Rules meant to stop white rust postponed
The new USDA-APHIS regulation on importing cut flowers that are hosts of chrysanthemum white rust from countries where the disease occurs has been postponed until June 2. It was scheduled to go into effect on May 3. SAF, Asocolflores and the Assoc. of Floral Importers of Fla. cooperated to get the regulation postponed until after the Mother's Day and Memorial Day holidays. The final rule had been published in the April 3 Federal Register. SAF said the additional time will enable U.S. trading partners to implement inspection and compliance programs.

Florida takes steps to halt moth
As of April 25, all live plant, cut foliage and cut flower shipments originating in California and arriving in Florida must have a Calif. Certificate of Quarantine Compliance stating it was inspected and found free of light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana) within 14 days of the shipment. Shipments without certification will be sealed at the interdiction station and held until inspection. After May 5, shipments to Florida without proper certification will be rejected. The moth has been found in 8 Calif. counties. Calif. nurseries within 1½ miles of any confirmed site are being inspected, and compliance agreements are being implemented, requiring regular inspections. Calif. growers should contact their local county ag. commissioner to arrange for inspections before shipping to Florida.

PGRs can keep plant size in check
A spray or drench application of a root-active plant growth regulator (A-Rest, Bonzi, Sumagic, Topflor) can help maintain plants once they reach or approach their final dimensions. Rich McAvoy, Univ. of Conn. professor and ext. specialist, said this can be especially important when weather conditions dictate that plants be held longer than anticipated. Select a concentration in the upper half of the normal recommended range for the crop. A 2nd treatment can be applied. A proper hold rate should provide enough control to hold a mature plant under hot weather for 2-3 weeks, but low enough that the plant recovers and grows for consumers. Spray treatments carry less of a risk of overdose than drench treatments, especially when root-active PGRs are used.

Gladiolus rust found at Fla. nurseries
Plant Protection and Quarantine's Nat'l. Identification Service confirmed that gladiolus samples collected from a commercial facility in Manatee County, Fla., were infected with gladiolus rust. This is the 1st detection of the fungus in 2007. Last year, the disease was identified for the first time in the U.S. at the same business. Further inspection yielded more rust-infected plants, mostly in plots of harvested cut flowers. A 2nd rust infection was identified March 27 in a gladiolus sample collected from a Clewiston, Fla., nursery. The fungus, which is of plant quarantine importance in Europe and the U.S., primarily attacks gladiolus cultivars grown for cuts.

N.C. names May Floriculture Month
N.C. Gov. Michael Easley proclaimed May as Floriculture Month in the state at the recommendation of N.C. Commercial Flower Growers Assoc. North Carolina ranks 6th in the nation for floriculture production. Flowering plants represent the state's fastest-growing ag. segment, generating $182 million in sales.

Worth a visit
Learn to grow the tenacious Peggy Martin rose. A portion of proceeds from sales fund horticulture restoration programs in New Orleans. Only on GreenBeam.com.

Hydraulic Sprayers for any size operation. Unique features: ● High Flow, Maintenance Free Pump. ● Self Tracking, Maneuverable Carts. ● Designed with growers in mind.

Choose from a wide selection of Yoder Green Leaf™ Perennials that are grown to order. Get what you need, when you need it – and save!