Transcript Pansy Production - University Of Georgia

Commercial Pansy Production
By Paul A. Thomas and Jean L. Woodward
The University of Georgia
2015 North Carolina Flower Growers Conference
Objectives:
Establish A Consumer
Education Program
Review Critical
Production Decision
Points.
Keep Accurate Records and
Dates
Establish A Growth
Control Strategy
Establish A Nitrate-Based
Nutrition Program
Review Common Pansy
Maladies
Fall Pansies – The Crop That Grew The South!
In Georgia, Pansies used to provide bedding plant growers
with 30% to 40% of their annual income. This also
provided cash profits instead of poinsettia break even.
Many states are finding
that the Pansy market is
increasing, and report a 5
to 10 % increase in sales.
The market will improve
as companies can afford
to plant fall pansies again.
Factors That Affect Pansy Scheduling
Plug Size – 288 trays finish in 4-5 weeks, whereas
406’s and 512’s finish in 6 to 7 weeks.
Outdoor Production - can delay crop schedules
2 to 3 weeks, however, quality of the plant is often
much higher and transplant recovery faster.
Staggered Plug Arrivals - are more efficient that
one crop shipment. Having a continuous supply
in different stages of growth ensures you will have
what your customer wants. Try to minimize plug
tray holding time.
Containers
1801’s – Allows a larger root system, best for landscapers
and pansies scheduled for color bowl construction.
606 Deep Cell - Allows 36 plants per tray, but with a
greater root system. A hybrid container for upscale garden
centers and landscapers looking for reduced prices.
1203’s - are more efficient that one crop shipment.
Having a continuous supply in different stages of growth
ensures you will have what your customer wants.
Slim Line 1203’s - 10% to 20% smaller than a standard
1203, and used in mass merchandizing outlets. Difficult!
Substrates
Low EC - Regardless of the soil you purchase, or
construct yourself, plugs and seedlings must have a low
EC. Be sure to ask if the soil product has a charge.
avoid using a product with a charge greater than 0.75
mmhos.
Peat-Lite Mixes Are Best - Greenhouse grown pansies
are very amenable to growing in peat-lite mixes but….
High Porosity – If you are growing pansies outdoors, or
in the south where high temperatures are a problem, the
increased rainfall or irrigation requires a high porosity
mix. It also requires altered fertility schedules
Spring Production
Staggered Production – If you have the pansy market to
support the volume, you can usually produce two to three
turns of pansies per season. Note the effects temperature
and light levels have on production schedules.
Turn-1 Turn -2
Turn-3
1203’s / Slims
8 wks
4 - 5 wks
3-4 wks
606 Trays - flats
9 wks
5 - 6 wks
3-4 wks
1801 Trays - flats
9 wks
7 - 8 wks
5-6 wks
4” Pots
12 wks
9 – 11 wks 6-8 wks
Fall Production
Turn-1
Turn -2
1801’s
4 wks
4 - 5 wks
1203’s Slims
4 wks
5 - 6 wks
606 - Deep
6 wks
7 - 8 wks
4” pots
6 wks
7 - 8 wks
Cooler than normal temperatures, over-watering and drought
stress will lengthen production schedules. Application of some
plant growth regulators may delay production schedules.
In Greenhouse - Gravel Bed Production
Some Thoughts On Market Planning
Make every effort to control delivery dates.
Educate your buyer on pansy requirements/flowering.
Provide a care sheet with instructions.
Provide suggestions on
placement of product.
Follow up on care by visiting
clients more often.
Assess your market carefully
as some markets are becoming
saturated with pansies.
Crop Diversification Is Essential
Violas,
Ornamental Cabbage
Flowering Kale
Snapdragons
Mustards
Swiss Chard
Dianthus
Water Quality
Water pH should be 5.6 to 6.0
Base EC should be less than .45 mmhos
Alkalinity should not exceed 125 ppm Ca(Co3)2
Chlorides should not exceed 30 ppm.
Boron should be less than 0.5 ppm.
Seek help if Alkalinity is very high.
Water should be checked in August and October
Soil Test Recommendations
Soil pH should be between 5.4 and 5.8.
EC optimally should be 1.2 - 1.0 mmhos.
Use highest porosity soils available.
Pre-test pH drift prior to planting to test lime!
Do lab-tests for trace elements - all should be low.
Important Points Of Sanitation
Clean greenhouse / benches between crops.
Keep head house / transplant area clean.
Have plug handlers wash hands often.
Establish a scouting program.
Dead-head spent precocious flowers.
Pull dead or diseased flats and discard. Do
not just re-plug a cell. Disease spores are
everywhere in that tray.
Outdoor Pre-Production Tips
Establish slope, drainage - Sanitize growing area.
Elevate flats or trays - this is essential!
Record rainfall – It strongly affects fertility levels.
Space flats liberally to encourage air-flow.
Keep leaves and debris off plants.
Use high porosity soils and monitor soil moisture!
Use shade covering to reduce rain/hail damage.
Handling Plugs
Keep soil temperature below 90 degrees F.
Place in shade, avoid wilting, keep moist, < 24 hr!
Use high nitrate fertilizer @ 75 ppm, EC @ 1.0 or less.
Avoid PGR’s at this stage. Use Fertility / Temperature.
Avoid holding plugs longer than 1 week.
Destroy entire plug trays that become diseased.
Scouting Plug Trays
Observe trays upon receipt of
shipment. Roots overgrown?
Root system poor? Are they
white and clean? Yellow leaves?
Are the plugs leggy?
Under high light, look for
mottling or streaks. Look for
“bunched” growing tips.
Educate transplant crews to
discard “abnormals”.and report
them.
Transplanting Tips
Be sure pre-transplant soil
fertility levels are appropriate.
Observe how staff are handling
plugs…Often!
Be sure plugs are thoroughly
watered in and at soil level.
Be sure to test soil 72 hours after
transplant for pH shift.
Plug Establishment Checklist
Grow-in period should be two weeks or less.
EC should still be less than 1.25 mmhos
Roots systems should be white with root hairs and
breaking past the original root ball of the plug.
The newest expanded leaves should be much larger
than the original plug leaves.
There should be no sign of crinkled leaves in the
new growth even if PGR’s were used by plug
grower.
Irrigation
Overhead Irrigation – Check for
uniformity and proper delivery.
Plan for a drying period to prevent
disease and firm up roots. Using
water stress to control height is
tricky and requires diligence.
Leaching is essential – Clear water,
20-30% in excess of pot volume, the
morning before every third
fertilization.
Destroy plants that become
diseased….splashed spores spread
disease very rapidly.
Light and Photoperiod
Pansies and Violas are longday plants. Violas require LD
periods to flower.
Night interruption of 4 hours
can greatly improve flowering
in spring crops.
Pansies require high light
levels. Supplemental lighting
may be essential during very
long cloudy periods
.
Temperature
An average daily temperature above 85 F
is a problem. Pansies will stretch and
decline. Flowering will be reduced.
Preferred night temperature is 55oF.
o
Soil temperatures below 45 F can cause
plants to become quiescent or grow very
o
slowly. Below 28 F can inhibit water and
nutrient uptake and growth will cease.
Leaves may turn purple during cold
periods.
Temperature
o
Soil temperatures above 80 F causes
slow growth due to sugar loss from
high levels of respiration.
Preferred daytime temperature is 80oF.
Stretching occurs as spread between
low and high temperature increases.
Flower size is reduced with high
temperature, as is root development.
Controlling Growth
Keep soil temperatures cool, especially at night.
Keep airflow high and continuous!
Use high nitrate fertilizers at moderate levels.
Grow plants on the dry side of moist.
Remove shading by September 20th in Fall and make
sure greenhouses are shaded by May 20th in Spring.
Too high light levels can cause cupping, and heat stress
will delay crop.
DIF can be used if used in moderation. Do not drop
o
o
temperatures excessively. Example: 62 F to 48 F.
Plant Growth Regulators
B-Nine ...............…..... 2500 ppm to 5000 ppm.
B-Nine + Cycocel....... 1000 ppm B9 & 1000 ppm Cyc.
Arest .......................... 5 - 10 ppm
Sumagic ..................... 1.0 - 3 ppm
Bonzi .......................... 3 - 20 ppm
Florel .........……......... 500 ppm ( Northeast/Midwest
Growers in the South should use LESS Florel
……..Start at 100 ppm and do repeated applications.
Humidity, Airflow and Spacing
Provide 24 hour HAF airflow, with open sides.
Attempt to reduce condensate at all times.
Elevate ground-grown flats on skids or boards if
disease problems occur.
Provide 1" space between rows of flats
Install extra HAF fans if plants fail to dry out during
extended periods of cloudy weather.
Light Levels and Shading
Fall Shading
Use 30% shading for early Fall production.
Use 55% shade for outdoor Fall production.
Retractable shading very effective.
Remove shading by Sept. 20th or as weather cools.
Buy a soil thermometer!
Spring Shading
Apply shading by May 10th or as greenhouse gets hot.
Managing Nitrogen
Hot Weather: Use high nitrate fertilizers such as 152-20.
Cool Weather: Use balanced ammonical/nitrate
fertilizers such as 20-10-20.
Stalled Growth: Use 20-20-20 sparingly…usually
one application stimulates growth.
Supplement with calcium-nitrate and monitor boron
levels after 4 weeks.
Be sure to keep phosphorus levels low. Verify!
Never, ever apply fertilizer over the 275 ppm N level.
Form Of Nitrogen
Ammoniacle nitrogen (NH4)
1. Is the “jet fuel” of horticulture.
2. Produces rapid, soft, leggy growth in most plants.
3. Is converted to NO3 by bacteria when soils are warm & porous.
4. NH4 is not taken up when roots are cold.
5. NH4 generates acidic soil solutions.
Nitrate (NO3)
1. Generates alkaline soil solutions.
2. Produces slow growth, shorter stems, firmer growth.
3. Can be taken up when soils are cold.
Urea formaldehyde (IBDU)
1. Is an organic compound that when broken down by microobes,
2. Produces ammoniacle nitrogen.
3. Is a slower-release fertilizer source.
Combating Heat-Induced Early Root
Loss With Proper Form Of Nitrogen
All Plants Received 100 ppm Nitrogen
As Temperature Increases, The Negative
Effects of Ammoniacle Nitrogen Increases
All Plants Received 100ppm Nitrogen
High Temperature Effect
100 ppm
90oF
Mature Fertility Management
Keep soil pH above 4.8 and below 5.8. Thelaviopsis !
Maintain EC at 1.5 mmhos … never any higher!
Record rainfall – It strongly affects fertility levels.
Consider Continuous vs Pulse Fertilization !!!
Adopt the Pour-Thru sampling and stick to it.
Purchase a High Quality pH / EC meter
Record pH, Ec and Growth Observations weekly
Soil Test Guidelines
Nitrogen
NO3 @ 100 ppm,
Phosphorus
P2O5 @ 5 - 10 ppm
Potassium
K20 @ 100-120 ppm
Magnesium
Mg @ 60 -80 ppm
Calcium
Ca @ 100 - 120
Iron
Fe @ 100 - 130 ppm
Manganese
Mn @ 70 -100ppm
Boron
B@ 25-30 ppm
Copper
Cu @ 5 - 10 ppm
Zinc
Zn @ 35 - 85 ppm
Sulfur/Sulfates
S @ <80 ppm,
Chlorides
Cl @< 30 ppm,
Nh4 @ >20ppm
Sodium Na @> 50 ppm
Total N
@ 3.5 - 4.5 %
P
@ 0.3 - 1.0 %
K
@ 3.0 - 4.5 %
Ca
@ 0.6 - 1.2 %
Mg
@ 0.3 - 0.6 %
Na
@ 0.1 - 0.4 %
B
@ 20 - 50 ppm
Cu
@ 5 - 15 ppm
Fe
@ 100 - 300 ppm
Mn
@ 100 - 300 ppm
Zn
@ 35 - 100 ppm
Foliar Guidelines
Nutrient Deficiencies
Purpling of Lower leaves - Phosphorus deficiency
Can be caused by high light levels and keeping plants too dry.
Use 15-5-15 fertilizer, do not direct supplement!
Yellow Tip Growth - Iron deficiency
Elevated media pH over 6.5, high alkalinity, or excessive
applications of CaNo3.
Iron sulfate can be added in increments to reduce pH.
Tip abortion / Stunting - Boron deficiency
Frequent applications of Ca-No3, or a soil pH over 6.5
Use Solubor or borax - be very careful!
Fall Crop Production Tips
1. Enhance air flow and cooling potential in your structures.
2. Schedule crops later in early fall to avoid heat.
3. Use larger plug sizes early for the first turn.
4. Handle plugs in an efficient manner. Discard weaklings.
5. Use nitrate based fertilizers that have low phosphorus.
6. Monitor pH to avoid thelaviopsis and micro-toxicities.
7. Scout daily for cercospora, cut worms and aphids.
Spring Production
1. Lighting the crop can dramatically speed up first spring crop
and increaser flowering. Provide 12 to 13 total hours of light.
2. Use 20-20-20 for the first two fertilizations
3. Make every effort to maximize light levels
4. DIF can be used to control height of pansies, but be careful
about how dramatic the temperature shift is…you may slow
down production
5. Remember, spring production is usually longer than fall
production. Night temp at 58o F is essential.
Shipping And Handling
Handle trays as little as is possible to prevent ethylene.
Ship dry, and be sure to deadhead spent flowers.
Avoid excess heat build up in truck box - ventilate
Too Much Handling
Ethylene Damage
Pansies …
The Dark Side
Pansy Maladies
The next series of slides are intended to familiarize you
with all the things that can go wrong with a pansy crop.
This material is not intended to scare you off from
growing pansies. Just be aware that problems occur.
Almost all of these maladies are preventable with
common sense precautions being implemented prior to
transplanting the plugs
Disease Management
1. Make every effort to maximize sanitation prior to planting.
2. Have a management plan in place before planting. Plan for
common diseases and have products ready. Timing is essential.
3. Make every effort
to maximize air flow
across crop
4. Minimize the
splashing between
flats. Always remove
dead or dying plants
immediately.
Thelaviopsis
Diseases
See Our Handout!
Thelaviopsis - Maintain an acidic soil pH!
Pythium
Rhizoctonia
Cercospora
Botrytis
Anthracnose
Powdery Mildew
Insect Pests
Western Flower Thrips
Aphids
White flies
Fungus Gnats
Pansy Worms
Black Cutworm
Spider Mites
Slugs
Cut Worms Are The Worst
Greenhouse Weed Control
Yup!
Hand Removal!
Genetic Misadventures
Symptoms:
Irregular Color
Irregular Size
Malformed Flowers
Odd Leaf Shapes
Streaks and Lines
Genetic Variegation
Symptoms:
Normal leaf shape
Normal flowers
White, grey-green
and dark green
mottled leaves
Mottled Pansy Syndrome
Scout trays early - remove mottled plugs.
Avoid heat stress - it is the trigger for expression.
Avoid excess light - heat builds up in leaves.
Do not attempt to correct with calcium or boron.
Magnesium and iron can mask symptoms...don’t.
Plants will re-express so do not try to sell!
Mottle Pansy Syndrome
Some Examples
Contact Herbicide Drift
Symptoms:
Cessation of Growth
White Leaves
Stunted Flowers
Necrosis / Death
Finale Drift
Dishwashing Soap
Symptoms: Immediate
Cleared Tissue
Leaf Death
Symptoms: Delayed
Chlorosis
Growth Stunting
Horticultural Oils
Symptoms:
Tissue Clearing
Tissue Collapse
Necrosis
Disease if not cleaned up
Horticultural Oil
Oil-Based Insecticides
Symptoms:
Spotting
Tip Burn
Orthene
Malathion
Overdose Of Triazole PGR
Symptoms:
Bunched leaves
Leaf cupping
Slow growth
Absent flowering
Triazole
Improper Herbicide / Overdose
Symptoms:
Leaf Purpling
Intra-veinal chlorosis
Necrosis
Growth Reduction
Irregular new leaves
Death
Gallery
Ethylene Danage
Symptoms:
Leaf curl
Petiole Curl
Leaf Bunching
Slowed Growth
1 Leaf abscission
Heat Shock / Stretch
Symptoms:
Rapid elongation
Smaller Flowers
Fewer Flowers
Lower Leaf Chlorosis
Root Decline
Cold Weather Starvation
Symptoms:
Leaf Purpling
Few Flowers
Chorotic Centers
Viola Starvation
Under Fertilization
Symptoms:
Chlorosis
Cupped leaves
Strap Leaves
Very Slow Growth
Very Poor Roots
Pansy’s starving under warm temperatures
Boron Deficiency
Symptoms:
Thick, Irregular Leaves
Tightly Bunched Centers
Split Leaves w/ Holes
Deep Green-greyish Tint
Growth Stops
No Flowering
Re-growth Takes Forever
Over- Fertilization
Symptoms:
Marginal Chlorosis
Entire Leaf Yellowing
Basal Leaf Yellowing
No New Blooms
Necrosis / Death
Root Damage
Garden Center Tips
Staging:
Bright light (Avoid direct sun)
Do not stage flat to flat
Care:
Fertilize & water
Dead-head
Maintenance:
Botrytis prevention
Over-watering
Advice For Garden Center Owners
Keep pansies in at least diffuse sunshine. Shade
cloth or indirect sunlight is best. Keep plants cool.
Fertilize with 50 - 100 ppm 20-10-20 once a week.
Deadhead spent flowers daily.
Never let dry out, but allow soil to become light.
Maintain air movement over flats - fans best!
Order pansies for sale when temperatures cool for the
least loss and the maximal # of return customers!
Landscape Tips
Improper spacing
Pansies and Violas
are bedding plants
with very specific bed
requirements
Planning and
good bed
preparation
are essential
for success
Disease
Landscape Considerations
In most cases, pansies are planted on 6 to 8 inch centers.
Be sure that soil pH is pre-established at 5.8, and that
sufficient mulch is available to insulate the soil.
Amendments that will
benefit pansies include
peat moss, very, very
composted bark, sand,
and general compost
that is screened but not
mucky.
Fertility Regime For Landscapers
Use liquid feed in conjunction with slow release. 150
ppm N is the preferred rate for outdoor application.
Test fertility often during wet weather. #1 Problem
Keep soil EC around 1.5 mmhos
Use nitrate-based fertilizers once soil temperature goes
lower than 50 degrees F, and throughout the winter.
Maintain steady levels of fertility.
Use an ammonical-nitrogen based fertilizer when soils
warm to 55 degrees or higher in spring for fast growth.
Weed Control - Landscape
Pre & Post Emergent Herbicides
Pre-Emergent:
Betasan
Pendulum
Pennant
Surflan
XL
Post-Emergent:
Envoy
Vantage
Mulches & Covers:
Pine Straw
Pine Bark
Peanut Hulls
Non-Selective Herbicides:
Round-Up Pro
Finale
Reward
Scythe
Pansy Bed Maintenance Tips
Pansies do not bloom when soil is frozen!
Dead-head flowers every two weeks.
Replant diseased or inconsistently growing plants after
three weeks.
Use pine straw to cover entire bed if prolonged severe
cold is predicted without snow fall.
Scout beds weekly for disease and insects.
Pansy Production Handbook
And Web Site*
* Project funded by the Gloeckner Foundation
The End
Thanks For Sticking Around!