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. Connecticut Greenhouse Newsletter. 184:1-4.

Connecticut Greenhouse Newsletter Connecticut Greenhouse Newsletter 6 19 Table 2. Some of the more popular perennial herbs. Black Vine Weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) Herb Culture Harvest Culivary Uses Host Plants Anise Full sun. Easily Harvest young Use leaves for a Hyssop grown. Will easily leaves or flowers tea. Use edible Astilbe, Bergenia, Cyclamen, Hosta, Primula, Saxifraga. (Agastache reseed, itself. Use as needed. flowers in salads, Monitoring Techniques foeniculum) for rear of the iced drinks, tea border. breads and Overwinter as larvae in the soil or adults in protected areas. dessert dishes. Look for C-shaped leaf notching as evidence of adult feeding. Bay (Sweet) Tender perennial Harvest this slow- Use in soups, Adults can also be monitored by using burlap bands and pitfall (Laurus grown in a con growing herb stews, sauces and traps. One generation/year. nobilis) tainer. Place in a sparingly. Leaves marinades. Widely sheltered location will dry well and used in French and Damage Symptoms outdoors. Bring keep their flavor. Mediterranean Larvae feed on roots which will weaken or kill the plant. inside in winter. cooking. IPM Options Catnip Partial shade, rich Harvest leaves for Use in teas and (Nepeta well drained soil. drying. seasonings, highly Use exclusion barriers to keep adults out of production areas. cataria) Easy to grow. attractive to cats. Acephate, Fluvalinate + PBO Chives Partial shade, Cut fresh leaves Use for delicate (Allium prefers soil rich in as needed. If cut onion-like flavor Cyclamen Mite (Phytonemus pallidus) schoenopra- organic matter. back two inches, ing in salads, Host Plants sum) Use as a border it will regrow. May omelettes or add plant. freeze or dry, too. to mild cheeses. Aconitum, Chrysanthemum, Clematis, Cyclamen, Dahlia, French Full sun to partial Harvest fresh Use in salads, mar Delphinium, Verbena, Vinca, Viola. Tarragon shade, well young leaves and inades and sauces Monitoring Techniques (Artemisia drained soil. Need stem tips. or add to chicken dracunculus) winter protection. and fish dishes. Overwinter as adults on plant material. Mites are invisible to Greek Full sun, will Use fresh leaves Use as flavoring the naked eye (1/100"), need a microscope to see them, makes it Oregano grow in poor soil. as needed. Harvest on pizza and difficult to detect them prior to onset of injury. Several genera (Origanum leaves for drying Italian-type tions/year. vulgare) before flowering. sauces. Damage Symptoms Lavender Full sun, very well- Cut whole flower Use in sachets (Lavandula drained soil with spikes when the and perfumes. Feeding causes leaves to curl and twist. Flower buds will dry vera or L. adequate lime. first flowers begin up and die. Particularly severe on Delphinium. officinalis) Dwarf types ie. to open and then IPM Options Hidcote or dry. Munstead Dwarf Space plants so they do not touch. Remove and destroy are available. infested plants. Dicofol, Dienochlor Lemon Partial shade, Harvest leaves Use as seasoning Grass well-drained soil. after plant is in southeast Asian European Corn Borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) (Cymbopo- Tender perennial, established. dishes, in soups Host Plants gon citratus) bring inside for Leaves may be or as a tea. the winter. frozen or dried. Althea, Aster, Chrysanthemum, Dahlia. Marjoram Full sun, rich well Harvest leaves as Use in soups, egg Monitoring Techniques (Origanum drained soil. Ten needed before dishes, potato majorana) der perennial. Use blooming. salad. Overwinter as larvae in the plants. Larvae are cream colored as a border plant. with brown spots. Observe new growth flushes for early signs of larvae. One or two generations/year.

Connecticut Greenhouse Newsletter Connecticut Greenhouse Newsletter 18 7 Damage Symptoms Table 1. Some of the more popular annual herbs. Boring can cause dieback or death. Herb Culture Harvesting Tips Culinary Uses IPM Options Basil Full sun, rich, well Harvest fresh leaves Use in tomato Remove infected stems in spring before larvae become adults. (Sweet) drained soil. Pinch before plant flowers dishes, soups, (Ocimum Don't grow corn or potatoes near perennial field production. back to promote for maximum flavor. salads, stews basilicum) bushy growth. Make final harvest omelettes; or as Four-lined Plant Bug (Poecilocapsus lineatus) Many varieties before cool (40° ) pesto (Italian pasta available. Use dwarf nights slow growth. sauce). Preserve as Host Plants varieties as an edg Basil is very sensi basil vinegar or oil. ing plant or in con tive to frost injury. Aconitum, Alchemilla, Chrysanthemum, Coreopsis, Cosmos, Dahlia, tainers. Echinops, Gaillardia, Heliopsis, Heuchera, Hydrangea, Lavandula, Cilantro/ Full sun to partial Harvest fresh leaves Leaves are used in Lupinus, Mentha, Papaver, Paeonia, Rudbeckia, Veronica. Coriander shade, light garden as needed. Harvest Mexican cooking. Monitoring Techniques (Coriandrum soil. Select slow-to- seed heads after the Use in salsa, guaca- sativum) bolt varieties to first seeds have mole, and vegetable Overwinter as eggs inserted into tender shoots. Adults are extend leaf harvest, turned brown. dishes. Seeds are yellow-green with four black, longitudinal stripes. Detection can or sow weekly to used as a condiment be difficult because they will quickly move to a hiding place prolong harvest. in desserts or added when they notice movement. One generation/year. to Indian curries. Damage Symptons Dill Full sun, well- Pick leaves when Use fresh leaves in (Anethum drained soil. Make plants are four to salads, omelettes, Feeding causes spotting of leaves which may develop necrotic graveolens) successive sowings five inches tall or vegetable dishes centers. This should not be confused with leaf spot disease. to ensure a supply just as flowers open. and with mild fla Extensive feeding can cause leaf drop. of fresh leaves. Pick seeds when vored cheeses. Use they are fully devel in soup and fish IPM Options oped. dishes. Green seeds Remove weeds which can serve as alternate food sources. are used to make Acephate, Bifenthrin, horticultural oil, insecticidal soap. Start dill pickles. treatments early when first nymphs are detected. Fennel Full sun, light, well- Harvest leaves as Use fennel leaves (Foeniculum drained soil. needed. Pick seeds in sauces, salads, Japanese Beetle (Popilliae japonicd) vulgare) when ripe. Harvest cheese spreads and Florence tender stems and vegetable dishes. Host Plants fennel (F. bulbs of Florence Fennel seeds are Althea, Aster, Astilbe, Dahlia, Digitalis, Gaillardia, Hemerocallis, dulce) fennel. used as a condi Hibiscus, Iris, Paeonia, Rudbeckia. ment with an anise like flavor. Florence Monitoring Techniques fennel is widely Overwinter as grubs (larvae) in the soil. Larval raster patterns: used in Italian bristles form a "V". Look for adult damage on indicator plants cuisine. such as sassafras, rose, wild grape, etc. One generation/ year. Parsley Partial shade, rich, Harvest fresh outer Add to soups, sal (Petro- moist soil. Parsley leaves as needed. ads, egg or potato Damage Symptoms selinum is an biennial that Best when used dishes. High in iron Adult feeding on foliage causes a lacy pattern on leaves (skele crispurn) is treated as an fresh. and Vitamin A and annual. May be tonization). Larval feeding prunes roots causing turf dieback. C. Preferred culi grown indoors. nary variety is flat- IPM Options leaved Italian type. Placement of pheromone traps may cause more feeding dam age to susceptible host plants. If possible use protective netting

Connecticut Greenhouse Newsletter Connecticut Greenhouse Newsletter 8 17 Tips for the Consumer: The Culture to protect plants. Adults: Chlorpyrifos, Fluvalinate. Control grubs in turf areas: Insect parasitic nematodes (Steinernema and Uses of Herbs feltiae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophord) Leanne Pundt Lacebugs (Tingidae) Extension Educator Host Plants Commercial Horticulture Aster, Chrysanthemum, Scabiosa, Sedum, Solidago. Monitoring Techniques Overwinter as adults in protective areas; in plant debris. ore retail growers are Adults have lacy, transparent wings. Nymphs (immatures) are M selling herbs as they con black and spiny. Feed on the underside of leaves, dark fecal tinue to gain in popularity with the consumer. Retailers can spots will be present. Several generations/year. increaseherb sales and customer satisfaction with their pur Damage Symptoms chase by using an attractive display of herbs combined with Feedingwill cause leaves to discolor and appear bleached. concise information on the culture and use of herbs. The follow ing text and tables include information on how to grow, harvest IPM Options and use some of the more popular herbs. Remove weeds which can serve as alternate food sources. Gardeners can design a separate herb garden or include herbs Acephate, horticultural oil, insecticidal soap. in their vegetable or flower garden. Herbs can be grown in hang ing baskets for use throughout the summer, or a combination of Oriental Beetle (Anomala orientalis) herbs may be planted into large pottery pots to be placed on a Host Plants deck or patio. Cyclamen, Phlox. In general, most herbswill need full sun (six to eighthours) and very well-drained soil, except for Monitoring Techniques the moisture-loving mints. Many mints, Overwinter as grubs Qarvae) in the soil. Larval raster pattern: due to their invasive nature, should bristles form two parallel lines. Look for adults on roses, dahlias, be planted in a container to be etc. in mid-late summer or nearlights at night.One generation/year. placed in the ground. Some Damage Symptoms perennial herbs benefit from the Adult feeding on foliage causes skeletonization. Larval feeding addition of winter protection prunes roots. by mulching with straw, oak leaves or evergreen branches. IPM Options The more tender perennials, Adults: Chlorpyrifos, Fluvalinate. Grubs: Insect parasitic nema including lemon grass, lemon todes (Steinernema feltiae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora'). verbena or rosemary, must Potato Leafhopper (Empoasca fabae) be brought inside for the win ter and placed in a sunny window. At this Host Plants time, it is important for gardeners not Althea, Dahlia, Hibiscus, Lupinus. to overwater these herbs. Growing the Monitoring Techniques herbs in a clay pot, selecting a well- drained growing medium and watering Does not overwinter in the North, migrates from the South in only when needed will help to avoid late April or early May. Adultsare green with six white spots on this common problem. the thorax. Yellow sticky cards can be used to monitor for adults. Several generations/year. Connecticut Greenhouse Newsletter Connecticut Greenhouse Newsletter 16 9 Damage Symptoms tion. At least six inches of insulation is recommended for the Discoloration, wilting of foliage. Leaves may also be smaller ceiling. than normal and deformed. Wall and ceiling surfaces should be of a material that is strong and easy to clean. Plywood covered with an acrylic or epoxy IPM Options paint is a good choice. Bifenthrin, horticultural oil, insecticidal soap. Windows. Large windows in the work areas provide natural Slugs (Mollusca) light. Where sheet metal is used for roofing, an occasional clear fiberglass panel can be substituted to provide overhead light. Host Plants Artificial lighting (fluorescent or metal halide) is best for work Althea, Bergenia, Campanula, Delphinium, Hemerocallis, Hosta, areas. Install it at a level of 20 foot-candles at the work surface Iris, Primula, Sedum, Viola. for potting, transplanting and office space and at 10 foot-candles Monitoring Techniques in storage areas. Heat. Oil or gas fired, hot air unit heaters work well for space Look under boards, vegetation and daytime shelter. Look for heating. They can be placed overhead out of the way of equip silvery slime trails on or near vegetation. ment operations. They have a quick recovery when open doors Damage Symptoms cool the room. In the office and lunchroom, electric baseboard Leaves can be cut off at the petiole. Large, ragged holes units give more uniform heat without the blower noise. chewed in leaves. Approximate headhouse area IPM Options neededper 1,000 ft2 of Control weeds and keep production area clear of debris. Greenhouse size greenhouse area 10,000 - 40,000 ft2 150ft2 Spittlebugs: Meadow Spittlebug (Philaenus 40,000 - 80,000 100 spumarius) over 80,000 75

Host Plants Shipping Achillea, Phlox.

Olfice Order t Monitoring Techniques Assembly | Overwinter as eggs inserted into shoots. Look for conspicu Greenhouse ous "spittle" masses surrounding the nymphs. Adults are active during the summer months. One generation/year. Utilities Damage Symptoms Feeding causes wilted, stunted, distorted and discolored • • foliage. Greenhouse Headhouse Expansion IPM Options Area Pick out nymphs if infestation is light. Chlorpyrifos, insectici Transplant dal soap Area

Stalk Borer (Papaipema nebris) Tying greenhouses together with a Host Plants Greenhouse head house allows for better labor Althea, Aquilegia, Aster, Centaurea, Chrysanthemum, Dahlia, Rat/Pot Filling \ efficiency. Delphinium, Digitalis, Gaillardia, Phlox, Rudbeckia, Salvia. Supplies

Connecticut Greenhouse Newsletter Connecticut Greenhouse Newsletter 10 15 ous ventilation with makeup air brought in from outside. Monitoring Techniques Identification signs and positive locking area are also required. Overwinter as eggs on grasses and weeds. Immature caterpil The area for mixing should be nearby. lars are brown with white stripes, interrupted by a purple band. Storage. Many of the smaller items (replacement parts, hard Mature larvae are gray. If wilting is noticed, slice open plant and ware, labels, etc.) can be stored where there is easy access and look for larva. One generation/year. good inventory control. Ifthe headhouse has a high ceiling (14-ft minimum), a raised storage area above some of the outer rooms Damage Symptoms can be used to hold containers and other light material. Bags of Boring can weaken, stunt or kill the plant. growing mix, peat, etc. usually are stored outdoors or in a IPM Options vacant greenhouse. Can slice open and remove borer, then try to bind plant Work Area. The remaining area in the building should be together. Natural enemies (lady beetles and ground beetles) help open so that it can be used for a work area. Flexibility is impor reduce populations. Remove weeds which are used for egg tant, as the needs change from season to season. In early spring, deposit and larval feeding. the space is needed for potting and transplanting. Later, when the plants are grown, more space is needed to assemble orders Tarnished Plant Bug (Lygus lineolaris) for shipping. Except in large operations, equipment such as the mixer and pot/flat filler, should be portable so that they can be Host Plants moved out of the way when not in use. Achillea, Aster, Astilbe, Chrysanthemum, Dahlia, Papaver, Rudbeckia, Salvia, Verbena, Veronica. Type of Structure Monitoring Techniques Style. The most desirable style is a clear span, wood or metal Overwinter as adults in protective areas. Adults are a mottled frame building. Because they are less expensive to construct, brown color, with distinct yellow and black triangles on their sections of gutter-connected greenhouses have been used by sides. Visual inspection for adults can be difficult because they some growers. The disadvantage of this type structure is the move quickly. Three-five generations/year. potential for high temperatures during the summer. An advan tage is that it can be used to grow hanging baskets or other Damage Symptoms plants when not in use as a work area. Feeding causes spotting of leaves which may develop necrotic Size. The building should be long enough to connect to all the areas. Extensive feeding may cause leaf drop. greenhouses. This makes access and materials handling easier. IPM Options A minimum width of 24 feet is necessary to be able to locate equipment and still have room for moving plants. In largeroper Clean production areas to remove overwintering sites. ations, widths to 60 feet are common. The table gives rule of Acephate, Bifenthrin, horticultural oil, insecticidal soap. Spray thumb sizing for headhouses. when flower buds start to form. Ceiling height should be a minimum of 10 feet and higher if a Two-spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychus urticae) bucket loader or fork lift is used. For growers who do a lot of shipping during cold weather, a ceiling high enough for a van or Host Plants truck is convenient. Access doors large enough for the equip Althea, Aquilegia, Campanula, Dahlia, Delphinium, Dianthus, ment should be provided. Gaillardia, Hemerocallis, Hydrangea, Iris, Phlox, Primula, Floor. The concrete floor should be at least four inches thick Rudbeckia, Salvia, Verbena, Viola, various herbs. and six inches thick where heavy equipment will be operated. Monitoring Techniques Wire reinforcing is necessary to keep cracks from spreading. A Overwinter as adult females in protective areas. Adult mites system of drains will allow the floor to be washed. have eight legs, are greenish-colored, with two dark spots on the Walls. Insulation, four to six inches thick in the walls will back. Look on the underside of leaves where mites like to feed reduce winter heating costs and the need for summer ventila- for live mites, empty egg cases and shed skins. Look for webbing

Connectlcut Greenhouse Newsletter Connecticut Greenhouse Newsletter 14 II on plant material. Tap leaves onto white paper to dislodge mites and make them more visible with a hand lens; wait a few sec Increase Productivity onds and the mites, which are about the size of a period, will be noticeable moving across the paper. Several generations/year. with a Headhouse Damage Symptoms John W. Bartok, Jr. Discoloration of leaves (stippling). Severe feeding will cause Extension Agricultural Engineer leaf drop. IPM Options

Heavy irrigation may knock mites off of plants and reduce the f your operation has more than a population. Release of a combination of predatory mites may couple of greenhouses, it may be reduce pest population. Abamectin, Dicofol, Dienochlor, horticul time to add a headhouse. Besides providing an area to do pot tural oil, insecticidal soap. ting, transplanting and shipping, the headhouse is an excellent Remember to check the pesticide label to see if the product place for the support facilities needed to run an efficient busi is safe to use on the herbaceous perennials in question. ness. It can also serve to tie the greenhouses together, providing access without having to go outside, an advantage during References inclement weather. Abbey, T. 1994. Beneficial Nematodes. Horticulture Fact Sheet #39. University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension Service, Uses for the Headhouse Storrs, CT. Let's look at what services and operations might be included Daughtery, M.L. and M. Semel. 1987. Herbaceous Perennials: in the headhouse. Disease and Insect Pests. Information Bulletin 207. 25 pp. Office. Every operation needs a private are for phone conver (Available from: Resource Center-GP, 7 Business and Technology sations, keeping records, receiving customers and giving instruc Park, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850 Tel: 607-255-2080, Fax: tions to employees. In larger business, it can also house the sec 607-255-9946.) retary, bookkeeper and sales staff. The office should be located Harper, P. and F. McGourty. 1985. Perennials: How to Select, near the main entrance to the headhouse. Allow at least 100 sq ft Grow and Enjoy. HP Books. per person who will use the room. Some growers install a large 160 pp. window in the office that overlooks the work area. Johnson, W.T. and H.H. Utilities. The headhouse is a good place to locate the main Lyon. 1988. Insects that Feed electric panel and water supply tanks. Its central location with on Trees and Shrubs. Cornell access to the greenhouses keeps wiring and piping distances University Press. 560 pp. short. A central fertilizer injector system can also be located Tayama, H. 1989. Tips on here. Tanks and equipment should be enclosed by a contain Growing Potted Perennials ment equal to the tank capacity. Provisions should be made to and Biennials. Ohio State locate the electrical system in a dry area. University Cooperative Rest Rooms. Depending on the size of the operation, one or Extension Service, more rest rooms may be needed. Connection to a sewer system Columbus, OH. or septic system generally requires a permit. Westcott, C. 1973. The Lunch Room. An area separate from the work area should be Gardeners Bug Book. 4th provided for lunches and breaks. This should be partitioned to edition. Doubleday and keep out dust and odors. In large facilities, space for lockers, Company. NY. 689 pp. refrigerator, microwave and sink are desirable. Pesticide Storage. If properly designed, the pesticide storage can be placed in the headhouse. The room must have continu-

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