culturec onnection

perennial solutions ‘Rosylva’

As a cool-season , this does not tolerate extreme summer heat or extended dry periods. But when produced for early spring programs, this familiar border plant provides an unforgettable burst By Paul Pilon of color in the landscape.

1 2 yosotis sylvatica is ⁄3- to ⁄3-inch fl owers in the early promote rooting. Fertilizers are a biennial that is spring. The fragrant, bubble-gum- usually applied once the true leaves often produced pink fl owers with yellow eyes are present, applying 100-ppm M as an annual nearly cover the entire foliage in nitrogen every third irrigation or and marketed alongside bedding the early spring. They are com- 50 ppm every irrigation using a bal- . It is a familiar plant that has monly used in containers, patio anced water-soluble source. When been used for years in gardens as a pots and in small mass or border the plugs are grown at 65° F, they border plant or fl owering ground- plantings. Myosotis performs well are usually ready for transplanting cover. Commercially, growers most across much of USDA Hardiness in fi ve to seven weeks. often produce this cool-season, fl o- Zones 3 to 8 and AHS Heat Zones riferous perennial for early spring 7 to 1. As mentioned above, they Production programs. Like many cool-season are cool-season plants and perform ‘Rosylva’ is often produced in 1- plants, myosotis does not tolerate best when grown under these con- gallon or smaller containers with the extreme summer heat of much ditions. They tend to struggle and a single plug planted in the center. of the United States or the severe may perish under extreme heat or After the plug has been transplant- Northern winters. Despite its seem- during extended dry periods. ed, the growing medium should be ingly fragile nature, many growers even with the top of the plug. and landscapers use myosotis as Propagation Forget-me-nots perform best a welcome source of spring color Myosotis ‘Rosylva’ is easily when grown in a moist, well- in the landscape. As the common propagated by and is most drained medium with a slightly name suggests, forget-me-not commonly sown in 288- or 220-cell acidic pH of 5.6-6.0. Production of symbolizes everlasting friendship, plug trays. Since light is required myosotis in media with high pH remembrance and eternal love. for , do not cover the levels is likely to lead to chlorotic ‘Rosylva’ is a reliable, vigorous seed with germination mix or ver- foliage (interveinal) caused by iron cultivar in the Sylva series from miculite after sowing. The seed defi ciency. They are light feeders Benary . All three culti- fl ats should be moistened and and prefer to be fed with nitrate- vars (‘Bluesylva’, ‘Rosylva’ and moved to a warm environment, nitrogen fertilizers (as opposed to ‘Snowsylva’) in this series have where the temperatures can be ammonium-based) with low phos- received Fleuroselect awards in maintained at 65-72° F for germina- phorus levels. Providing moderate for their desirable attri- tion. Many growers utilize germi- to high fertility levels, using ammo- butes and performance. ‘Bluesylva’ nation chambers during this stage nium-based fertilizers, or high and ‘Snowsylva’ have been named to provide uniform moisture levels phosphorus causes them to appear Fleuroselect Quality Mark win- and temperatures. lush and leafy. Growers commonly ners, and ‘Rosylva’ received a Fleu- Seedlings will emerge 10 to 14 deliver nutrients using either a con- roselect Gold Medal. days after sowing. Following ger- stant liquid fertilization program, Above: ‘Rosylva’ exudes great fl ower power, Myosotis ‘Rosylva’ forms low- mination, lower the temperature feeding at rates of 50- to 75-ppm 1 2 producing masses of ⁄3- to ⁄3-inch fl owers in growing mounds reaching 6-10 to 64-68° F and reduce the mois- nitrates or 100-150 ppm as needed. its peak. (Photo: Image Botanica) inches in height and 8-12 inches ture levels somewhat, allowing Controlled-release fertilizers incor- Top (Right): This biennial is commonly used 3 in containers, patio pots and in small mass or across. ‘Rosylva’ has great fl ower the growing medium to dry out porated at a rate equivalent to ⁄4-1 border plantings (Photo: Benary) power as it produces masses of slightly before watering to help pound of elemental nitrogen per ➧

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54 GPN April 2008 www.gpnmag.com culturec onnection yard of growing medium is also control the plant height. However, Under certain circumstances, it apart should provide adequate an acceptable method of delivering during the winter months, during may be necessary to use chemical height control. nutrients. When irrigation is neces- periods of low light levels, when plant growth regulators to control sary, I recommend watering thor- grown at high plant densities, or the growth of myosotis. If PGRs are Insects and Diseases oughly then allowing the soil to when grown with luxury nutrient necessary, I recommend applying Aphids are the most troublesome dry slightly between waterings. levels, excessive plant growth B-Nine (daminozide) at 2,500 ppm insect pests of myosotis. Imple- With their compact growth might occur, requiring some type or Sumagic (uniconazole) at 5 ppm; menting a preventive program to habit, it is usually not necessary to of height management strategy. one or two applications seven days control aphids may be worth con- sidering. I have found that a single preventive drench application with products containing acetamiprid, imidacloprid or thiamethoxam pro- vides control of aphids throughout the entire production cycle. Cat-

Brand

Forget-me-not’s fragrant, bubble-gum pink fl owers with yellow eyes nearly cover the entire foliage in early spring. (Photo: Benary)

erpillars, leafhoppers and spider mites may also be observed feeding on myosotis. Botrytis, powdery mildew and rot are the diseases most ™ often observed by growers. Of Brand these pathogens, Botrytis is the most prevalent and usually occurs late in the crop cycle once the canopy closes in and they begin to bloom. In most cases, Botrytis can be prevented or reduced by providing adequate spacing, good air circulation at all times, main- taining a relative humidity below 70 percent, selling plants when the fl ower buds just begin to open and, if necessary, implementing a pre- ventive fungicide spray program using products containing chloro- thalonil or fenhexamid. Most of these insects and patho- gens can be detected through routine scouting programs, and if neces- sary, control strategies can be imple- mented following their detection.

Forcing ‘Rosylva’ is easy to force into bloom and is most commonly pro- Write in 713

56 GPN April 2008 www.gpnmag.com culturec onnection duced for early spring sales. Myo- plug or fi nished container. The Inc. (www.swiftgreenhouses.com) nial Solutions: A Grower’s Guide to sotis has an obligate cold require- seed is supplied by Benary Seed or from several reputable plant Perennial Production. He can be ment for fl owering. I recommend (www.benary.com) and is available brokers. GPN reached at (616) 366-8588 or paul@ vernalizing them in the fi nal con- through many seed distributors. perennial-solutions.com. tainer or as large plugs (72-cell Plugs can be acquired from C. Raker Paul Pilon is a horticultural con- or larger) for a minimum of nine & Sons, Inc. (www.raker.com), sultant, owner of Perennial Solu- LearnMore For more information weeks at 35-44° F. After the cold Jolly Farmer Products, Inc. (www. tions Consulting (www.perennial- related to this article, go to requirement is achieved, they can jollyfarmer.com), Swift Greenhouses, solutions.com) and author of Peren- www.gpnmag.com/lm.cfm/gp040806 be grown at any day length, as they are day-neutral plants. The length of the photoperiod does not have any effect on the time to fl ower or the number of blooms produced. The time to bloom after vernal- ization is a function of temperature. ‘Rosylva’ grown at 63° F will take approximately six weeks to reach fl owering, while plants grown at 58° F will fl ower in eight weeks. Producing them at cooler tempera- tures increases the time to fl ower, but it will improve the overall quality of the plant, such as the color intensity of the foliage and fl owers.

The Right Dose Matters!

The CD2-Chemdose measures precise doses of chemicals every time.

‘Rosylva’ is easy to force into bloom. (Photo: Benary)

For full, fl owering plants for spring sales, plant them during the late summer of the previous season. I recommend transplanting plugs Accurate Doses Easy to Program Portable into the desired container during late August to early September, bulking them up before winter, overwintering them and forcing them to bloom in the early spring. Perfect for precise PGR and systemic insecticide applications. Many growers successfully produce fl owering plants by transplanting Call to learn how the CD2 can accurately dispense your chemicals. large, vernalized plugs in the late Integrated Plant Health winter and forcing them at 60-65° F [email protected] for approximately seven weeks. www.dramm.com 920.684.0227 Availability Myosotis sylvatica ‘Rosylva’ is available to the industry as seed, Write in 710 www.gpnmag.com April 2008 GPN 57