Summer Crops
Sales have increased significantly for garden mums in flower during July and August. Consumers have found garden mums are an ideal way to brighten any area, inside or out, with a myriad of color.
Growers can create an extended sales period from the end of bedding plant season until fall crops flower, and utilize empty greenhouse space during the summer. Good production techniques are a must, as well as using a very select list of varieties suited to the high temperatures encountered under shade cloth.
Yoder’s
Variety Selector Chart represents the very best, most reliable varieties for summer-shaded programs. Excessive high temperatures under shade material, and skipping shading will extend the responses shown. The chart has symbols to help select varieties that work well together, and three columns of response to show how the varieties compare in flower timing.
Summer Crop Tips
- Provide night interruption lighting during rooting and during the weeks before short days to ensure adequate growth and accurate timing of the crop (10 foot-candles of light at the plant level from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.) each night.
- In warmer regions, cover for 15 hours (5:00 to 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.) to compensate for heat delay.
- Although most Yoder varieties can be grown reliably with only 4 weeks of shading, covering plants until buds crack color will ensure predictable timing.
- Use Yoder’s Variety Selector chart for best selections for summer-shaded crops.
For summer-shaded crop scheduling, use the table below to find your pot size and then subtract the total crop time from your desired sell date to determine when to plant your rooted cuttings in the final pot.
Typical Summer-Shaded Crop Table
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****
|
4"
|
1
|
1.5 to 2
|
0
|
7
|
9 weeks
|
6 to 6.5"
|
1
|
1.5 to 2
|
1
|
7
|
10 weeks
|
8"
|
1 or 2
|
1.5 to 2
|
1 or 2
|
7
|
10 to 11 weeks
|
10"
|
2 or 3
|
1.5 to 2
|
2 or 3
|
7
|
12 to 13 weeks
|
12 to 14"
|
3 to 5
|
1.5 to 2
|
3 or 4
|
7
|
13 to 14 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 23
|
Week 25
|
Week 25
|
Week 32
|
6 to 6.5"
|
Cheryl Grp.
|
1
|
Week 22
|
Week 24
|
Week 25
|
Week 32
|
8"
|
Victoria Grp.
|
1 or 2
|
Week 21
|
Week 23
|
Week 25
|
Week 32
|
10"
|
Tall Grp.
|
2 or 3
|
Week 20
|
Week 22
|
Week 25
|
Week 32
|
12 to 14"
|
Cheryl Grp.
|
3 to 5
|
Week 19
|
Week 21
|
Week 25
|
Week 32
|
12 to 14"
|
Victoria Grp.
|
3 to 5
|
Week 20
|
Week 22
|
Week 25
|
Week 32
|