemically cleaning with products such as Strip-It™ or GreenClean® Pro followed by power washing. Cleaned surfaces are ready for a sanitizing product such as: Chemprocide™, Greenshield®, KleenGrow™,  X-3™ or ZeroTol®.

January Greenhouse News

In this Issue:

• Notes from a Retired Floriculturist– Alan H Michael
• Climbing On-Board: Steve Bogash, Regional Horticulture Educator
•  Reminder: Southeast Greenhouse Growers Day 1/26/12
• Green Track at the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference
•  Final Greenhouse Visits!

Notes from a retired Floriculturist –Alan H Michael

It has been one week since I officially retired and I have been practicing the fine art of procrastination, in fact this article is two weeks late.  You may be wondering why I’m even writing an article for Penn State Greenhouse News, well, it is to introduce you to the new Greenhouse News editor, Steve Bogash.  Steve is an area Extension Horticultural Educator who is stationed in Franklin County (Chambersburg) and Steve’s main job will continue to be a Vegetable Educator, but he has agreed to act as editor for this newsletter and help organize the floriculture education programs at Shady Maple and the Summer Field Day.  Alyssa Collins, SE Research Farm manager will be Interim Variety Trial Director and Steve and Alyssa will work together to maintain the “Landisville Trials”. Many Extension Educators are taking on additional responsibilities in this difficult economic times ---- I want to thank Steve and Alyssa for adding this obligation to their already full schedule. 

Please remember to donate to the Floriculture Endowment, for that is the only chance we have to replace my position. Secondly, much of the trial’s direction is coming from the volunteers on Greenhouse Advisory Committee, they will be asking for your help or if you want to become a member contact one of the board members.  Lastly, continue to support the Variety Trials with your attendance at meeting, use of the Variety Trial website (Trialgardenspsu.com) and tell your salesperson and suppliers how you use the trials. 

 On a personal note I have moved from Harrisburg area to Southern Fulton County, Warfordsburg also know as Buck Valley (its off of I70 south of Breezewood) where my wife Carol has a beef farm. I am now the main farm hand, feeding animals, thawing water pipes and shoveling manure. Yes, I’m hearing comments like, “Now you know what its like to really to be a farmer!”  Or “You’ve been spreading manure for so long, you must be qualified.” Or the one my friend told me the other day, “ You finally found your true calling.” Either way I’m having fun!

My email is AHMichael4@gmail.com, my cell phone is the same 717-503-3547.  I am doing some consulting and speaking, but my main responsibility is being a gentleman farmer and completing my ‘Honey Do List’……  Thank you all for 26 great years as your Floriculture Extension Educator. Steve has asked me to be a guest author occasionally, so you may see my ‘byeline’ here the “Greenhouse News”.

 

Climbing On-Board: Steve Bogash, Regional Horticulture Educator

 

It is with great excitement and some humility that I begin stewardship of the educational portion of the Extension Greenhouse Floriculture Program. I’ve taken on this task because the program that Alan Micheal and the Pennsylvania Floriculture Advisory Committee have built up is so important to the ornamental greenhouse  industry. I’ve admired the program for many years. My role and goal will be to maintain the high quality educational portion of the program. Other Penn State Faculty and Extension staff will take over responsibility for the Flower Trials at the Penn State Southeast Research and Extension Center (Landisville Farm).  My hope is that this will be a temporary role until Penn State determines what they plan to do with this program and an Extension Floriculture Educator.

Look for a continuation of the emailed Greenhouse News on at least a monthly  basis.  We’ll have the annual educational meeting at the Shady Maple Restaurant on January 26th and a greatly expanded greenhouse track at the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference that runs from January 30 through February 2, 2012. As I already manage a vegetable and small fruit program, your input and perhaps even content for the newsletter is invited and welcome.      I will miss my colleague Alan very much as he has been an excellent mentor and guiding force to me (filling   his sandals will be no easy task). With your support, we will make this transition go smoothly and keep the Extension Floriculture program part of this vital industry to Pennsylvania.

 

Reminder: Southeast Greenhouse Growers Day 1/26/12

 By now you should have received notice of the annual Southeast Greenhouse Growers Day on January 26, 2012. In keeping with recent tradition, we will once again be at the Shady Maple Restaurant. This should be another great meeting with presentations from a wide range of top speakers in our industry, plus Alan Micheal presenting his final trial results and Gary Thompson, PSU Director of Ag Research on the future of the Variety Trials. Remember to bring your checkbook for the silent auction.

Early / On-time registration closes on 1/20/12, so time is running out quickly. To register online, go to www.cvent.com/d/jcqkss. Sometimes this link does not work properly. If so, go to http://extension.psu.edu/franklin and click on the link under Upcoming Events. To register by phone, call 1-877-489-1398. For more information, call Steve Bogash, Regional Horticulture Educator at 717-263-9226 ext. 230 or by email: smb13@psu.edu

 

Green Track at the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference
Steve Bogash, Regional Horticulture Educator

Ornamental greenhouse seminars’ are not new at the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference, but this year the conference has greatly expanded greenhouse program offerings to all 3 days of the conference plus a pre-conference Greenhouse Boot Camp session. The conference kicks off on Monday, January 30, 2012 with several pre-conference sessions including the Greenhouse Boot Camp / basic greenhouse skills course that runs from 9:30 AM through 5:00 PM. On Tuesday, January 31 and Wednesday, February 1, are seminars designed to keep greenhouse growers up-to-date with today’s hottest topics. The final day, Thursday, February 2,     begins with a morning devoted to cut flower growing followed by an afternoon with the latest in new greenhouse   technologies. We’ve got a great bunch of speakers lined up including researchers, industry representatives and extension educators.

 

Some of the specific topics:

Monday, 1/30/2012: Greenhouse Boot Camp

             Selecting what to Grow                

             Crop Scheduling                                      

             Water Quality and NPK                  

             Insect and Disease Manangment

             Marketing Greenhouse Ornamentals

 

Tuesday, 1/31/2012: Greenhouse Track

              Container Vegetable Trials Report

              PSU Flower Trial Report

              Stopping Root Diseases

              Identifying Fertility Problems and Managing Nutrient Uptake

              Growing New Guinea Impatiens and Sunpatiens

              Fundamentals of Tank Mixing

              Greenhouse Light Management: Artificial and Natural Light

 

Wednesday, 2/1/2012: Greenhouse Track

              Western Flower Thrips Management:
                    Is the Game Over?

              Energy Conservation for Greenhouses

              Biomass Energy for Greenhouses

              New, Improved and Underutilized
                        Perennials

              Green Roof Plants

              Perennial Crop Scheduling

              Marketing Mania: Perennials for Generation X and Y’ers

 

Thursday, 2/2/2012: Cut Flowers and New Technology

              New Varieties of Cut Flowers

              Insect Management in Cut Flowers

              Growing Perennial Cut Flowers in High Tunnels

              Great Woody Plants for Cut Flowers

              Using and Understanding Biopots

              Lighting your Crop with LED’s

              Virtual Grower Software

For more details go to the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference website: http://mafvc.org/html/ or contact Steve Bogash at the Franklin County Extension office at 717-263-9226 ext. 230.

 

Final Greenhouse Visits!
Alan H Michael

Part of the fun and meaningful aspect of my Extension job was visiting greenhouse growers.  Sometimes, I could actually help solve problems, it always gave me ideas for educational programs and I learned each time I talked to a grower. The last few years I tried to take pictures of the people I visited, their facilities, interesting activities and new ideas.  Here are some my last pictures taken December 2011. 

Quality Greenhouse - Had a good talk with Jeff Reed, reminiscing about the projects we did over the years: a) Some of the very early IPM biocontrol work with whiteflies, b) Perennial weed control programs, c) Media testing and much more.  Thank you Jeff and Gary it was good working with you. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quality Greenhouse December 2011, Ed Orris grower, down to his last bench!

 

 

Jay Sheely and I did our last annual poinsettia visits. It was not so many years ago we did it with well-regarded, late Joe O’Donovan who worked for Paul Ecke Ranch. Joe always bought lunch, this year (I think for the first time) Jay bought lunch – thanks Jay!

Glick Greenhouse - We visited Glick’s Greenhouse in Olney Valley.  As oil prices continue to increase, they are still happy with their wood burning fuel system. Glicks had just come off their weekend open house and western music celebration.  It was highly successful!

 They said that about half their poinsettias are sold on that weekend.  This year they had a professional artist painting poinsettias (glitter still gleamed everywhere); the demonstration drew a lot of attention and successful sales.  This is especially gratifying, as others are seeing a decrease in painted poinsettias.  The one comment that caught my ear was that the blue they used was just the right color for the Jewish holiday Chanukah.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glicks Greenhouse, Olney Pa - showing off their painted poinsettias- “Good job guys”

 

Frysville Farm and Greenhouse, Ephrata PA - This is one of my favorite places to visit during poinsettia season. Fry’s grow around 80,000 poinsettias, they use their display greenhouse to great advantage; sadly, none of the Fry family was there, but I captured a few photos anyway.  I just like the way they do things, congratulations on another great poinsettia display.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frysville Farm and Greenhouse with retail display and even better, pictures of the empty production greenhouses!

 

Esbenshade Greenhouse - Talked with Fred and Roger about the season.  They said it was a good one, but they had a few 4” pots left over, other than that they were sold out.  In fact, they could have sold a few more.  The Esbenshade family has been a joy to work with.  I never had a request, they did not try to do their best to fulfill.

They helped start the greenhouse crop management association, worked with biocontrols, grew plants for the trials before we built the research greenhouse, provided plants for numerous experiments and the list could go on – thanks to the whole family, mom, dad, all the brothers and sisters. “ Yinz guys are great, go Pixburgh Stillers” (just a little Pittsburghese* for the folks back home). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A smiling Roger Esbenshade and Jay Sheely discussing a successful year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Wikipedia, Pittsburgh English,  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh_English)

PERSONAL NOTE FROM ALAN MICHAEL

Dear Friends,

As most of you know, I will be retiring on Dec. 30, 2011.  Yes - it is bittersweet as I look forward to the next stage of my life.  I must tell you it has been great working and getting to know you and your families - yes, I will miss that most of all.  It has been fun making the occasional correct diagnosis, seeing the adoption of suggestions, witnessing the next generation take over, and seeing success.  My job was education and any success I had was because you supported Penn State Extension programming.  I would like to thank you for:

• Making the Variety Trials a success for both PA and the whole Northeast
• Using biological control for whitefly and root rots when no one else was doing it
• Starting a crop management assoc.
• Providing plants for consumer displays
• Hosting educational meetings, with all the disruption that entails
• Growing plants for trialing and keeping them straight
• Keeping the Greenhouse Advisory Committee strong, providing advice, volunteering, planting the trials, getting donations for ‘Silent Auction’ and ‘Floriculture Endowment’ and most of all for being good friends.
• The wonderful help from the Master Gardeners for being there on short notice, standing in the blazing summer heat counting flower blooms, organizing and planting variety trials, and for being good friends.
• To my coworkers in Horticulture & Plant Pathology & Entomology Extension here in the counties and at Penn State.  No program is as island, we are blessed with great people dedicated to making the best better!
• To my family

On a personal note, I will become a gentleman farmer (I don’t have to make a profit, although it would be nice) by moving to my wife’s, Carol, family farm in Southern Fulton County. She tells me the first thing I must do is build her a greenhouse ---- and the saga begins again!

My cell phone will remain the same 717-503-3547.  Thank you for 26 years of fun, friendship, and professional growth.

Alan

Silicon’s role in crop production

Research* has shown that silicon (Si) is not an essential plant nutrient even though is the second most abundant element on earth; it is clearly beneficial for some plants. Si benefits have been observed as follows:

-          Poinsettia have decreased bract edge burn and improved shelf-life

-          Zinnias, sunflowers, and phlox have decreased powdery mildew disease

-          Si increased the size of gerbera flowers

-          Decreased populations of aphids on zinnias

-          Improved salt tolerance in New Guinea impatiens

-          Orchids, tomatoes, cucumber, and rice benefit from Si**

One source of Si is rice hulls in a mix at a rate of 10 – 20% by volume.  Another sources is calcium silicate slag, a by-product of ore smelting. The best response in this research was when the growing media had 1% (10,000 ppm) Si, additional amounts did not improve plant response.  Slag will raise pH as it is a liming material.

A Si drench using 60 ppm of potassium silicate can provide benefits in production areas when water quality is a problem; such as hi salts (EC), copper, iron or manganese is present from water or pesticides etc. The researchers’ recommend that you do a small scale test yourself and see if it works in your operation.

A couple of cautions:

-          Si does not always provide benefits

-          Sunflowers have shown head deformations with 100 – 200 ppm drenches

-          Slag and other Si compounds added to mix can increase pH, monitor media frequently

*From: J. Frantz, J. C. Lock, and N. Mattson. Nov/Dec 2010. OFA Bulletin 924. Pg. 17-18.

** From: Soil Science & Plant Nutrition 29(1). 71-83. 1983

For more information contact the senior author Jonathan Frantz

(jonathan.frantz@ars.usda.gov)

Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) Management Program

SAF (Society of American Florist) has put together a strategy to manage Bemisia tabaci whiteflies on ornamental plants see this Link from GPN.

2011 Whitefly Management Program for Ornamental Plants -- Get your copy of it here!

Or go to (http://safcms.memberfuse.com/sites/saf/files/Government_Affairs/WhiteflyManagementProgram_2011)pdf)

This program does not require a pesticide application when the first whitefly adult is detected. However, it does outline steps to manage and maintain whitefly populations throughout the initial propagation and active growth stages at levels to minimize the whitefly numbers on the final plant material being shipped.

-          This program will minimize development of resistance irrespective of whitefly biotype while helping to achieve top quality plant materials.

-          As you are developing your own personalized management plan, test products for crop safety on a small set of plants and check label restrictions for number of total applications per crop.

-          It is highly recommended that any whiteflies in your facility be tested periodically for biotype because more management tools are available for B-biotype than Q-biotype whiteflies. The contact information for the laboratory authorized to biotype whiteflies is presented in the document.

-          Testing biotype is especially important if a product does not adequately control whiteflies. Select products based on the biotype of any whiteflies that are present.

This project was partially funded by the Floriculture & Nursery Research Initiative (USDA-ARS, Society of American Florists, American Nursery & Landscape Association) and the IR-4 Project.

Grower Visits

I had the pleasure to visit a few growers this past week, looking at poinsettias, sharing some memories and taking a few pictures.

Ashcombe Farm and Greenhouse, Mechanicsburg PA – John Bear and Deb Shearer have served on the Greenhouse Advisory Committee and have been helpful in so many ways to the Capital area greenhouse industry.  Their retail store is one of the area’s fun places to visit, great looking plants and a good place to catch lunch.  Here are some pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ashcombe retail area with Deb Shearer and daughter Kerry Laudig.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Bear and Chris Volant with their price poinsettias.

Millers Plant Farm, York PA – Had a good visit with Dave Miller, greenhouse and vegetable grower in York, PA.  Dave and crew were busy getting their new garden center ready for Christmas.  They open this spring and had a good summer with vegetables and flowers.  The retail sales area is nice-looking, plant material is first rate, the parking area is paved and the bathrooms are clean, spacious and attractive. Sales have been good and the pies and sugar buns are mouthwatering.  This year in the greenhouse they changed all the propane heaters to natural gas and are installing flood benches.  It is a well-run family business.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miller Plant Farm’s new retail center; Dave Miller & nephew Steve Slyder in retail Nexus greenhouse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miller Plant Farm’s production greenhouse with a son & grower - Dustin Miller.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Penn State Greenhouse Meeting at Shady Maple - Jan. 26, 2011

Jan 26, 2012

The program is looking good and I can assure you lunch will be fantastic!  Here are highlights.  We will send the full program brochure out next week - HOLD THE DATE Thursday, January 26, 2012 at Shady Maple

7:45 a.m. Registration

8:30 a.m. Morning Program

-          Gary Thompson, Assoc. Dean from the Penn State College of Agriculture Sciences will discuss continued support for the variety trials

-          Rick Yates, Griffin Greenhouse Supply will discuss thielaviopsis root rot control

-          David Barcel, OHP, Inc. will give an update on PGR’s

-          Kerry Richards from Penn State will provide core credits

-          Alan Michael and Alyssa Collins Variety trial update

****LUNCH****

Afternoon Breakouts 1:00 p.m.

Pest Management, 1 core 3 Cat. Credits* (Alyssa Collins, moderator)

• More core credits with Kerry Richards
• IPM of Root rot control with Rick Yates
• Getting the most from beneficial nematodes with Jeff Gabric, Becker Undrwood, Inc.

Greenhouse Culture (Virginia Brubaker, moderator)

• Injector repairs with Linda Kelly, Dosatron USA
• Handling the peat shortage with Jamie Gibson from Fafard

Marketing (Steve Bogash, moderator)

• Connecting to customers with Kathy Kelly, PSU
• Social media, are you ready with Jeff Hyde, PSU
• Perennial Marketing with John Friel, Emerald Coast Growers

           * Applied to PDA and awaiting approval

Penn State Extension – Greenhouse News 11-25-2011

TOPICS

-          Summary of some of Best at Penn State Variety Trials (See attached)

-          PGR’s Planning for next spring

-          Grower Visits in November

 

SUMMARY PENN STATE TRIAL - I am attaching a summary of the Best Plants in this Years Trials (2011).  In previous letters I mentioned the Top 10, but that only scratches the surface.  I am listing about 100 varieties that received great ratings for 2011.  Download VT Best of 2011 Penn State Trials

Please go to the Trial Garden Website: trialgardenspsu.com for complete details.  Also feel free to download any pictures and use them in your newsletters or educational programs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PGR’s Planning for next spring - For better branching look at Augeo and Configure.  ConTego is now available to help with drought stress.

 

Branching Agents

Augeo – It is being marketed by OHP as a branching agent that works by decreasing apical dominance, thereby, increasing lower bud initiation. The active ingredient is dikegulac-sodium.  Apply early in crop cycle, as some leaf yellowing may occur.  Brian Whipker and Joyce Latimer have reported success with fuchsias, lantana, petunias, and verbena.  Apply sufficient volume to wet foliage, start with 400 to 800 ppm.

Configure – Its active ingredient is BA (benzyladenine) and works both on branching and height control.  It is used on Hosta, Echinacea, and Holiday cactus.  The expanded label allows growers to conduct their own greenhouse trials. It is a little tricky to use, as it must be applied at the correct time or window of development -- that is when the plant is physiologically ready to branch or flower.  “A few weekly applications at lower doses may be more beneficial than a single large dose”, says Whipker and Latimer.  It is being used on perennial plugs to improve branching.

 

Drought Stress and Branching Agents

ConTego – You have probably heard about ConTego, a product that helps to reduce water loss and delays wilting.  The active ingredient is s-ABA or abscisic acid, a natural compound in plants produced in the roots in response to drought conditions.   It works by causing stomata in leaves to close reducing transpiration and it should help in retail situations by delaying wilting increasing plant quality.  It is also used to control height on perennials, holiday cactus and it increases branching. (B.Whipker & J.Latimer, OFA Bul No. 924. 2010)

It will probably be great for crops using large amounts of water such as: hydrangeas, mums, bedding plants, and asters.  It can be applied as a foliar spray or sprinkler irrigation.  Suggested rates 250 – 500 ppm.

I was surprised to learn that Valent’s ConTego was used at 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing on the 2 million Impatiens, Marigolds, and Begonias to keep them vigorous and help prevent wilting during the heat of summer.  Today most crop stress management is focused on genetic modification; Valent is taking a nongenetic approach that can be used in the crop production cycle as needed.  (Biological Quarterly Winter 2009, M.Donaldson)

Picture from D.Craig, M.Olrich, E.Runckle. Greenhouse Grower Magazine. August 2011.

For more information:

http://www.greenhousegrower.com/production/?storyid=4843&style=1

http://www.gpnmag.com/articles/028_0710gpn1.pdf 

 

Grower Visits in November 

The early part of the month I got a chance to see some poinsettias.  Again everyone is optimistic, some are even saying they wish they had grown more, they are hoping to be sold out.

 

     

 

Mussleman Greenhouse, Cashtown, Dave and son Andy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schwalm Greenhouse, Sunbury – Poinsettias & BBQ with Dan and Patty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Longwood Gardens Kennett Square, Fall Mum Display

Penn State Extension Greenhouse News–Nov 1, 2011

Alan H. Michael Extension Educator

Topics

-       Alan’s Comments

-       Greenhouse Visits

• Lederer’s Greenhouse
• Fords Greenhouse

-       Poinsettia Added Value                                           

During the month of October, I have been finishing up the Variety Trial reports.  While we are still doing some editing, all current data and pictures are on the web http://www.trialgardenspsu.com/

Fortunately, I was able to visit a few greenhouse growers.  As everyone knows cloudy-rainy weather has been a bear for growers; yet, folks are coping well.  Poinsettia plants that I saw seem to be on track for height.

I was looking for root rots.  Most folks are using some sort of biocontrol and then following up with fungicide only if needed; the roots I looked at were excellent.  I remember back even 10 years ago; almost no one used Trichoderma (Root Shield) or Bacillus Subtilis (Rhapsody, Serenade, Companion etc.) as a planting treatment.  Yet, today it is becoming almost routine. 

I caution growers do not become complacent, continue to check roots and fertilizer salts levels as the bracts form.  Remember to cut back (not eliminate) fertilizer.  The best way is to look at plant roots is weekly (when you take height measurements) and also do a quick pour through EC (electrical conductivity) test with an accurate meter.  Plant Pathologist Dr. Gary Moorman years ago proved that high salts predispose poinsettia root to pythium root rot.

The only problem I saw were a few plants that just collapsed, I thought root rot, but it turned out to be fungus gnat feeding.

Here are some pictures from my visits.

Poinsettias “Looking Good” at Lederers

Parker Ford PA

I talked to Karl and the boys (Chris & Joey) and they related how happy everyone was to be finally done with the new shade/heat curtain they installed this summer. Yes, they did spend the summer up in the eves of the greenhouse where temperatures exceeded 120 degrees day after day.  Depending on the fuel prices they hope the pay back will be about 5 years.

Here are some photos of the poinsettia crop, the new shade installation and the family; mother Pat took off as I pulled out the camera.  She said she had to make lunch, which it was pleasure to share.  Thanks guys it’s been fun working with “y’uns” (some Pittsburghese)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poinsettia Crop at Lederer’s Greenhouse, new shade cloth system, and father Karl (center) and sons Chris (left) and Joey (right)

 

Fords Greenhouse, Coatesville PA

Robby Ford was busy repairing the headhouse roof when I stopped by.  We looked at his crop.  It looked great!  We lamented about prices and the future of the industry and had a good visit.  Found a few wilting plants (only 3 pots in the whole house). It turned out to be fungus gnat damage on the stems and roots, which probably occurred in cutting stage.

 

 

 

Dad, Bob Ford, stopped in and we looked at what was left of the mum crop.  They had a very high quality crop.  It nice to be proud of what you grow.

 

 

 

Then the subject turned to pumpkins and Bob related his story of his one and only entry into the   Guinness Book of Records.  It seems that in 1976 he grew the world’s largest orange pumpkin weighing in at 451 lb.

 

 

 

 

Poinsettia Shipping - Putting Extra Value In The Crop!

Alan H. Michael, Penn State Extension - Floriculturist

 

You have put your heart and maybe part of your soul into the poinsettia crop.   You can’t be satisfied to just get pots out the door, as Dr. Allen Hammer says, “Satisfied poinsettia consumers make for repeat customers.”  You need to ensure value by growing them properly, preparing them for shipping and providing both the seller and customer with proper handling instructions. This is particularly true when your name is on the container and they are being advertised as locally grown!

 

With fewer florist and independent garden centers, growers have had to exploit newer markets by catering to special groups, churches and doing their own retailing. Some have been making cold calls to businesses that they never would have thought would sell flowers (gift shops, convenience stores, novelty stores).  I even saw flowers being sold in front of a take-out restaurant this spring.

 

 

 

Frysville Farms & Greenhouse Christmas Display

LOCALLY GROWN – Local greenhouses are failing to fully exploit the concept of “Locally Grown”; even though it is being widely used by independent food stores and chains.  Help the retailer who wants to feature your “Locally Grown” product by getting some signs and have some care instructions with your name and website available to the consumer.  Set your product apart, talk about how you add value and freshness, which bring me back to Allen Hammer’s comment about satisfied customers.  I am including additional comments from his last year’s article in Grower Talks magazine, “Poinsettias: The Final Step-Shipping.” 

“The grower’s responsibility in post-harvest care is to provide the best poinsettia possible at the proper stage of development, free of insects and diseases, and with root medium low in soluble salts.  Too young, underdeveloped bracts will never develop good color in the post-harvest environment.  Pink bracts on red cultivars result when plants leave the production environment too early.  Too old bracts on plants held too long in warm greenhouses will also provide less beauty for the consumer.”

“Fertilizer salts should be reduced before shipping; however, it’s not desirable to completely eliminate fertilizer application. Just reduce the rate to 1/2 or 1/4 the rate used during early production. Completely eliminating fertilizer application can result in lower leaf yellowing in the post-harvest environment.  Poinsettias can also receive chilling injury when exposed to 50 °F

(10 °C) or less for as short as a two-hour period.  Chilling injury can cause epinasty as well as leaf loss under the most severe case.”

“Transporting plants in unheated trucks in the north can significantly reduce poinsettia quality.  A general guideline is that poinsettias do much better when placed in a uniform non-stressful environment, avoiding too high or too low extremes in temperature, light, and water.

The poinsettia grower should also provide handling instructions to retailers.  Those instructions can include:

• Upon receiving plants, unpack and unsleeve them immediately.  Poinsettias left in the sleeve become droopy.  This epinasty is often caused by ethylene production from the sleeving process.  The longer poinsettias are sleeved and the higher the temperature is above 65 °F (18 °C), the greater the droopiness problem.  The plants generally recover from epinasty in a couple of days when placed in a lighted area at 65 °F to 75 °F (18 °C to 23 °C) if the sleeving period was longer than a couple of days.

• Poinsettias should be placed in bright light at 60 °F to 65 °F (15 °C to 18 °C).  They should not receive direct sunlight under post-harvest conditions.

• The plants should be placed out of hot or cold drafts. A heat duct or outside door should not expose the plants to sudden changes in temperature.  At no time should poinsettias be stored in an unheated or uncooled area. 

• Even if you think you have no or little control on how the retailer handles the poinsettia plants, written handling instructions included with shipments will never hurt.”

Reference: Dr. Allen Hammer, Poinsettias: The Final Step-Shipping, Grower Talks, Oct. 27, 2010. Vol.75, No.6.