Ecke Ranch to propagate Ball garden mums
Under a new partnership between Ball Seed and Paul Ecke Ranch, the Ball Chrysanthemum line of garden mums will be propagated at Ecke's Encinitas, Calif., facility. Ecke cutting production will supplement Ball mum propagation at Milgro Newcastle Inc. in Newcastle, Utah, which will continue to be exclusive year-round supplier of Ball pot, cut and garden mums. The Ecke facility is equipped for raised-bed production in screened greenhouses. Unrooted mum cutting production at the Ecke Ranch will be operational for the spring 2007 shipping season.
Project GREEEN supports Michigan research
Project GREEEN, a plant ag. initiative at Mich. St. Univ., is seeking proposals for 2007. Proposals will be accepted in 3 categories: basic research, applied research and extension/education demonstration. Proposals must identify how projects will affect the economic and environmental aspects of Michigan ag. and respond to plant industry priorities. For 2007, about $1.5 million will be available for funding new research; up to $2.2 million will be available for funding continuation projects started in '05 and '06. Applications are due Jan. 15. Awards will be announced in March with funding available in April.
Plug Connection hosts primula trial
Plug Connection in Vista, Calif., will host a primula comparison trial Nov. 27 through Dec. 13. Best viewing in full color will be the week of Dec. 4. The trial will include Primula acaulis, malacoides, obconica and polyanthus varieties. Breeders represented are American Takii, Farmen, Floranova, Global Flowers, Goldsmith Seeds, Hem Genetics, Murakami Seed, Pako Primula, PanAmerican Seed, Sakata Seed, S&G Flowers, Schoneveld and distributor Ball Seed. The trial will be displayed as mixes with a limited number of new separate colors and experimental P. acaulis varieties.
Garden center program to promote Plants at Work
ECGC Distributors Ltd., which consists of 11 of the country's largest garden centers, is working with Plants at Work and MasterTag to incorporate new educational tags into a point-of-purchase program. Plants at Work and at Home tags and posters are being redesigned with a new color scheme specifically for ECGC. The program is scheduled to launch in January.
Avoid last-minute poinsettia problems
Cool, rainy, overcast weather provides conducive conditions for Botrytis cinerea to infect poinsettias and spread. The pathogen needs 6 hours at 85% humidity for infection and spores to spread through the air. Ohio St. Univ. plant pathologist Dennis Lewandowski suggests reducing humidity by watering early in the day, not overwatering, reducing standing water under benches and in aisles, fixing leaky roofs and running horizontal airflow fans. Mich. St. Univ. IPM ext. educator Dean Krauskopf reports Pythium can also stunt poinsettia plants by reducing root development without showing many symptoms. Diagnostic tests can confirm if this is the cause so plants can be treated before shipping.
Worth a visit
Matt Edmundson recounts his face-to-face visit with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez to discuss labor and immigration issues. Only on GreenBeam.com.
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Better air movement with less fans and energy used. Dramm will DESIGN a fan layout for your greenhouse. Click for more information.
Fine Americas, Inc. offers you a complete range of plant growth regulators to improve your crop quality and increase profit margins. Contact your distributor today.
New England Grows is scheduled for Tuesday, February 6 - Thursday, February 8, 2007 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in Boston, Massachusetts. Register online today!
Something’s keeping you awake at night. You’ve got questions. We’ve got answers. 3 intense days. 75 business changing sessions. 1000 green industry professionals.
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