Key Pests of Field Production Perennials
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Key Pests of Field Edible Flowers Production Perennials Reprinted from the Minnesota Commercial Flower Growers Association Bulletin. 44(6): 7-8, 1995. Timothy M. Abbey Nursery Crops IPMCoordinator Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) The unique flower of the snapdragon spike is a very familiar sight in most gardens. The flowers cover the color range from soft, pastel yellows and pinks to warm red, burgundy and bronze. ntegrated pest management They flower abundantly from May to frost. The plants come in a (IPM) is a sustainable approach variety of sizes and are used for everything from edging borders to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical to tall cutting flowers in the back of a bed. Snapdragons self-sow, and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health yet are rarely intrusive. To maintain well-developed, free-flower and environmental risks. The challenging aspect for nursery pro ing plants, be sure to pinch the plants. Plant snapdragons six to duction of ornamental plants is due to the extremely low toler twelve inches apart, depending on the final plant height. Snap ance for pest presence and damage. IPM strategies are designed dragons like rich, well-drained soil that is high in organic matter. to manage pest populations below damaging levels; the goal is Soil pH should be neutral to slightly alkaline. Plant in full sun. not the complete elimination of pests. The low aesthetic thresh Snapdragons are fairly heat tolerant. old for pest populations and damage makes perennial IPM pro Marigold (Tagettes spp.) grams a challenge to implement. However, this does not mean One of the most easily recognized of that 1PM cannot be successful for perennials. There are many sit all garden flowers is the marigold. Today uations when alternative control methods, other than chemical, we can find single or double flowers in can be implemented with no loss to crop value. Frequently, crop colors including yellow, gold, oranges quality is improved with fewer economic losses due to pest and bicolors with red or brown problems. stripes. There are several types of Every production site may develop its own specific IPM pro marigolds, ranging in size from a few gram based on climate/microclimate, plant material and manage inches tall to three feet. The flowers ment practices. Before an effective IPM program can be estab may be as small as one inch across to lished, the personnel involved need to become familiar with the as large as five or six inches. Marigolds key plants and key pests. Key plants are those with the highest need adequate water, but watch it, because dollar value or the ones most susceptible to numerous and/or they will rot easily in a soggy soil. They don't serious problems every year. The key pests are those which need pampering and, in fact, will do better if they receive only a attack high value plants or are a serious problem every year on minimum of attention. Marigolds will also reseed, but if you have a variety of hosts. started with hybrid plants, don't count on the new plants to be The following components are the basic steps required for a like your originals. Depending on the final size of the plant, mair- successful program. Remember to keep an open mind and incor golds should be planted six to eighteen inches apart. Marigolds porate any new idea that fits into your program framework. are tolerant of dry soils but prefer moist, well-drained loamy Components of an IPM Program soils. Sunny locations are best. However, heat may cause the • Definition of objectives. What are the goals? Possibly to plants to stall or slow growth and flowering. reduce pesticide usage, improve crop quality or save money. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) • Gather information on insect/disease/weed identification, Give nasturtiums the coolest spot in your garden. They are life cycles, hosts and control recommendations; how to properly native to the high elevations of the Andes Mountains and do scout for specific pests Connecticut Greenhouse Newsletter Connecticut Greenhouse Newsletter 4 21 Nuss, R.J. and R. A. Ferretti. 1985. Growing Herbs in the Home • Monitoring of pest and beneficial populations and record Garden. Available from Communications and Information keeping (including date, location, weather, pests found and their Technology, 1376 Storrs Road, University of Connecticut, Storrs, level, recommendations for treatment, action taken, etc.). CT 06269-4035 for $1.80 or from your local Cooperative • Decision making. Based on the information available, the Extension Center. person responsible for controlling pest problems must consider Thompson, S. 1985. Herbs and Their Uses. Fact sheet. all possible options for each situation. This includes treating the Department of Vegetable Crops. Cornell University. problem or waiting to see what happens to the population; selecting the appropriate control measure(s), etc. • Management options—cultural, biological, chemical, physi cal etc. • Evaluation of treatments and overall program. In order to scout efficiently, there are some basic tools that are required. These include: 10X-20X hand lens, around the neck, not in a pocket clippers sample bags waterproof marker New England Greenhouse Conference water October 21-23, 1996 ruler Sturbridge, Massachusetts white paper and clipboard to monitor for mites, thrips scouting forms The dates for this year's New England Greenhouse clipboard Conference have been set, so mark your calendars soil probe now! You don't want to miss this important biennial reference books event. tally meter Once again the conference willfeature a large trade sample vials with alcohol show and concurrent educational sessions that will paper towels run continuously over the three-day period. Educa The following suggestions for pest management relate more tional sessions will cover a wide specifically to herbaceous perennials. range of important issues, • Inspect incoming plants for pest problems and there will be ample • Clean growing areas (includingweeds and dead plant opportunity for growers material) in all New England • When possible cover all soil surfaces with concrete, black states, as well as New plastic or weed barrier Jersey, New York and • Keep pet plants out of crop areas Pennsylvania, to obtain • Grow resistant varieties whenever possible pesticide recertification credits. • Keep unnecessary people out ofcropareas (pests hitch rides) • Sterilize growing media, if needed • Inspect and quarantine incoming plants • Use physical barriers such as screening, doors, plastic cur tains in greenhouses • Use stickytraps to monitorfor pests; check/changeweekly. Connecticut Greenhouse Newsletter Connecticut Greenhouse Newsletter 20 5 Scouting Equipment Suppliers Table 2. Some of the more popular perennial herbs. Forestry Suppliers Great Lakes IPM Orange Mint Partial shade, Use fresh leaves Use as a tea. 205 West Rankin Street 10220 Church Road, NE or Orange moist soil. as needed. Orange bergamot P.O. Box 8397 Vestaburg, MI 48891 Bergamot is flavoring for (Mentha Jackson, MS 39284 517-268-5693 Earl Grey tea. citrata) 800-647-5368 Peppermint Partial shade, Use fresh leaves Use as tea or iced Gempler's Pest Management Supply (Mentha prefers moist soil. as needed. drink. P.O. Box 270 peperita) Harvest leaves for drying before 211 Blue Mounds Road flowering. Mt. Horeb, WI 53572 Rosemary Full sun, well- Harvest fresh Use to flavor pork, 800-332-6744 (Rosmarinus drained soil. Grow leaves as needed, veal and lamb or The following are some of the key pests of field-grown herba officinalis) this tender peren or before flower fish dishes. Add ceous perennials. The list is based upon a review of the available nial as a pot plant ing. Preserve by to breads and literature with additional input from growers. It is not meant to so it may be drying. biscuits. be an exhaustive list but, instead, to serve as a starting point for brought indoors monitoring field-grown perennials. For simplicity sake, frequent in the winter. ly, only the genus name is included due to the large number of Sage (Salvia Full sun, well- Pick leaves before Use in sausages, officinalis) drained soil. or at blooming. stews or soups or cultivars and species. More detailed pest information can be Easily dried. to season stuffing found in the references listed at the end of the article. for poultry. Aster Leafhopper (Macrosteles quadrilineatus) Spearmint Partial shade, Harvest fresh Use in teas, iced (Mentha prefers moist soil. leaves anytime. fruit drinks. Host Plants spicata) Anchusa, Aster, Centaurea, Chrysanthemum, Coreopsis, Cosmos, Thyme Full sun, well- Cut leafy tops and Use in soups, veg (Thymus drained soil. For Dahlia, Dianthus, Gaillardia, Lobelia, Papaver, Phlox, Rudbeckia, flower clusters etable dishes or vulgaris) use as a ground when first blos chowders. Scabibsa. cover or edging soms open and Monitoring Techniques plant. Many vari dry. eties available. Overwinter as eggs in plant tissue. Adults have six black spots on the head. Visual inspection of leaves for stippling damage; Herbs are easy to grow in containers, on a patio.in a window look on underside of leaves for adults, nymphs and shed skins. box or as part of your vegetable or annual flower gardens. Add Yellowsticky cards can also be used to detect populations. One herbs to your cooking by harvesting herbs when they are at or more generations/year. their peak of flavor. For additional information, consult the fol Damage Symptoms lowing references. Mycoplasm disease symptoms = chlorotic foliage, deformed References flowers (Aster Yellows Disease). Feeding causes discoloration (stippling). Cox, D. 1993. Growing Herbs as Bedding Plants. Massachusetts Cooperative Extension System Floral Notes. 6(3):2-6. 1993 IPM Options Creasy, R. 1988. Cooking from the Garden. Sierra Club Books. Destroy diseased plants. Bifenthrin, Fluvalinate, horticultural San Francisco. 547 pp. oil, insecticidal soap. Gilbertie,S. and L. Sheehan. 1984. Herb Gardening at It's Best. New York. Atheneum/ SMI. 245 pp. Gilson, D. W. Herbs: The Top Ten Sellers and How to Market Them.