Spring Crops
For 3" to 6" Pots
Many growers have discovered an excellent market for Yoder garden mums in the spring. Spring garden mums can be sold as green or flowering plants. Consumers find outstanding value in spring flowering garden mums. They can be enjoyed in the spring and planted outdoors to flower again in autumn. For spring flowering, a 62°F
night greenhouse temperature is necessary regardless of the schedule used. Lower temperatures can cause uneven flowering
or non-flowering. Two production programs used for spring flowering garden mums are described below.
No Light / No Shade Programs
Best for 4" and smaller pots. Just plant the rooted cuttings 1 plant per pot. Don’t worry about lights or black cloth (when starting from unrooted cuttings, lights will needed during propagation). Pinch 10
to 14 days after planting (21 to 24 days after direct stick if starting
with unrooted).. The plants will bloom in approximately the number
of weeks shown in their variety descriptions. No light/no shade crops are planted in January, February and early March. Crop time averages 8 weeks for rooted cuttings. This is not reliable beyond
May 1 flowering (see schedule).
Lighted / Shaded Programs
Best for 4" and larger pots. Plant 1 rooted cutting for 3" to 4" pots, 2 rooted cuttings for a 5" pot, and 2 or 3 rooted cuttings in a 6" pot. Put plants under night lighting (10 footcandles from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.) for the recommended number of weeks (see schedule). If starting with unrooted cuttings, lights should begin at the time of stick. For 5" pots, add 1 additional week of lights to increase plant height. Use 2 additional weeks for 6" pots. For any crop programmed to flower after late April, we recommend you provide artificial short days starting March 15 (12 to 15 hours of total darkness). These plants will bloom 6 or 7 weeks after short days begin depending on the variety response group (see variety description). This method is more precise than the no light/no shade program, and typically produces a larger plant than the no light/no shade program. See the Photoperiod Control section for information on providing artificial long and short days.
Flat Production
Garden mums may also be grown in bedding plant flats in the spring. They can be marketed in flats either as green plants or as flowering plants. To sell garden mums as green plants, plant the cuttings in a 2¼" to 3" cell with a picture tag in each cell. A pinch is optional. If not pinching, apply B-Nine at 2500 ppm (.25%) 7 to 10 days after planting. Otherwise, 10 days after pinching, use B-Nine. The flats should be ready to market 14 to 28 days after planting.
For flowering flat sales, plant and begin short days immediately. Use a 2¼" to 3" cell pack with a picture tag for the consumer. A pinch is optional. If not pinching, use B-Nine for 10 to 14 days after planting. If pinching, then apply B-Nine 14 days after the pinch. Plants are ready to sell according to the number of response weeks. For mixed flats, use varieties with similar response times (e.g., 7-week varieties).
Handle Baskets
Growing and marketing garden mums in handle baskets is an exciting concept. For the grower, the culture and scheduling is easy. In addition, the crop time is short. For retailers, a clean, attractive package is visually stimulating and easy to display at the point of sale. For consumers, there are flowers to enjoy at the moment and plants to plant in the garden. With proper care, spring flowering garden mums can grow through the summer and flower again in the autumn months. As an added customer benefit, garden mums planted in the spring have more time to be established than fall planted mums and may overwinter more successfully.
The ideal way to grow handle basket garden mums is to direct stick unrooted cuttings into the handle baskets. Stick 1 cutting per cavity. The 6-pack basket can be all one variety or assorted with two or more colors. You can even offer a “complete” mum garden in one 6-pack by sticking one each of six colors in the handle basket. For flowering through Mother’s Day, try using the no light/no shade program. Stick the unrooted cuttings directly into the packs and provide mist to assist in rooting. Pinch the cuttings about 12 to 15 days after sticking. One application of B-Nine may be needed. Total crop time from stick to sell can be as little as 7 or 8 weeks.
TYPICAL SCHEDULE: No Light/No Shade Crop
Pot Size
|
RC per Pot
|
Weeks from Plant to Pinch*
|
Lights after Pinch
|
Weeks to Flower from Pinch**
|
Total Crop Time***
|
| 3" to 4" |
1
|
1.5 to 2
|
None
|
6
|
8 weeks
|
Handle Baskets
|
1
|
1.5 to 2 |
None |
6
|
8 weeks |
Flats (URC direct stick)
|
1
|
1.5 to 2 |
None |
6 |
8 weeks |
This schedule is not recommended for crops scheduled to flower after Week 18 (planted after Week 10).
* Cuttings should be pinched when ready, which is approximately 10 to 14 days after planting a rooted cutting or direct sticking an unrooted cutting in a cell flat.
** Flowering response from pinch is based on late 6-week or 7-week varieties. Early 6-week varieties will flower three to five days earlier and 8-week varieties will flower one week later. Flowering is defined as open flowers not just colored buds, or between Stage 2 and 3.
*** Total crop time based on planting a rooted cutting. Add one week before pinch if direct sticking an unrooted cutting and light during propagation (except for cell flats).
Examples
Pot Size
|
Variety
|
RC per Pot
|
Plant RC
|
Pinch
|
Flower
|
Cell Flat
|
Ursula Grp.
|
1 (URC)
|
Week 4
|
Week 6
|
Week 12
|
Handle Basket
|
Cheryl Grp.
|
1
|
Week 4
|
Week 6
|
Week 12
|
3 to 4" Pot
|
Victoria Grp.
|
1
|
Week 4
|
Week 6
|
Week 12
|
TYPICAL SCHEDULE: Lighted/Shaded Crop
Pot Size
|
RC
per Pot
|
Weeks from Plant to Pinch* |
Weeks of Long Days after Pinch |
Weeks to Flower from Short Days** |
Total Crop Time**** |
3" to 4"
|
1
|
1.5 to 2
|
0
|
7
|
9 Weeks
|
5"
|
2
|
1.5 to 2 |
1
|
7
|
10 Weeks
|
6"
|
2 or 3
|
1.5 to 2 |
2
|
7
|
11 Weeks
|
* Cuttings should be pinched when ready, which is approximately 10 to 14 days after planting a rooted cutting or 17 to 21 days after direct sticking an unrooted cutting.
** Flowering response from start of short days is based on late 6-week or 7-week varieties. Early 6-week varieties will flower three to five days earlier and 8-week varieties will flower one week later. Flowering is defined as open flowers not just colored buds, or between Stage 2 and 3.
*** Total crop time based on planting a rooted cutting. Add one week if direct sticking an unrooted cutting.
Examples
Pot Size
|
Variety |
RC
per Pot |
Plant RC |
Pinch |
Start Short Days
|
Flower |
4"
|
Ursula Grp.
|
1
|
Week 4
|
Week 6
|
Week 6
|
Week 13
|
5"
|
Cheryl Grp.
|
2
|
Week 3
|
Week 5
|
Week 6
|
Week 13
|
6"
|
Victoria Grp.
|
2 or 3
|
Week 2
|
Week 4
|
Week 6
|
Week 13
|
Easter dates are March 23, 2008 (week 13) and April 12, 2009 (week 16)
Mother’s Day dates are May 11, 2008 and May 10, 2009 (week 20)
Plants should receive a minimum of 10 footcandles of light at night during the lighting period. Lights should be on for 4 hours in the middle of the night (10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.). Pot sizes of 5" and larger will typically require additional long days. Except for No Light/No Shade and Natural Season Fall garden mum crops, all newly planted garden mums should receive night lighting as soon as planted, according to their schedule.
Shade dates indicate the beginning of short-day treatment. Short-day treatment requires a minimum of 12 hours of total darkness. Short-day treatment should continue daily until there is visible color in the flower buds. Black-cloth shading for short day treatment should be used for crops scheduled to flower after late April.