tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45846005929794509362024-03-08T06:42:32.580-08:00The Herbaceous HotnessI'm a wholesale grower. I see millions of different plants every season and try to bring as many home as possible. Some work, some don't.Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11245633282437992129noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584600592979450936.post-77776547638195102022011-04-11T15:14:00.001-07:002011-04-11T17:40:04.186-07:00Colocasia Diamond Head and Why Your Life is Incomplete Without It<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zhmXoysliAE/TaOeEZOQhGI/AAAAAAAABLw/WdZV9kZEl30/s1600/2011-04-11_18-04-59_448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zhmXoysliAE/TaOeEZOQhGI/AAAAAAAABLw/WdZV9kZEl30/s400/2011-04-11_18-04-59_448.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">While it's possible that I received the single greatest shipment of plugs ever, my gut's tellin me otherwise. This plant is a stud. Possibly even the Elephant Eared equivalent to Ensete. Compared to the 6 other varieties that I've planted this season- it's way out in the lead for size, vigor, and overall appearance. This is truly a "Sells Itself" variety. Naturally, we're sold out. I'm working on that. You need this plant. Several of them. If you're a buyer for a garden center - you need dozens. They're that hot. Just be prepared to forget every other dark leaved elephant ear out there, cuz it's over. The game has changed...</span><br />
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</div>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11245633282437992129noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584600592979450936.post-59374751021296238842011-04-03T13:43:00.000-07:002011-06-16T03:49:19.728-07:00A Book Review!?<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yeah. As it turns out, I read a little bit. It's nothing that I try to make a habit of - but occasionally the mood strikes me and I allow myself to get sucked into a story. Due to the glorious invention of Facebook, I reconnected with one of the most influential people in my Hort career - Tony Bertauski. The guy taught me how to sprig a USGA spec green and ID Cercospera under a compound scope. Not to mention, hooked me up with some of the best extra credit questions you'll ever hear about on a test. I was already aware of his publishing achievements in the field of academia (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=bertauski+landscape&x=0&y=0">If you're into landscape design, click here</a>), but was pretty astonished to learn that he'd also cranked out an entire sci-fi trilogy as well. It starts with The Discovery of Socket Greeny. Books 2 and 3 are The Training of Socket Greeny, and The Legend of Socket Greeny.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Seeing as how I'm a Droid guy, and the Kindle app is free - I figured I'd check it out. Turns out, I loved it. Tony's writing style is incredibly engaging - I basically stopped reading only to sleep and work, and even read some on my lunch breaks. While the story is filed under Young Adult Fiction - I could also make a pretty serious argument that the original Star Wars could be too. In other words - don't let the genre scare you off - it's epic.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm not going to do a full on synopsis - there's about 20 of them <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Discovery-Socket-Greeny-Tony-Bertauski/product-reviews/0982845200/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_summary?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending">here on Amazon</a>. If you're into Sci-Fi stuff, video games, Buddhism, or even stories occasionally occurring in a futuristic Charleston, SC - then just trust me and get it. It's badass. Oh yeah - the Kindle edition is actually Free Right Now! <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Discovery-Socket-Greeny-ebook/dp/B004TEYTG4/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2">Click here to go to aforementioned free download page</a>. The following two stories were read succinctly after finishing the first. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Tony's a pretty avid user of Blogger as well - <a href="http://bertauski.blogspot.com/">check out his page here</a>. </span><br />
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</span></div>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11245633282437992129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584600592979450936.post-35050488098515507752011-03-28T12:50:00.000-07:002011-03-28T12:51:47.175-07:00New 3D Osteo's<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I just saw this clip from the trials. I believe I'll take all of them.</span><br />
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<object width='480' height='270'><param name='allowFullScreen' value='true' /><param name='allowScriptAccess' value='always' /><param name='movie' value='http://mediaserver.gie.net/v/2451/s/5' /><embed src='http://mediaserver.gie.net/v/2451/s/5' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' allowscriptaccess='always' allowfullscreen='true' width='480' height='270' /></object>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11245633282437992129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584600592979450936.post-10632828270206917022011-03-15T06:25:00.001-07:002011-03-15T16:41:42.831-07:00The Florida House<div><p>It would appear that our decision to stop having certain warmer crops produced off site at a facility in Florida is paying off.  Bananas are huge, Mandevilla are the best that I've seen, and our Colocasia are progressing nicely. Winning!</p>
<br/><img src='http://lh4.ggpht.com/_w_uwG0arbHc/TX9oyxulRcI/AAAAAAAABLg/UXeT2hSwRY8/2011-03-15_09-20-34_940.png' /><br/><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_w_uwG0arbHc/TX9oz9yWy2I/AAAAAAAABLk/XmbntaF2lRQ/2011-03-15_09-20-49_167.png' /></div>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11245633282437992129noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584600592979450936.post-45555742698937609552011-03-09T06:33:00.001-08:002011-03-09T06:35:53.541-08:00The Hotness<div>I'm slowly accepting the reality that the days of sitting in front of my laptop with nothing to do but expound on cool plants are over. You don't monitor sales figures and potting rates with a 536 line item program on a daily basis and still consider time as an ally. Thus, I'm relegating myself to posts nearly short enough for Twitter for at least the next several months... Needless to say, we're up to our necks in 5" Temperennial production - and things are going perfect so far. Assuming an act of God doesn't smite our production houses from the earth, expect the greatest season yet from this program. Busy, but Stoked to be here!<br />
<br />
<img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_w_uwG0arbHc/TXePw9igLdI/AAAAAAAABK8/yduy1Ho-fig/2011-03-09_07-29-44_220.png" /></div>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11245633282437992129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584600592979450936.post-4584357998146135052011-01-29T11:42:00.000-08:002011-01-29T12:32:50.185-08:00The Joys of Forcing Perennials<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been awhile! Gotta get back in the habit. Holidays, blizzards, and a general lack of enthusiasm for plants lately have kept me a bit on the quiet side. Both at work, and here as well. The enthusiasm comes in waves, I've noticed. It's hard to be amped about one thing at all times. Regardless - while surveying our propagation house with our trade show plants this week I felt the spark light up again. We've been receiving Temperennial URC's hot and heavy for the past several weeks - and the farm (myself included) is already feeling different. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_w_uwG0arbHc/TURY0KyQC5I/AAAAAAAABHg/UnJvfLThSZE/s1600/IMG_5376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_w_uwG0arbHc/TURY0KyQC5I/AAAAAAAABHg/UnJvfLThSZE/s200/IMG_5376.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Heuchera 'Guardian Angel' - I had<br />
to do a few of my favorites...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My motivation for trade show plants is simple. I want my company to stand out from the rest of the endless booths, filled with spring blooming perennials and annuals. With only a few exceptions - the 1000's of booths feature plants that really require no real skill in growing to something presentable. Heuchera? Really? All you have to do is put them somewhere warm and they're Show Quality in a month. I personally zone out big time by my second hour on the floor. Literally - it's hard for me to pay attention after looking at the same thing over and over again. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Since we're considered to be pro's, I took it into my own hands to see that we actually looked like it. Even if just for myself - I'm still not convinced anyone else will notice...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_w_uwG0arbHc/TURZl39jXEI/AAAAAAAABIU/1Hyu_35YHHo/s1600/IMG_5393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_w_uwG0arbHc/TURZl39jXEI/AAAAAAAABIU/1Hyu_35YHHo/s320/IMG_5393.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The setup. Post MANTS tradeshow.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My request for some real forcing lights this past fall was finally granted - we installed a pair of 1000w High Pressure Sodium grow lamps over one of our bottom heated prop benches. These are the only real choice in providing not only true quality of light, but also the quantity of light required for replicating true plant growth. There's some promising new work being done with LED's, and I'm all for it as they are nearly free to operate, but I'm not in the mood to trial some new tech - I want guaranteed results...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I figured since we have so many good intro's in the Coreopsis genus, and Echinacea are so popular - I'd focus on those. Coreopsis are generally considered to be Long Day plants. This is a bit of a misnomer - they are actually Short Night plants (I think, I stink at Botany). The easiest way to trigger this flowering mechanism is simply to interrupt the night with a 4 hr period of lighting, referred to as Night Interruption. There are numerous other things that can effect bud initiation - heat, node count (how much the plant has grown), etc. Regardless - what we presented at MANTS, and especially what we're presenting at NE Grows, will be far different from any other year that I've been with Sunny Border. Here's what I'm most excited about.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_w_uwG0arbHc/TURZdDXLoBI/AAAAAAAABIM/Cj0mZylM_jo/s1600/IMG_5386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_w_uwG0arbHc/TURZdDXLoBI/AAAAAAAABIM/Cj0mZylM_jo/s320/IMG_5386.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Coreopsis 'Galaxy'</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have yet to be won over by C. 'Galaxy' - until now... The show plants performed extremely well on the bench and we will have many Show Quality specimens in full bloom up in Boston. It's shorter than many of the earlier intro's in the Big Bang series - and is the only to sport a double flower. Like most of the varieties that were forced - what I've learned under the lights is really going to improve what I do out in the nursery.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_w_uwG0arbHc/TURY974d9_I/AAAAAAAABHo/Lqwifg-ZoSs/s1600/IMG_5368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_w_uwG0arbHc/TURY974d9_I/AAAAAAAABHo/Lqwifg-ZoSs/s320/IMG_5368.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Coreopsis 'Star Cluster'</span></td></tr>
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</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another one that worked out extremely well that I wasn't extremely hot on to begin with is Coreopsis 'Cosmic Eye'. This one went from "What the heck am I doing wrong" to "OMG - I can't wait to pot these again in the spring" over the course of about a month. It's now a favorite. It's another one that's relatively small compared to 'Full Moon' and 'Redshift' - and the color is unrivaled in hardy Coreopsis.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Coreopsis 'Full Moon'</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I figured I'd give the first Big Bang intro a run for it as well - Coreopsis 'Full Moon'. We unfortunately won't have a ton in bloom - but expect one big one in Boston that will be taking center stage.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_w_uwG0arbHc/TURZKeIIYjI/AAAAAAAABH0/JRsi9PCdJho/s1600/IMG_5372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_w_uwG0arbHc/TURZKeIIYjI/AAAAAAAABH0/JRsi9PCdJho/s320/IMG_5372.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Flowering Hosta 'Guacamole'!!</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The by-product of having a bench that has Long Day flowering requirements and a little extra space, is getting to scour the nursery for other plants that I can trick into bloom with the same conditions. Tried some Ligularia 'Britt Marie Crawford' - Fail. Amazing foliage - but no buds, nothing. Still going for the foliage, but disappointing nonetheless. Also tried a few other things, with better results.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_w_uwG0arbHc/TURZiFFJk1I/AAAAAAAABIQ/glHF-B1ljSc/s1600/IMG_5392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_w_uwG0arbHc/TURZiFFJk1I/AAAAAAAABIQ/glHF-B1ljSc/s320/IMG_5392.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Echinacea 'Fatal Attraction'</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also scored big on Echinacea - while they will flower under any light condition (they need 24 hrs continuous light to be completely vegetative), they loved the high output of the HPS system and actually look exactly like they should in late June/ early July. Our big 2 gallon 'Fatal Attraction' and 'Katie Saul' look more like shrubs than puny little trade show plants. I'm expecting lots of people to freak out when they see these big studs in the booth. While the Summer Sky are just pushing out petals now - the Fatal Attraction are still a little tight. Still - this is my favorite look on this plant. The bud coloration is absolutely evil looking for a cone-flower, and the lights got them to truly replicate their dark stem color as well.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_w_uwG0arbHc/TURZXoJgMXI/AAAAAAAABIE/-hix4SzEUnI/s1600/IMG_5383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_w_uwG0arbHc/TURZXoJgMXI/AAAAAAAABIE/-hix4SzEUnI/s320/IMG_5383.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lavendula 'Provence'</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I figured Lavender would also be worth a go. I've yet to see one of those in bloom at a show. Unfortunately, you won't in our booth this year either. Still, the plan for Lavender Forcing 2.0 has already been corrected, and I have big hopes for next year. Regardless - expect to see some mammoth, shrubby specimens, just vegetative unfortunately...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_w_uwG0arbHc/TURZSKi1dbI/AAAAAAAABH8/IUQqOVaMVjw/s1600/IMG_5380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_w_uwG0arbHc/TURZSKi1dbI/AAAAAAAABH8/IUQqOVaMVjw/s320/IMG_5380.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Tiarella 'Timbuktu'</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course there will be the usual fare of Heuchera and Tiarella. We even have some of the nicest specimens of Polemonium 'Touch of Class' and Corydalis 'Blackberry Wine' that I've ever seen. While these don't require the special lights, they certainly helped with developing the foliar color. Tiarella 'Timbuktu' especially - as the center blotch is nearly completely black.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This, like everything else in this business, has been a huge learning process. Seeing all the rules on paper and taking notes in seminars only gets you so far. The results when you set the timer up and put em in there are always going to be different from what you were expecting. Regardless - notes are taken, tons of dated photos saved, plans for improvement next year are stored away. Now I can't wait to show up in Boston on Wednesday, and see if there actually is a bright spot in the sea of Heuchera and blooming Catawba Rhodies, even if I'm the only one that notices...</span>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11245633282437992129noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584600592979450936.post-52126526839301776272010-12-26T14:34:00.000-08:002010-12-26T14:34:15.051-08:00The Blizzard Blog<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="495" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_w_uwG0arbHc/TRe--KzSc1I/AAAAAAAABHE/ogWKBPmhOaY/s640/IMG_5331.JPG" style="clear: both; float: left; height: 270px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; width: 349px;" width="640" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So it's looking like our first good storm of the year is gonna be a real winner. <b>Stoked!!</b> I was looking out the front window, and I noticed this Blue Princess Holly I planted about two years ago. I've tried a few things in the spot that have all failed miserably - either due to the generally crappy soil that my builder left me with, or perhaps due to the hot light reflected down from my western facing windows. Regardless - this bombproof New England staple has really taken to the spot, even though I'm not the biggest fan of Blue Holly. It was a throw away from a CNLA Summer Field Day a few years back - abandoned in the vacated booth of a local rewholesaler. While they're a bit trite for my taste, I figured I couldn't turn down a free 5-gallon shrub. With some careful rejuvenatory pruning - I've finally gotten it growing properly. It's on track to fill the 6'x6' space that I've got alloted for it in a couple of years, and should anchor a considerable portion of my foundation garden. This vision of it covered with the light dusting of snow is my favorite thus far. Common in the Northeast or not, after seeing the snow highlighted by the spiky green margins, I'm glad I chose to throw it in my car!</span></div>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11245633282437992129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584600592979450936.post-54655953449165364742010-12-17T07:41:00.000-08:002010-12-17T07:41:59.955-08:00Echeveria pulidonis<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Echeveria pulidonis</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just a quicky. I saw this one this morning and the photo op was too good to pass up. While it doesn't have the appeal of some of the darker forms, the deep red margins make it extremely eye catching. Not to mention, we're talking about an excellent container plant for New England that will flower reliably every winter. I'm thinking one of these in an 8" glazed pot would be a striking specimen -outdoors when its warm, and indoors when its not.</span><br />
<div style="clear: both; font-size: xx-small; text-align: center;">Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5</div>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11245633282437992129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584600592979450936.post-72937522930833893562010-12-16T06:39:00.000-08:002010-12-16T06:39:59.314-08:00A Better Black Eyed Susan<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm'<br />
Photo Courtesy of SBN</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>So who out there is having trouble with one of the greatest perennial staples of all time - Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm'? Anyone seen the black leaf spot (Septoria) that causes it to get super-deformed and generally ugly? While I've yet to see it actually kill the plant - once it sets in, this extremely popular variety is essentially toast for the rest of the season.</b></span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">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... </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">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?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rudbeckia subtomentosa<br />
Photo Courtesy of Sunny Border Nurseries</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I'd love some feedback... Is the consumer really looking for 'Goldsturm' by name? Are they aware that there are several similar varieties that are not effected by Septoria? Just curious on this one - as we've grown several for awhile now that provide the same performance in the garden and landscape - only without the potential for turning into a deformed mess down the road. </b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why are we using plants that need tons of pesticides anyway? What's worse in this case - the pesticides don't even help anyway. My opinion is that it's just habit, but I'm thinking that we should try to change this one.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first on my list of varieties that <i>should</i> 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??</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rudbeckia fulgida var deamii<br />
Photo Courtesy of SBN</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The second variety is a relative newcomer - Rudbeckia fulgida var deamii. Once again - similar bloom, same size (more or less) - no Septoria. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">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'. </span></div>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11245633282437992129noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584600592979450936.post-36747863526782741892010-12-07T11:17:00.000-08:002010-12-07T11:17:11.119-08:00Petunia Black Velvet, Phantom, and Pinstripe<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Ball Hort has released a devilish new group of Petunia this year that are poised to be some of the top sellers for 2011. Petunia Black Velvet, Phantom, and Pinstripe are the first ever to actually get to claim true black for a bloom color. Not "Nurseryman's Black" either - these are the real deal! I've seen too many "black" German Iris, and while they're extremely dark, you can still tell they're just a dark purple. While these do have a slight hint of purple, they are the closest thing to black that I've seen and the effect is one that I think will dominate impulse buys this season</b>.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Petunia Black Velvet and<br />
Calibrachoa Can-Can Terracotta</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Blooms</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>- </b>Black Velvet gets to claim The First All-Black Petunia prize. The blossoms are large, and the name aptly describes the appearance. Phantom is essentially the same plant and bloom, only with a fat, bright yellow stripe down the center of each black petal. To say its a good accent plant would be putting it a bit lightly. Pinstripe sports the same star-burst accent, only with a slightly thinner strip of creamy-pinkish-purple. Yet again - if it's impact you're looking for...</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span>Size and Habit</span></b> - I planted several out, both in the landscape and in some baskets early this summer. I was surprised to see that they didn't form the typical trailing Petunia mound, rather they were much more upright. I wouldn't call them vertical - but don't plan on these cascading well out of any window boxes. Size appears to be somewhere in the 12" tall and wide range - although my plants at home never see the kind of attention that I give to the ones at the farm - so I'm sure bigger is possible. As long as you're thinking "mounded", you'll be all set.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Vigor and Longevity</span></b> - Cool season performance is top-notch. The plugs we received early in the summer exploded and bloomed profusely until July. Ridiculously hot and dry temps forced nearly everything in the landscape into stasis, and occasionally death - these were not immune. Not that it's a slight against them however - we lost <i>Sedum</i> this July to the weather. That's right, Sedum. It was bad. At the peak of this heatwave - I left Connecticut for even warmer locales. Upon my return - my baskets were not very happy with me. They were thoroughly baked, and required multiple soakings to fully re-wet the soil. Most things were pruned back and I crossed my fingers. Within a week or two - I had Petunias again, and the basket was loaded up with black flowers until November. So as far as landscape/container performance is concerned - I'm thinking they're at least as tough as any of the best varieties already out there.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7 Weeks after sticking the cuttings,<br />
Black Velvet is full and blooming.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Bottom Line</span> - These are going to be huge! Regardless of whether they're good plants or not - it's a crazy new group of colors and people will buy these by the cubic yard. From what I've seen with our trial plants, as well as with a fresh crop of unrooted cuttings for trade show season (that are now finished and starting to bloom) - these plants will live up to the hype and provide a full season's worth of easy color.</b> </span><br />
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</b></span>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11245633282437992129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584600592979450936.post-33726052527323355792010-12-04T11:45:00.000-08:002010-12-06T18:41:46.040-08:00Ensete, or Abyssinian Banana<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Few plants get me going more than this one. Fargesia being about the only other one, actually. That however, is a topic for a later post. Seeing as how Ensete is up here first - I guess that makes it my favorite plant. Ever. Of all Time. Just saying this means nothing though. Here's why.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_w_uwG0arbHc/TPqXdfp2XRI/AAAAAAAABEY/Vmo8hAzfwCI/s1600/IMAG0563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_w_uwG0arbHc/TPqXdfp2XRI/AAAAAAAABEY/Vmo8hAzfwCI/s400/IMAG0563.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Part of my back yard.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We started growing this maroon colored Banana relative a couple of years back, and sales have subsequently gone through the roof. People who have bought in have been made believers, and demand seems to be continually increasing. Since I'm addicted to growing tropicals in a climate that isn't necessarily conducive (Connecticut) - the ones that really give the tropical effect in the short time I can give them are obvious standouts. Ensete wins this race every time.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">While typical to the common banana (Musa) in form- it far outstrips even the most vigorous cultivar in rate of growth. I brought home both a massive 12" potted form that was 2 years old, and a single 5" pot that had only been planted in the pot for about 2 months. They were both planted in late May. The 12" was already 4 ft plus in height when planted, the 5" was somewhere around 2 ft. While the 12" was in the obvious lead for awhile - through July - the 5" pot caught up at around the 6 ft height range. It then made it to 8 ft before the one that was 5 times it's size at planting. This wasn't set up as an experiment, so I have no idea why this happened. Regardless - the typical 5" pot that the consumer will pick up at the store for somewhere in the $10-15 range, formed a massive 8 ft plus tall purple banana tree by September. That is insane value in my opinion. This thing dwarfed nearly every other plant in my 6 year old landscape, and certainly was the main focal point in my entire yard. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A severe thunderstorm managed to blow it over while we were away on vacation. I got back to work and forgot to stake it back up. This would prove to be the coolest thing I've seen with this plant yet - it <i>stood itself back up</i> within a week. It went from somewhere near a 45 deg angle back to vertical in about 5 days... I'm no botanist, but that was too cool, and really highlights the vigor on this colorful beast.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Forget fruit. That's everyone's question with the bananas that we sell, and that's my response. Sure, there are some that will get you something that tastes pretty horrid after several years of winter vacations in a cool basement, but who cares? These are foliage plants. Think of them as you would Coleus - but 8 ft tall.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One of my Ensete after a run in </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">with my 10" Henckels Santoku.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've got a situation that most plant geeks not already in the industry would kill for. I can throw these things away every season and just get a new one next year. This has been my M.O. for some time, although I'm trying to get away from it. Hence two massive purple Ensete stumps in my basement as I write this. Getting them both out of the garden was a trip - as you'll find with any banana - the plant is full of water. When you're tasked with removing a foot thick stump that's 36" tall and full of water - have fun! I'd almost rather dig a tree up and move it... They were super-heavy and awkward, but I ended up sliding them onto a snow sled and dragging them into the basement that way. We'll see what happens next spring. I want a 15 footer just to really freak out my kids.</span><br />
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