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Chapter 2 — Introduction to Horticulture and Plant Physiology

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Chapter 2 — Introduction to Horticulture and Plant Physiology Chapter 2 INTRODUCTION TO HORTICULTURE AND PLANT PHYSIOLOGY IDAHO MASTER GARDENER UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO EXTENSION Horticulture Defined 2 Climate in Horticulture 2 Macroclimate 2 Microclimate 2 Role of Temperature in Horticulture 4 High Temperatures 4 Low Temperatures 5 Temperature Modification 6 Role of Light in Horticulture 7 Light Quality 7 Light Intensity 8 Light Duration 8 Further Reading and Resources 9 CHAPTER 2 IDAHO MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM HANDBOOK 2 - 1 Chapter 2 Introduction To Horticulture & Plant Physiology Jo Ann Robbins, Extension Educator, Jerome County Susan Bell, Extension Educator, Ada County HORTICULTURE DEFINED and wind currents, relation to nearby forests and irrigated areas, and location in relation to topo - Horticulture is defined by Webster’s dictionary as graphic features such as mountains. “the science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, and flowers.” It is the intensive commercial produc - Temperature and light are two fundamental fea - tion of high-value and high-yielding plants. But it tures of climate that profoundly affect gardening. also includes the cultivation of garden crops and Rainfall, wind, hail, clouds, snow, and humidity also landscape ornamentals and the interaction of science create the climate of a region. Short-term variations and art. in rain, wind, snow, and other climatic characteris - tics are the weather. Horticulture contributes to the economy, provides good nutrition, and is a valuable spiritual and psy - Climatologists have calculated the statistical chological therapy. Horticulture beautifies and probabilities of certain climatic occurrences that are enhances the environment. Areas of horticulture likely to affect plant growth. The USDA hardiness include the following: zone map, for example, is based on an area’s aver - age minimum temperatures. The Arbor Day • Pomology . Fruit culture, including pome fruits Foundation has produced an updated version of the (apple, pear, quince), stone fruits (peach, cher - climate zone map based on the last 15 years of ry, plum, nectarine, apricot), small fruits (blue - warmer temperatures (1990-2005) (figure 1). berry, raspberry, grape, strawberry), and nut Microclimate tree fruits. • Vegetable production . Culture of food crops Microclimates are variations in climate within a from vegetable plants including roots, fruits, community, yard, or other restricted area and result and seeds. from topographic features, soil types, aspect, or location of buildings, fences, and/or plantings. • Floriculture . Growing of cut flowers, potted Different microclimates will be more or less con - plants, bedding plants, and bulbs and floral ducive to different outdoor activities and will limit design. or enhance the success of plantings. For example, a • Environmental horticulture . Nursery produc - shady northern exposure may make a better summer tion of herbaceous and woody plants for land - patio space than the sunny south side. scape design and management. Gardeners can create or modify microclimates to • Postharvest physiology . Harvest, handling, increase livability and diversify planting conditions and storage of horticultural crops including on their property. Landscape features that produce flowers, fruits, and vegetables. microclimates include the following: CLIMATE IN HORTICULTURE • Hills and low areas . Hillside locations are less Macroclimate subject to frost since cold air is denser than warm air and will flow downhill to settle in The term “climate” refers to the long-term weath - low areas. A south-facing slope warms earlier er patterns of a large geographical area and is used in the spring than a north-facing slope, but will interchangeably with “macroclimate.” Macroclimate be hotter and dryer during summer. The lee - is determined mainly by an area’s latitude, eleva - ward side of a ridge is less subject to wind or tion, nearness to large bodies of water, nearby ocean breeze than the windward side. 2 - 2 INTRODUCTION TO HORTICULTURE AND PLANT PHYSIOLOGY CHAPTER 2 Figure 1. Hardiness zone map of the continental United States. Courtesy of the Arbor Day Foundation. • Structures . Structures such as buildings, • Elevation . The higher the elevation, the cooler fences, driveways, or sidewalks serve as heat the temperature; there is less atmosphere to sinks for solar radiation. Planting areas around retain the heat from solar radiation at high ele - them will be warmer, especially on their south - vations. Each 300-foot gain in elevation results ern sides or next to pavement. Northern sides in an average 1°F drop in temperature. of buildings and fences are shady and will • Raised beds . Raised beds heat quicker than remain cooler and moister. surrounding flat soil surfaces, but plants in • Bodies of water . Water has a moderating raised beds may dry out faster and suffer root effect on air temperatures. A lot more energy is damage due to freezing in winter. required to raise the temperature of water than • Plants . Large plants create microclimates by the temperature of air. Likewise, water releases reducing wind speed, creating shade, and rais - large amounts of heat energy when it cools. ing the humidity beneath them. Thus, water acts as a buffer to heat or cold. • Soil . Sandy soil will warm more rapidly in the Air blowing over cool water will cause adja - spring than clay soil and can be planted earlier, cent land to warm up slower in the spring, thus resulting in a crop that will mature more rapidly. delaying bloom and growth. This can protect By identifying and using microclimates to your plants from spring frosts. In the fall, air moving advantage, you can maximize the conditions for over warm water keeps the surrounding land individual plants or strategically locate garden beds, warmer longer than areas farther away. CHAPTER 2 IDAHO MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM HANDBOOK 2 - 3 parts of the country. Seeds of warm-season crops require a soil temperature of 60°F or higher to ger - minate, whereas seeds of cool-season crops will ger - minate at a soil temperature of just 40°F. High temperatures Plant growth is measured by the food energy pro - duced thorough photosynthesis above that used for respiration. Plants generally grow best at the higher end of their optimal temperature range. In the tem - perate zone, the minimum temperature for growth is about 40°F. Photosynthesis and respiration increase as temperatures rise until the energy used in respira - tion equals photosynthetic capacity, when growth Figure 2. Soil, large objects, bodies of water, and ceases. For most plants, this temperature is around large plants all create microclimates. 96°F. For many cool-season crops, growth may cease at temperatures considerably lower than 96°F. patios, and other outdoor spaces. The right microcli - Warm temperatures cause stored carbohydrate mate often will make the difference between failure reserves to be used up thorough respiration or to be and survival for some landscape plants (figure 2). converted to starch. This affects the sweetness of crops such as sweet corn and peas and thus their ROLE OF TEMPERATURE IN HORTICULTURE quality. Temperature is the climatic factor that, more than Very high temperatures can cause physiological any other, determines the kinds of plants that will damage to plants resulting in burnt leaves and grow in an area. Photosynthesis, transpiration, and slowed growth. Other high-temperature considera - respiration increase with rising temperature. Many tions in plant growth are discussed below. horticultural crops thrive in warm climates such as Overcoming dormancy California’s and Florida’s, but are challenged in Most temperate zone perennials need a cold peri - northern climates like Idaho’s. Cold temperatures od to overcome their physiological dormancy, or restrict plant growth, freeze plants in mid-winter, rest period, for either the entire plant or only for and damage plants during fall and spring frosts. their flower and vegetative buds. Temperatures that Surviving cold temperatures requires well-adapted are not cold enough during the winter will keep plants. Hardiness is especially important for perma - these plants from forming normal leaves and buds in nent landscape plants such as woody ornamentals the spring. For example, peach cultivars for northern and fruit trees. climates require 700 to 1,000 hours below 45°F and Each plant type has an optimal temperature need - above 32°F before they break their rest period and ed for growth. Some plants prefer cooler nights or begin growth. If grown in the southern part of the days, whereas others prefer warmer nights or days. United States, these peaches will not thrive because Temperate zone vegetables and annual flowers are this requirement is not met. classified as cool-season or warm-season crops. Vernalization Cool-season crops (sweet peas, pansies, garden Some plants require a chilling treatment to induce peas, onions, carrots, potatoes, lettuce, cabbage, and flowering. This is especially common in biennials broccoli) grow best in the northern portions of the and spring-flowering bulbs. United States, at higher elevations, or during the spring and fall in warm-climate areas. Plant pests Warm-season crops (sweet corn, tomatoes, pep - Plant diseases often grow well at 96°F or higher, pers, melons, zinnias, and marigolds) do best during increasing the chance of infection. Similarly, insect the warmth of summer in the north but are ideally pests reproduce more rapidly during periods of high suited for growth over a longer season in warmer temperatures, with resultant high pressure on plants. 2 - 4 INTRODUCTION TO HORTICULTURE AND PLANT PHYSIOLOGY CHAPTER 2 2500 Heat units 2008 TWFI TWIN FALLS ) e Plants have a base temperature below which they s a 2000 b grow very little. Average temperatures above a F 0 5 ( threshold “base” temperature (40° to 50°F, depend - s y a D ing on plant type) accumulate on a seasonal basis 1500 e e r g and are called “heat units” (or “degree days”) for e D e v that season (figure 3). Heat units are useful in esti - i 1000 t a l mating time of maturity, predicting the latest feasi - u m u ble date for fall planting, and deciding if long-sea - C son fruit cultivars will mature in a specific locality.
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