Florel can replace pinching for mums
Florel can replace mechanical pinching of garden mums when applied as a thorough foliar spray at 500 ppm (1.6 oz./gal.), reports Univ. of Mass. ext. floriculture specialist Tina Smith. The application is usually made 1 week before a hand-pinch would be made. While this initial spray to pinched cuttings does not increase branching, it reduces premature budding. Repeat applications at 2-week intervals.

High tunnels offer options
The benefits of high tunnels for cut flower growers was the emphasis of a program sponsored by Univ. of Md. Co-op. Ext. A good high tunnel can be built for $1.50-$2/sq. ft. of production area. Payback can be short if there is a market for the flowers produced. A high tunnel can help growers looking to serve early and late markets. Depending on the crop, high tunnel production benefits include longer stems, less disease, decreased pest pressure and better overwintering.

Baucom's closes S.C. facility
Baucom's Nursery, a 60-year-old, family-owned greenhouse operation with multiple locations, plans to close its 320-acre operation in Summerville, S.C., liquidate its assets, and start a new business venture in the Dorchester County area. The reason for the sale is land appreciation over the last decade has increased property values to the point that the land is worth more than the business on it. "Summerville worked as a nursery site for us for a decade," CEO Gary Baucom said. "The best use of this land is not in nursery stock. It just doesn't make sense anymore." Baucom's has hired online auction firm West Auctions to liquidate the Summerville nursery, as well as surplus equipment from its other operations.

Chilli thrips threatens Florida landscapes
Chilli thrips is now in 27 Florida counties and is becoming a serious problem in landscapes where it feeds on Knock Out roses, Indian hawthorn, pittosporum and plumbago, reports Laura Miller with Hillsborough County Co-op. Ext. Service. She said native Florida flower thrips and Western flower thrips, which haven't caused excessive damage to landscapes or unmanageable injury to ornamentals and vegetables, have been kept in check by the minute pirate bug. Growers who have had problems managing thrips and are interested in participating in a Univ. of Fla. research project should contact entomologist Lance Osborne.

Worth a visit
Follow along as staff writer Kelli Rodda visits nurseries, greenhouses and garden centers in the Mid-Atlantic. Only on GreenBeam.com.

• Valent
• Yoder Brothers
• Goldsmith Seeds

Valent Booth 1512, 2007 OFA Short Course, July 14-17, 2007, Columbus, OH

Available only from Blooms of Bressingham®, the Tutti Frutti Series of Achilleas have compact habits that make them ideal for pot crops.

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