Herbaceous Perennial Production

1. Herbaceous Perennial Production Dr. Terri W. Starman Hort 429 Greenhouse Crop Production

2. Herbaceous Perennial Production Trends • Perennials in flower • Increased demand • Increase in number and diversity • Get plants to flower on specific dates and to precise specifications

3. Flower Induction • Photoperiod • Vernalization • Juvenility

4. Seed grown perennials • Flowering depends on seedling age or maturity, vernalization (cold), and photoperiod. • Usually obligate cold requiring perennials have to be a minimum age (have a certain leaf or node number) before the cold period begins. • Breeders should be able to develop lines that bloom and mature with fewer leaves.

5. Photoperiod • Flowering in response to LD • LD required – grower can use NI • LD beneficial • Horticulturally required • Horticulturally beneficial • LD not required

6. Vernalization and Juvenility • No cold required • Cold will hasten or improve flowering • Cold required for flowering

7. Delivery of the Cold Treatment • 320F to 450F (410F) • Plug flats or pots as long as the leaf # is adequate • Small amount of light 25-50 fc • Hoop houses not as consistent and reliable as a cooler • 10 weeks • SD can sometimes substitute for cold

8. Yoder in Salinas, CA Founded over 75 years ago, Yoder Brothers is a world leader in flowering research and breeding. The Salinas Valley of California is home to Yoder chrysanthemum cut flower, rose and carnation breeding operations and azalea, perennial and poinsettia production.

9. Vegetative Annuals Dr. Terri Starman Dept. of Horticultural Sciences Texas A&M University

10. Top Ten Reasons for Vegetative Annual Crops • Plants that might otherwise never be available if they must be produced from seed • Individuality vs. uniformity • Good performing cultivars that do not reproduce by seed • Sterile plants have bigger, showier flowers that last longer

11. Why Vegetative Crops con’t? • 2-3 years vs. 7 years to bring to market • Superior to seed counterparts • Popularity of container gardens • Enhanced garden performance and consumer satisfaction • They’re fast and easy to produce • They’re pretty

12. What are some Vegetative Annual Genera? Angelonia Argyranthemum Bracteantha Calibrachoa Diascia Scaevola Also Begonia, Coleus, Dahlia, Fuchsia, Geranium, Jamesbrittnia, Double Impatiens, New Guinea Impatiens, Lantana, Nemesia, Osterospermum, Petunia, Sutera, Torenia and Verbena

13. Container Gardens Dr. Terri W. Starman

14. Growers are having these thoughts about the current climate in the Floriculture Industry….. • There’s a downward pressure on prices. • Our products are becoming commodities. • Am I making money? • Should I grow Crop A or Crop B – which is more profitable? • Should I take the value-added or commodity approach?

15. Some Thoughts on Niche Marketing • What is the product life cycle in today’s market? • We know when to start growing a certain cultivar, but when do we stop growing that cultivar? • Small growers are like small fish, they need to swim faster.

16. Why Grow Vegetative Annuals? • Extend sales before and after spring peak and in the fall • Differentiate product from competition • Offer unique product assortment (different sizes of containers) • De-emphasize commodity items • Add value to products • Popularity of container gardens

17. Spring Mixes (Start Week 3, early to mid January) Argyranthemum Antirrhinum Bacopa Brachyscome Diascia Nemesia Product Sizes 10-inch container gardens, hanging baskets and4-inch pots for make-your-own Vegetative Annual Plant Materials

18. Sun Ageratum Angelonia Bidens Coleus Jamesbrittnia Pentas Phlox Portulaca Scaevola Shade Begonias Ferns Heliotrope Heuchera Impatiens Summer Mixes (Start Week 9, late February) Product Sizes Plant Materials 12-inch mixed baskets and14-inch and greater container gardens, 4-inch for make-your-own

19. Fall Mixes (Start Week 34, early to mid August) Argyranthemum Bracteantha Calibrachoa Diascia Nemesia Osteospermum Product Sizes 10 and 14-inch containers gardens and 4-inch for make-your-own Vegetative Annual Plant Materials

20. Mixing Plants in ContainersGetting Started - What do you do?? • Select a color scheme Harmonious in color with a contrast of a deeper color like burgundy, blue or deep violet

21. Choose flowering plants • Vary shape and texture of leaf and flower forms (daisy, tubular and cluster flowers) • Use bold foliage to back a plant that has good flower power but fine foliage of its own

22. Choose foliage and component plants • Vary shape and texture; foliage offers texture, color, and consistency; harmonize or contrast • Have plenty of these colors of foliage on hand: Gray or silver Purple or black Bright yellow or chartreuse

23. Unify the design: use effective tools including transitory elements such as: • plants with small flowers & leaves • color echo variegated foliage bi-color flowers • plants in motion

24. References Website http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/floriculture Tips on Designing, Growing and Marketing Mixed Baskets and Containers published by OFA Services Inc.