Some annuals suggested as cut flowers are

Amaranthus Larkspur FOLIAGE FROM SEED Antirrhinum Lupinus Aster Marigold Allen C. Botacchi Batchelor Buttoms Matricaria Cooperative Extension Horticulture Agent Browallia Mathiola Calendula Mignonette Seed propagation of foliage plants may pro Callistephus Nicotiania vide a new profitable crop for your greenhouse. C f Centaurea Phlox Drummondi Transportation costs for shipping southern grown Clarkia Reseda dorata foliage continue to rise and reduce the profit Coreopsis Salpiglossis margin. Occasionally, material received Delphinium Scabiosa is infested with disease and insect pests. This Eschscholzia California Snapdragon can be significantly reduced or eliminated with Feverfew Stock seed culture. Gaillardia Tagetes Helianthus annus Zinnia The major seed companies do have a portion (dwarf form) of their catalog devoted to foliage plant seed. Many of these companies also provide cultural Our present generation is interested in information for germinating and handling foliage dried flower arrangements. A separate area plant seed. for everlasting flowers should be planted. Annuals which may be dried for everlasting Various media have been successfully used arrangements include: to germinate foliage plant seed such as: 1) peat moss, vermiculite; 2) sphagnum peat; 3) Aeroclinium He lichrysum sphagnum peat moss, horticultural grade perlite; Baby's Breath Limonium sinuatum and commercial peat-lite mixes. The pH of k) Celosia Limonium suworowi the medium does not appear to significantly Cockscomb Ornamental grasses affect percent of germination in most genera. Gomphrena Statice Gypsophila Straw flower Planting depth of seed should be gauged by the size of the seed—too deep a planting One final note of caution. Try this on delays germination. Again, check company a small scale first. See if it can provide cultural sheets for current suggestions. , c some cash flow during the normal greenhouse summer slump. Medium temperature appears to be the most critical factor regulating germination. Foliage plant seeds have been successfully germinated at medium temperatures of 70°, 80°, and 83-91°F. Generally speaking the higher temperatures resulted in a more rapid rate of germination. Here economics and cultural sheets from the

22 getting a jump in the field is to use poly seed firms should be considered. Days to tents--the short row type used by some vege germinate vary from 5 to 125 and days to table growers. Another early frost protection transplant 12 to 133. method is to cut reinforcing concrete mats and form mini-quonsets which are covered with poly. Fertilization of seedlings and transplants Mid and late season plantings may be direct is suggested at a medium rate--150 ppm of seeded, but this will require a good irrigation 20-19-18. system during the critical germination period. A safer method is to start plants in the green Transplanted seedlings should be maintained house and set out larger established plants. in a 65°F plus greenhouse with shading provided ) > as appropriate for the season. Weed control must be incorporated into a pick-your-own operation to reduce labor costs. Foliage plant seeds currently offered in CAUTION—read the label carefully and make sure the catalogs include: that the herbicide is cleared for the crops. Aglaonema commutatum or modes turn Mulches could also be used to control weeds. Aloe variegata Plastic film or organic mulches such as leaves, straw, clean hay, or wood products are possible Arabica nana Arabica humulis materials. Aralia elegantissima Aralia sieboldi Disease and insect free cut flowers can only Araucaria excelsa (Norfolk Pine) be produced with a regular preventive spray pro Ardisia crenulata gram. A multipurpose spray of Kelthane, Sevin Asparagus cultivars and Captan should control the more common pro blems. Follow label directions and precautions Beaucarnea recurvata (Nolina) exactly! Beaucamea guatemalenses elegans The taller growing annuals such as Snapdragon, Coffea arabica Calendula, Centaurea, Coreopsis, Salpiglossis, and Cordyline australis Scabiosa need support. Three foot stakes about Corynocarpus laevigata 1 1/2-2 inches wide, driven into the center of the Croton row, every 10-15 feet should be ample. A pliable Cupressus sempervirens 18 to 20 gauge wire attached to each side of the Cyperus altemifolius stakes at 18—2U inches may provide sufficient support. This wire support keeps the stems Draceana draco straight, flower heads out of the mud, and J > Ficus benjamana reduces damage from wind, rain or overhead irrigation. Grevellia robusta Harpephyllym caffrum Planting successive blocks of flowers will Hypoestes assist in customer control which is essential in any pick-your-own operation. Those areas not Jacaranda mimosaefolia ready for picking are easier to rope off. Leca coccinea

23 pudica (Sensitive Plant) Musa sandendium (Banana Tree) Nepthytis emerald gem or variegated Philodendron Pilea repens Pittosporum tobira Podocarpus makii Rhoeo discolor Sagina (Irish Moss) Schefflera actinophylla Schefflera arboricola

References SUMMER ANNUALS—CUT YOUR OWN

Mikorski, D.J. and J.W. White. 1977. Foliage Allen C. Botacchi plants--seed propagation and transplant Cooperative Extension Horticulture Agent research. Florists' Review Vol. 160 No. 4153 July 7, 1977: 55, 99-102. Growers with land adjoining their greenhouse range may want to consider field grown cut-your- Perry, L.P. and J.W. Boodley. 1980. Germin own flowers. I stress adjoining because, as in ation of foliage plant seeds in response to any pick-your-own operation, the pickers must be sowing media, depths of sowing, pH levels monitored to prevent pilferage and vandalism. A and medium temperatures. HortScience 15 (2): convenient pay station should be established to 194-196. collect their money. Select, if possible, a well-drained site which will enable customers to Poole, P.T., C.A. Conover, and R.W. Henley. pick during wet periods. The next important 1975. Parlor palm seed germination. step is to get a complete soil test of the field Florists' Review. Vol. 157 No. 4067, to be planted. This is a must. Nov. 13, 1975: 89,106. By contrast, water should be available for irrigation to insure uniform rapid growth. Most e , l annuals require an inch of water per week. When growing a cut flower crop, timing is essential. The major seed catalogs offer good guides in this matter. Obviously early summer (before people have bloom in their own yards), and late fall should prove the most profitable. Plants programmed for early cut should be started in the greenhouse. One method of

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