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| Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' Photo Courtesy of SBN |
From my first encounter with this disease, I knew that there was some form of chemistry that could control it, or stop it outright. This way of thinking has gotten me far in this business, and I've yet to really find many diseases that I can't stop. This on the other hand, is one of the exceptions. I'm pretty sure that I've sprayed this crop with just about everything that you're going to want to be around, and tried just about every permutation of intervals and doses known to man - all with the same result. If it's going to get it - it's going to get it...
Here's the first step in being at least semi-environmentally responsible - ask yourself if you even need to be growing such a chemically dependent plant? Unfortunately the answer is yes - I've yet to see demand for this variety wane. We've had a great deal of success by simply moving our crops at the farm indoors, getting the rain off of them, and carefully timing our irrigation so that it's dry on the foliage in the shortest amount of time possible. We've gotten the system down well enough this year to nearly eliminate preventative fungicides on this crop, which is really saying something. Regardless though - they're clean here, you're going to buy them, and then they'll get it in the landscape. What's the point?
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| Rudbeckia subtomentosa Photo Courtesy of Sunny Border Nurseries |
The first on my list of varieties that should be more popular than 'Goldsturm' is Rudbeckia subtomentosa. This seed variety is slightly larger - creating a ball of golden yellow Black Eyed Susan flowers roughly 2.5 - 3ft tall and wide. It flowers for 4 straight months - June through September in central Connecticut. Even when grown between infected patches of 'Goldsturm' - I've yet to see this plant with even a spot of Septoria on the foliage, and in my opinion, it has a much better bloom. Why isn't this more popular??
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| Rudbeckia fulgida var deamii Photo Courtesy of SBN |
We've recently begun working with Cornell University trialing the whole thing. From hard evidence on disease resistance, to effective strategies for controlling this disease in the nursery and landscape. What I'm looking forward to will be some good backup on what we've been seeing here all along - that there are several options for full on replacement of 'Goldsturm'.
Thanks for these two sub recommendations and great advice as to why we should be growing a chemically dependent crop. We see the spots in our gardens, and they are very unsightly. We will try switching to your suggestions in the future, because we love Black-eyed Susans! Question regarding subtomentosa and deamii, Are they prolific self seeders?
ReplyDeleteAs far as subtomentosa is concerned - it's no worse than 'Goldsturm'. Definitely reseeds, but not to the point where I've been cursing at it yet. As for deamii - I can't say. For what it's worth, I've seen nothing in the nursery... Given the relative scarcity of seed availability on this one, I'd say it's probably a bit "safer".
ReplyDeleteI planted it from seed collected in another garden, as you say... no probs... Definitely a case of education, or simply stocking the right plants and explaining the difference.
ReplyDeleteI think that there are better black eyed susans, with longer bloom times and don't over-run the bed with all the stolon action...
Jeremy I don't have anyone asking for 'Goldsturm" by name, but I sure don't see many growers listing anything that would substitute in it's place. 'Goldstrum' just seems to have that look that customers are going for. I haven't, however, heard many complaints about the black leaf spot or any problems with it here, so that might be the reason.
ReplyDeleteKat
If Septoria isn't a problem out in CA - consider yourself blessed! 'Goldsturm' is a great variety if that isn't in the picture. I'd still recommend looking for R. subtomentosa as well though - it's just a cool plant!
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