v^M.">ci -y-^'- .:^>- :'m S . t . . -I .t ^ J -7 , tiif ^^^fe." '■ 'j-y ' ':'- ■* .... A'^^ ' '4W ^^"^^^J^V,^**' ^^^9wlii ^U^ NrW HAMPSHIRt J" Plant Growers gUAl ITY CARDKN ChNllRS & GROWERS ^^ f^ (7 o o H Z lU if^^l^Z; --mSS-. w H CALENDAR CONTENTS March March 1 S'*" "Annual Brillancc" Garden Symposium sponsored by The Flower Company, Kittery, Maine; Speakers include Ed Bowen from Conway's Nurs- ery, and Ellen Ealmage from Talmage Farm, and Jacquelyn Nooncy from The Flower Company; Cost S65.00 includes lunch; Contact Karen at 207-439-4023 for registration information. 15-23 New England Flower Show; Bayside Expo & E^xccutivc Conference Center, Boston, MA 617-933-4984 or www.masshort.org 18 UCONN Perennial Plant Confer- ence, Lewis B. Rome Commons on Storrs campus; Storrs, CT; pre-registra- tion fee of $60 per person due by March 1 r\ Make checks payable to UCONN; Registration Includes informa- tion packet, lunch, (pending state approval) pesticide recertification credit; Various speakers will have autographed books available; Contact 860-486-2930 or mark.brand@uconn.edu or www.hort.uconn.edu/ppc April 7-17 California Pack Trials; Pan American Seed, Santa Paula, CA 8-10 Fourth National IPM Symposium & Workshop; The Westin Indianapolis, IN; contact 217-333-2881 or www.conted.uiuc/edu/ipm 20 Easter 25 National Arbor Day May 11 Mother's Day 26 Memorial Day Observed Nationally July 15 MNLA Summer Meeting & Trade Show; Plimouth Plantation, Plymouth, MA;contact (41 3)-369-4731 or www.mnla.com 12-16 Ohio Florists Association Short Course; Greater Columbus Convention Center; Columbus, OH; contact: 614-487-1117 16-20 ANLA Convention & Executive Learning Retreat; Boston, MA; 202-789-2900 or www.anla.org 27-Aug. 3 Perennial Plant Symposium, Sacramento and San Francisco, CA; contact 614-771-8431 or www.perennialplant.org August 6 NENA Summer Expo; Pleasant View Gardens, Loudon, NH; contact 508-653- 3112 or www.NensyAssn.org September 24-27 Society of American Florists Annual Convention; Boca Raton Resort & Club, Boca Raton FL; contact 703- 836-8700 30-Oct. 4 American Society for Horti- cultural Science 100''' Anniversary; Providence Rhode Island; contact ASHS 703-836-4606 or www.ashs.org October 12-15 Association of Specialty Cut Flowers Growers National Conference & Trade Show; Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; contact 440-774-2887 21-23 IPPS Eastern Region; Portland, Maine; Contact Margot Bridgen; 860-429-6818 Visit vwvw.nhplantgrowers.org for additional calendar items. Departments 3 From the Board 7 Forum 1 1 New Hampshire News 14 Elsewhere in the News 25 How About Herbs? 26 Pioneer Pointers Features 18 MEMBER PROFILE Ron Hill— 2003 Young Nursery Professional Melissa Moore 19 A Letter from Peru Paul Fisher 20 Tools for Measuring Ethyl- ene Gas in the Greenhouse Susan S. Han On the cover: A hardy, deep- yellow magnolia ivas planted during a memorial ceremony on September 11, 2002, at the Royal Horticultural Society's Wisley Gardens. It usually takes years to approve a site for a new selection to he planted. It was a very moving moment for all of us. Photos courtesy Rick Simpson. The Plantsman is published in early February, April, June, August, October, and December with copy deadlines on the first of each prior month. While camera-ready ads axe preferred, set-up assistance is available at a nominal fee. Free classiBed advertising is offered as a member service. We will carry a short message (no artwork or logos) for one or two issues of The PLintsman. Size Price Width X Height 6x Ix 1/8 3 1/2 X 2 1/4 150. 30. 1/4V 3 1/2 X 4 3/4 200. 40. 1/4H 7 3/8 X 2 1/4 200. 40. 1/2 7 3/8 X 4 3/4 300. 75. FULL 7 3/8 X 9 13/16 500. 100. For further information, please contact the editor: Melissa Moore, 843 Loudon Ridge Road, Loudon, N.H. 03307; phone 603-267- 8492; e-mail, Moore@worldpath.net WICTER 2003 1 ©2001 Horlica The Fionsts Mutual f^vey\ ye^uf i^Oh^e. Hortica is the insurance solution for the horticultural industry We offer complete coverages for nurseries, landscapers, garden centers, greenhouse growers and fionsts WeVe changed our name to reflect that fact. FMI is now Hortica, working in partnership with businesses throughout the horticultural industry to successfully manage liability and financial nsks- We'd like to do the same foryou. Callus at 1-800-851-7740 or visit us at www hortica-insurance.com By the way, ^A^ would your current insurance company ■ know that trees don't really grow this way''' hortica OUR PEOPLE, PLANTS & SERVICE Supplying customers with quality nursery stock and excellent service for over 118 years. Call us today! Frank Thomann Sales Representative CT, ME, MA, NH, eastern NY, RJ, VT Charter Oak Nursery Sales 29 Mountain Terrace Road West Hartford, CT 06107 800-431-6625 . Fax 860-561-4130 fetsales@attbi.com www.charter0aknursery5ales.com MAKE THE DIFFERENCE! INSURANCE SPECIALISTS FOR THE HORTICULTURAL INDUSTRy rman SHERMAN NURSERY COMPANY P.O. Box 579 . Charles City, Iowa 50616-0579 Toll Free 800-747-5980 . Fax 641-228-7569 Email: sales@shermannursery.com Visit our website: www.shermannursery.com "Growing With America Since 1884 " Helping You to Grow B.E. Supply GREENHOUSE SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT Pre-filled Flats & Pots Klerks Films Restricted Pesticides Kord Products Fertilizers Distributors for Hyde Park, Fafard, Scotts Products Hemlock Road, Langdon MAILING address: P.O. Box 1468, Charlestown, New Hampshire 03603 warehouse: 603-835-6664 home: 603-835-2523 fax: 603-835-2180 Fast growing cold hardy And ours exclusively! ^ Chamaecypans pisifera WMN'. (Sawara or Japanese Falsecypress) A 1930's seed lot from China brought this pyraniifial evergreen wth numerous branchlets. Thickly covered with slender feathery sprays, it grows 2' to 3' per year to 70' and Withstands -40' F with northwest windy exposures! CjH tor our cjlalog of ovei 350 woodv ornamental Imers or order ailine. Sokl in :" pols in tmys of 32. WESTERN M.'MN'E NUI-LSEKIES Omifrrs & Waxfi/ Ornaiiicntah '^ I \ c r 1 >» ; ; 1.800.447.4745 www.westernmainenurseries.com Fryeburg, Maine 04037 The Plantsman FROM THE BOARD PAUL BELHUMEUR A SMALL GLIMPSE OF GARDENS FROM THE PATIO AT COOMBE AbBEY, COVENTRY. We boarded a plane, soared over the Atlantic Ocean, and six hours later landed in a different world! The hustle and bustle of Heathro Airport. ..the unnerving ex- perience of customs. ..cars on the left side of the road. ..what a trip! Last fall, a large delegation of New Hampshire growers partici- pated in the England Garden Center Tour, hosted by Nursery Business Consultants of Elk Grove, Califor- nia. The Granite State growers in attendance were Rick Simpson from Rolling Green Nursery, Frank, Mary, and Tim Wolfe from Lake Street Garden Center, and George Munson and myself from Bedford Fields Garden Center. The purpose of the trip for George and I was to discover some fresh ideas for our garden center. At Bedford Fields, we expect to expand by adding retail greenhouses and more nursery areas. The tour included stops at four- teen garden centers. The informa- tion gathering process was rigorous. We were surprised at how different retailing is in Britain. The contact between the customer and garden center staff is the classic "soft sell" approach. Even the vendors at "GLEE," one of the world's largest trade shows would not attack at first glance. All of the garden centers we toured featured large parking lots, ample signage, and a restaurant or cafe. These centers are prepared for their guests. Garden center owners place a high priority on making sure the customer's every visit is a posi- tive experience. The store layouts are all designed in the "race-track" format. This concept helps to lead customers through different departments and eventually out into the nursery area. The beauty of it is that the custom- ers are oblivious to the fact that they are being guided along an in- tentional path. Almost without exception, the re- tail nursery areas are paved with concrete, brick, or asphalt. All have covered walkways to help reduce the inconvenience of inclement weather. WINTER 2003 GREENHOUSE S NURSERY SUPPLIES 3REENHOUSE STRUCTURES Nursery Containers Paks. Flats a TSays Pi^NT Material propagation Supplies Growing Media Automation Equipment Greenhouse & Nursery Films Winter Protection Fabrics Ground Cover Shade Cloth Controlled Release Fertilizers Soluble Fertilizers Crop Protection Products Fertilizer Injectors Retail Products Your Complete Horticultural Source Griffin offers a complete une of the highest-quality grower SUPPLIES from STRUCTURESTO PLANT material and EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. we are on the cutting edge of the latest technologies in the greenhouse and nursery industry and we take pride in passing this knowledge on to you. Solid relationships with each of our vendors allows us to bring you the best products and services available in todays market for a minimum cost Call your nearest Griffin location for more information OR to request A CURRENT CATALOG. .Man^htskT, Miiini; Check us out on-line at WWW.GRIFFINS.COM EIGHT LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST AND MID-ATLANTIC CT- (203)699-09 19 ME - (207) 657-5442 MA -(978) 851-4346 NJ-(609) 530-9120 CENTRAL NY - (315) 255- 1450 EAST NY- (518) 786-3500 PA - (7 1 7) 656-0809 VA • (804) 233-3454 iB Guaranteed airea f ran., he groove, \^ Offer your customers the extensive line of Pennsylvania Pride brand nursery stoci< — and an outstanding three-year guarantee from Eaton Famis. Your customers choose your independent garden center or retail nursery because they expect quality and confidence they can't find at big box stores and mass merchandisers. Pennsylvania Pride products are only distributed through independent garden centers. ,.,.„fsWi»ie ,„««/."'* Pennsylvania's cold winters, hoi summers, rich soil and long growing season arc ideal for prfxlucing strong, quality, haniy nursery stock for alt of the Mid-AUantic and New England Call for a free copy of our current full color catalog. if • Garden Center Trees • Specialty Trees • Shade & Flo^vering Trees • General Container Stock • Topiary • Vines Eaton Farms 45S White Oak Lane, Leesport, PA 195,1^ • Phone 1-800-960-9974 or 610-926-2312 Fax: 1 800-813-6244 or 610-926-0789 • Email: ef@eatonfarms.com The Plantsman Book Signing — David Austin and Rick Simpson for his daughter Ina Grace. It is awe-inspiring to see the retail nursery areas. They have extremely wide aisles, attractive benching, beautiful displays, creative merchan- dising, lots of pots, and surprisingly, smaller than expected plant material. Driving through England on a bus helps to explain why the plant ma- terial is offered in primarily one and rwo-gallon sizes: small yards! Another consistent theme regard- ing all this plant material is that it is displayed off the ground: all on attractive benches. The David Aus- tin Roses were displayed on benches. This arrangement elevated the beautiful blooms and placed them closer to their intended target. Speaking of David Austin Roses, we visited David Austin's garden center and nursery as well! Our tour guides, Ian and Lisa Baldwin, have led the England Garden Center Trip for ten years. They have never seen David Austin greet a tour as he did for us this year. He has written a new book on English roses and we were buying them up, hoping for a chance at an autographed copy: One of Mr. Austin's employees eventually mentioned that he was coming out! He made us wait. ..and wait. ..and wait. It was like waiting for the Queen. After about forty-five min- utes or so he finally came out and yes, we all got our autographs and photos! Another highlight to the tour was the attractions we visited in between the scheduled garden center stops. We saw the Hatfield House Palace and Gardens, Litchfield Cathedral, Warwick Castle and Windsor Castle (Yes, the Queen was home.) We also spent a wonderful day at Wisley Gardens, home of the Royal Horticultural Society. We were there on September 1 1'*". With very short notice, the folks at Wisley allowed us to plant a tree on the property in memory of those who died so tragically in New York City and Washington, D.C. one year earlier. It was a touching gesture and a sol- emn, heart-wrenching moment for all of us. As the sun and the tem- perature began to drop, we observed a ceremony that included a poetry reading. The ceremony concluded with each of us adding a spade-full of dirt to plant the magnolia tree. Gardening is a way of life in Britain. The southern areas that we visited could be classified as zone hardiness 6.5 to 7. People travel long distances and spend several hours, if not full days, at their fa- vorite garden centers. There are many ideas to be examined and tried in our country. Which ideas will succeed? Will restaurants and cafes catch on? Will improved mer- chandising and signage replace ag- gressive salesmanship? It's already happening on the West Coast! Watch for trends and don't let the moss grow under your feet! For more information about the 2003 fall tour, contact Nursery Business Consultants at I -9 16-682- J 069. Con- tact Paul Belhumeur, Bedford Fields, at 472-8880. WINTER 2003 "The landscape professional's choice 'or unique, andscape size plant materials" ♦ Largest tree & shrub inventory- in Seacoast NH ♦ Accessible & convenient location at Stratham Circle (Rtc. 108/33) ♦ Informative tree and shrub tagging system ♦ Qualiry ♦ Selection ♦ Friendly & knowledgeable staff (603) 778-3711 FAX: (603) 778-3773 Monday to Saturday, 7-7; Sunday, 9-5 Other hours arranged by appointment STRATHAM CIRCLE Nursery & Landscape Complete Landscape Supplies [^ J m.H. miuKOUJSKi, inc. Cr««nhou/c ( flur/ery lupplie/. Equipmfiit and Plant nokrrial Complete Source for the Call 800-243-7170 Today tor Our New Supply and Plant Catalog Horticultural Industry Greenhouse Structures, Greenhouse Film, Fertilizers. Environmental Controls, Plastic Containers, Shade Fabric, Heating Equipment, Greenhouse & Field Irrigation, Safety Equipment, Chemicals, Crop Support Material, Soilless Mixes, Ventilation Equipment, Soil Handling Equipment, Sprayers and MUCH MORE Ron Hill {VMxi74) New Hampshire/Maine 1 Adams Road Londonben7, NH 03053 Phone & Fax: 603-434-2063 Since 1972 800-a^S-7l70 'Our Goal Is Your Success' Inside or out, Quality is covered. HORn#IS As the authorized Harnois dealer in the Northeast, the professional staff at Greenhouse Supply, inc. will handle all your greenhouse needs. Whether you are looking for free standing or gutter connected houses, call us. GREENHOUSE SUPPLY, INC. 1-800-696-8511 Fax:207-989-1553 email: greenhse@agrotech.com www.agrotech.com The Planlsman R M Farm Bureau Delegates Elect Cole At the NH Farm Bureau Annual Meeting held in Plymouth last No- vember, delegates elected Douglas Cole to serve as a vice president of the state's largest farm organization. Upon his election to the board, Doug Cole, owner of D.S. Cole Growers in Loudon said, "For years, I've been encouraging NH growers to make the most of their Farm Bu- reau membership. Farm Bureau's ef- forts in the state house are vital ac- tivities. " Doug joins NH Farm Bureau President, Wayne Mann in working to further the interests of agricul- tural producers around the state. Chuck Souther of Concord and Daniel Briggs of Deerfield are also elected officers. Each month the president, vice presidents and county directors meet in Concord to review business, legislative items, membership services, and other agri- cultural topics. The members who serve on the state board work closely with NH Farm Bureau staff. Rob Johnson, Executive Director, announced that Allyson Brehm of Chichester has re- cently joined the Farm Bureau as Media Relation Coordinator. NHPGA Scholarship Awards The New Hampshire Plant Growers' Association's Board of Directors is pleased to announce the two win- ners of the 2002 NHPGA Scholar- ship Awards: Nicole Carito and Heather A. Warren. Both winners are students at the University of New Hampshire. Nicole is a floriculture student at the Thompson School of Applied Sciences. She will be graduating this year with an Associates of Science degree in horticulture and plans to enroll in the baccalaureate program for certification in agricultural edu- cation. Her goal is to become an educator for students who want to learn more about floral design and other aspects of horticulture. Heather is an environmental hor- ticulture student in the plant biol- ogy department at UNH. She is currently a college sophomore and also works the family fruit and veg- etable farm with her husband and 10-year old son. She plans to teach agricultural education on and off the farm after completing her Bach- elor of Science degree. Each student will receive a $500 scholarship. The scholarship money was raised at the auction held at the 2002 NHPGA Summer Meeting. The successful auction was the re- sult of many generous donations from meeting participants and ven- dors. The auction is an annual fund raising event of the NHPGA. Research Dollars at Work! Cathy Neal, UNH Extension Educa- tor, shared this summary of how re- search dollars awarded to the Exten- sion Service by the New England Grows organization were invested in 2002. The 2002 grant supported a no- pinch chrysanthemum trial, publica- tion of a quarterly newsletter titled "News and Views for the Green In- dustry', applied research on timing of nitrogen fertilizer, and applied re- search on alternative production sys- tems for trees and shrubs. The grant also made it possible to provide ref- erence books for county extension educators with commercials horticul- ture responsibilities. Funds approved for 2003 will be used for additional no-pinch chry- santhemum trials, continued publi- cation of News and Views newsletter, media trials for container nursery production - an attempt to identify locally sustainable potting media, and an in-service training for county extension educators with commercial horticulture responsibilities. WINTER 2003 ^)s» «> Van Berklm Nursery ': v\h kxii In npi h iS. ( i undcine!''- 4 jame^ Road, DLwfitld. \H, U>i. 4(>.>7663 > r HART'S ' seeds'^ OUAllTTf New England's Leading Full Line Seed House • Packet Seeds • Lawn Seed • Fertilizer • Grounds Maintenance Chemicals 1 (800) 326-HART FAST. COURTEOUS SERVICE The Chas. C. Hart Seed Co. P.O. BOX 9169 WETHERSFIELD, CT 06129-0169 1 (800) 326-HART -^fePleasant • ™ ^ INNOVATIONS IN FLORICULTURE ctions f The Right Choice For Your Garden. At Pleasant View Gardens, we are gn)wing a more beautiful world through innovation, quaUty plant selection and a commitment to customer satisfaction. Finished and liner programs serving growers, nurseries, and garden centers. •& ^ Look for Proven Wiiiiicrs and f^roven Selections" brands in your Un-A\ ^artien eenier Pleasant View Gardens 7316 Pleasant Street Loudon, NH 03307-1616 1-800-343-4784 www.pvg.com Pleasant View tianleiis wt'liomes dedlcatHl hajd-worltiiig membera to Iheir learn. (>dl li.s lo It-arn ninrp almui ,spa.snrial .iiid full-iimr rnipln\TnPnt opportunitiei The Plantsman NEW HAMPSHIRE NEWS A New NHPGA Tool to Help Retailers Sell Plants The New Hampshire Plant Growers' Association has teamed up with UNH Cooperative Extension to cre- ate a unique gardening booklet, ten- tatively titled The Best Plants for New Hampshire Gardens — Annuals, Perennials, and Trees & Shrubs. Funded by the Agricultural Promo- tion Grant we received last year, the booklet is being produced in re- sponse to requests from retailers, who asked for an information re- source to provide to customers in spring. This 40-to-50-page booklet will help gardeners choose and care for plants appropriate to their gardens based on eight different habitats. They include woodland areas, wood- land edges, sunny meadows, alpine and rock gardens, water's edges and marshes, water gardens, beds and borders, and container gardens. The text will focus on the best plants for these habitats. Additional charts will provide information on each plant's height and spread, bloom time, color, and hardiness. The next section will focus on garden design tips, choosing healthy plants, planting methods, and main- tenance. The final section will in- clude special listings of plants such as month of bloom, natives, winter interest, exceptionally long-blooming plants, and deer-resistant plants, along with additional resources for gardeners. NHPGA is fortunate to have lined up an outstanding team of writers for the booklet. Cathy Neal, UNHCE Ornamentafs— Specialist, will focus on "woodies" as well as choosing and maintaining plants. Margaret Hagen, Director of the UNHCE Family Home and Garden Education Center, will write about annuals and planting methods. Leslie van Berkum, co-owner of Van Berkum Nursery, will concentrate on perennials and provide garden design tips. Andi Axman, of Sirius Marketing, will edit the booklet and write the introductory and resources section. We're hoping that the booklet will be both useful and cost-effective for retailers and their customers. Scheduled for publication on March 21, 2003, the booklet's cost to NHPGA members will be low ($3 each, plus shipping and handling) and reasonable for customers ($5.95 retail). Watch for more information on ordering booklets in the next Plantsman, and by e-mail and snail mail. NH Stories Unveils All-New Marketing Identity New Hampshire Stories, Inc., the statewide not-for-profit organization promoting New Hampshire-made products and services, recently un- veiled an all-new marketing identity, which kicks off a more concen- trated, strategic effort to promote the value of New Hampshire-made products and services. The forthcoming marketing cam- paign will include a comprehensive, sustainable, marketing effort to pro- mote the buying of locally produced products and services in New Hampshire and beyond. Using both paid and donated me- dia placements (television, radio and print) regionally and statewide. New Hampshire Stories seeks to deliver a credible and memorable message and image to corporate and individual consumers about the availability, di- versity and quality of New Hamp- shire grown and made products and services. "The objectives of our 'New Hampshire's Own' campaign are to increase sales of New Hampshire- grown and made products and ser- vices, create a recognizable brand for New Hampshire-made products and services, increase access to existing markets and provide expanded ac- cess to new markets for New Hamp- shire producers," says New Hamp- shire Stories Executive Director Molly Hodgson Smith. At the heart of the campaign is a new logo that features individuals working at their crafts with the tag line, "New Hampshire's Own, A Product of Yankee Pride." The new logo will be featured in television and print ads and in all of New Hampshire Stories' marketing mate- rials, including the latest edition of the New Hampshire Products Direc- tory. In addition, members will be able to incorporate the new look into their own marketing and pack- aging materials, creating an inte- grated approach to the 'New Hampshire's Own' campaign. Rumbletree, a Portsmouth-based advertising agency, worked on a pro-bono basis and developed the new identity. Funding for the mar- keting campaign is derived in part from Public Service of New Hamp- shire, the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development and the New Hampshire Depart- ment of Agriculture, Markets and Food. In the five years since it was formed. New Hampshire Stories has enjoyed support from both the State of New Hampshire (Office of State Planning, Community Development Finance Authority, the New Hamp- shire Liquor Commission, Depart- ment of Resources and Economic WINTER 2003 All Natural Land Care Supplies Offering Natural Fertilizers, Soil Amendments and Environmentally Compatible Pest Controls for the Professional: • Landscaper •Turf Care Expert • Arborist •Nurseryman •Orchardist • Vegetable Grower • and Retail Dealer vhi/^ NATURE'S TURF 8-1-9 7y^ FOR PROFESSIONAL TURF CARE for mom intorma^on contact . North Country Organics • Depot St. • Bradford, VT 05033 ph: 802.222.4277 fax: 802.222.9661 email: ncoinfo@norganics.com website: http://www. norganics. com J Cadpented^l "The Geranium Sl^ccialists" Wholesale Qrowers 2 1/2' Geraniums (year round) 4" Pre-finished Geraniums 2 1/2" Ivy Geraniums & Fuchsia Martha Washington Geraniums Spring Hanging Baskets, Lilies/Bulbs Azaleas. Cyclamen, Poinsettias, Foliage J.B. CARPENTER & SON, INC. 603/659-3391 ZZO SOUTH MAIN STREET NEWMARKET, NH 03857 vt NORTHERN NURSERIES, INC. Wholesale Horticultural Distribution Centers Great Selection: Shade, Flowering & Evergreen Trees, Deciduous & Evergreen Shrubs, Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Perennials & More. . . . Available All Season Long In The Sizes & Quantities You Require! DEDICATED TO SERVING: The Professional Landscaper, Nurseryman, Grounds Manager and Golf Course Superintendent, with the highest quality & selection of plant materials & horticultural supplies. Distributors of: • Lofts Turf Seed • Anderson Turf Fertilizer • Lebanon Turf Fertilizer • DeVVitt Landscape Fabric • PennMulch • OlyOla Edging • Permaloc Edging • Spreaders & Sprayers • Gelscape • Nature Safe • Concrete Pavers • Wallstone • Bluestone • Bulk Stone • Hydroseeding Mulch • AllGro Compost • Bulk Mulch • Par Aide Golf Accessories • and MUCH MORE! T\yo Locations For Your Cosvemence: 16 PiNKHAM Rd West U.S. Route 5 Barrington, NH White River Jct., VT (603)868-7172 (802)295-2117 m^^^ The Plantsman NEW HAMPSHIRE NEWS Development and the Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food) as well as private entities (Public Service of New Hampshire, Providian Bank, Citizens Bank, Verizon and Tyco International). New Hampshire Stories members, who now number more than 550, pay a nominal tee to join, based on the size of their organization. Mem- ber benefits include full use of the New Hampshire Stories logo in their own advertising, marketing and promotional efforts; links from the New Hampshire Stories web site to member web sites and a free list- ing of the New Hampshire Stories web site; a membership handbook and directory; quarterly newsletters; member-to-member discounts and referrals; access to training pro- grams, workshops and seminars; and the opportunity to showcase prod- ucts or services through displays and events where New Hampshire Sto- ries is a participant. Another member benefit is the opportunity to sell products in the two retail stores that New Hamp- shire Stories operates at the New Hampshire Liquor Stores on Route 95 northbound and southbound in Hampton. Gat I McWilliam ] elite, NHDAMF Farm Bureau Member Services A membership in NH Farm Bureau includes additional benefits such as a 10% discount on all Grainger purchases. Grainger products are de- scribed in full in their comprehen- sive catalog. The nearest location for most NH residents is Manchester. Call Farm Bureau for additional in- formation on this benefit. NH legislators recently adopted the new International Building Code. These new regulations will be examined to see how they will im- pact the NH green industry. Rob Johnson, NH Farm Bureau Proven Winners Expands Product Line The Proven Winners partners an- nounced this winter the addition of potting soil, and fertilizers to their inventory line-up. Offered for the first time to retail customers this spring, the products are intended to give gardeners a jump on growing vigorous plants. Proven Winners Press Release, Jan. '03 Two Locations to Serve the Northeast Concord Crop Center 6 So. Commercial St. Concord, NH 03301 Phone: 603-224-7592 800-822-7592 Fax: 603-226-4516 Northeast Grower Supply 154 Clinton Rd. Sterling, MA 01564 Phone: 978-422-6281 800-308-8305 Fax: 978-422-8114 We're here for your growing Seeds, Fertilizers, Mulches and more needs... ^ Greenhouse Grade and Agricultural Fertilizers 'W Full line of Hydroseeding Supplies # Turf Seeds # l^^Hjl^f^ Dealer: Floral and Vegetable Seeds W Vegetable and Berry Packaging Supplies ^ Custom Hire Spreader for Lime, Fertilizer, and Crop Protection Products W Agricultural Crop Protection Products ^ Agway Seed Corn Dealer # Plastic Mulches WINTER 2003 13 ELSEWHERE I IV THE NEWS Perennial Conference The University of Connecticut is sponsoring a "Perennial Plant Con- ference" to be held at the University of Connecticut on Tuesday, March 18, 2003. This year's conference will be held at the Lewis B. Rome Commons on the Storrs campus. This all day educational confer- ence will address a wide range of topics focusing on herbaceous peren- nial production, landscape design and gardening. Topics were selected to appeal to nursery and greenhouse producers, retail garden centers, and professional landscapers and design- ers. Two concurrent educational ses- sions will feature naturally recog- nized speakers from both industry and academia. Among the speakers at the confer- ence is Pam Duthis, from the Gifted Gardener in Northbrook, IL. Her current book "Continuous Bloom" which won the Benjamin Franklin Award for best new garden book of the year in 2001 will be for sale at the conference. Pam will be speaking on "Designing for Continuous Bloom" and "A Garden for all Seasons: De- signing the Mixed Border." Gordon Haywood, from Haywood Gardens in Putney, VT will dsicuss "The Uses of Stone in the Garden." He is author of the book Stone in the Garden that will also be available for purchase at the conference. Holly Shimizu, Ex- ecutive Director of the US Botanic Garden in Washington, DC will be speaking on "Herbs as Ornamentals." Pierre Bennerup, from Sunny Border Nursery in Kensington, CT will dis- cuss "Color in the Garden " and "Promising New Perennials." Robert Herman from Uncommon Plants in New Hartford, CT will be speaking on "Asters." Brain Corr from the Ball Horticultural Company will be speaking on "Developing Perennial Cultivars for the Market." Bob Solberg, from Green Hill Farm in Chapel Hill, North Carolina will I discuss "Selecting the Best New Hos- tas for the Garden Center and Landscape. " Leo Blanchette from Blanchette Gardens in Carlisle, MA will be speaking on "Propagation of Perennials. " John Bartok, Professor Emeritus, from the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension, will be speaking on "Insect Pest Man- agement for Herbaceous Perennials. " A pre-registration fee of $60 per person is due by March 11'*'. If re- ceived after March 1 1 '** the fee is $70.00 per person. Please make checks payable to the University of Connecticut. Included in the cost of admission: an information packet, lunch, opportunity to purchase autographed books and pesticide re- certification credit for attendees from CT, RI, MA, ME, NH, and VT (pending state approval). Or visit our web site at http:// www.hort.uconn.edu/ppc For more information contact Dr. Mark Brand at 860-486-2930 or email: mark.brand@uconn.edu UCONN Press Release, Mark Brand 2003-2004 Floriculture Guide The 2003-2004 New England Greenhouse Floriculture Guide is now available through the Extension Service at New England State Uni- versities. This Guide is prepared ev- ery two years and published by New England Floriculture Inc. in coop- eration with the six New England State Universities. This reference guide includes cur- rently labeled products used in the greenhouse production of ornamen- tal plants. The insect management section covers new insect biological control information and has been expanded to include "Bio Control of Aphids, Fungus Gnats, Mites, Thrips, and Whiteflies". The Guide also includes complete information on growth regulators, weed control, and disease management of green- house crops. The Guide is prepared by faculty and staff involved in floriculture re- search and extension at the six New England State Universities. New England Floriculture Press Release Simply Beautiful "stars" in two new DIY Cable Shows This year the buzz around Simply Beautiful will be coming from more than just the bees as our easy care line of annuals are the star plants on the two new gardening series on the Do It Yourself Network (DIY). Simply Beautiful is being featured in a total of 26 half-hour gardening shows on DIY — 13 Weekend Land- scaping and 13 Weekend Gardening shows. Each show is expected to reach 10 million cable viewers. More importantly for Simply Beau- tiful, both program hosts will direct viewers to the DIY website, (www.diynet.com), which currently attracts 5 million hits per month. There Ball is featured as a plant source with hot links to www. simplybeautifulgardens.com. Weekend Landscaping with host Mayita Dinos, began featuring Sim- ply Beautiful in its two-part "French Kitchen Garden" on November 13. Weekend Gardening with Maureen Gilmer will begin airing in January 2003. Network executives expect hits at diynet.com to quadruple when both new series begin airing. By the end of 2003, DIY viewership is forecasted to reach 20 million. 14 The Plantsman ELSEWHERE I I\ THE NEWS DIY is the hot new sister channel to Home and Garden Television (HGTV) and the Food Network, both of which attract over 70 mil- hon viewers. DIY along with HGTV and the Food Network are owned and operated by Scripps Network, one of the nation's most successful developers of original brands and content for cable television and the Internet. Ball Horticultural Co. Press Release 12/06/02 Cornell offers distance-learn- ing course on grafting Without leaving home next spring, gardeners can learn to graft multiple fruit varieties onto a single fruit tree, create unusual growth forms and apply these skills to propagate plants that do not root easily. Cornell University's Department of Horticulture is registering students for a distance-learning course, "The How, When and Why of Grafting for Gardeners." The noncredit course includes Web-based lectures and quizzes, video demonstrations, hands-on grafting and interactive discussions. Kenneth Mudge, the Cornell as- sociate professor of horticulture who teaches the course, says the 10-week class requires about four to eight hours of work per week and will be offered March 17 through May 23, 2003. Students can read weekly lec- tures, view still images and video clips of grafting procedures, partici- pate in online discussions and take multiple-choice quizzes. Students then will demonstrate their knowl- edge using hibiscus plants. The last day to register is March 10. The compact disc developed for the course is integrated with the Web site to show step-by-step pro- cedures for three grafting tech- niques: chip budding, T-budding and top-wedge grafting. Mudge and William Head, professor emeritus. State University of New York at Morrisville, developed the video in- struction for the CD. The course is limited to 50 students, and Mudge suggests registering early. There are two registration options. One costs $225 and includes a password to ac- cess the Web site, a CD with videos of grafting techniques, and a certificate of completion issued by Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; students are required to supply the plants and grafting supplies for hands-on grafting exer- cises. The second option costs $300, which includes the instructional re- sources plus four hibiscus plants, a grafting knife, grafting supplies and shipping costs; students are respon- sible for pots and soil for repotting the hibiscus plants, which are shipped with planting instructions. Course prerequisites include completion of a high school or col- lege biology course, previous garden- ing experience and convenient access to a PC or Macintosh computer, the Internet and e-mail. Mudge also suggests a commitment and motiva- tion to undertake serious learning. Other requirements include a CD- ROM drive, a Java-capable browser and QuickTime, version 4.0 or higher. To register, to view a sample lecture, "Reasons for Grafting and Budding," or to see a listing of all lectures and laboratory exercises, visit the course Web site at http:// instruct 1. cit.cornell.edu/courses/ hort494/mg/. FFA Gives SAF High Marks The Society of American Florists (SAF) is well schooled in teaching students about floral industry ca- reers. The National FFA Organiza- tion noticed. FFA honored SAF for its outstanding support as a 35-year contributor during the FFA Na- tional Agricultural Career show, held last fall in Louisville, Ky. During the convention for the past 35 years, SAF representatives have told students and educators about the many career opportunities available in the floral industry. SAF also made headlines in FFA's magazine. New Horizons with a fea- ture article that appeared in August. The article featured SAF and www.safnow.org as resources for flo- ral industry career information. SAP's career brochure, "Make People Smile: Grow Your Future in the Floral Industry" was highlighted in this issue. The brochure was de- veloped with the assistance of the American Floral Endowment. June is Perennial Gardening Month The Perennial Plant Association would like to remind growers of the promotional materials that are avail- able for spring 2003. Members and Non-Members can request a banner, posters, or flyers. Each promotional item highlights the message "June is Perennial Gardening Month." The banner measures 2' x 6' and is an all-weather banner printed with UV resistant ink. The flyers have identi- cal artwork and planting informa- tion. There is a minimum order of 100. Members pay $0.12 each and non-members pay $0.15 each. The posters in paper or plastic, measure 2' X 3'. They feature June garden plants and the vibrant blooms will turn heads and stimulate sales. PPA Association WINTER 2003 15 SOD FARM +NURSERY, INC. CHRISTMAS TREE EXPORT, LTD. SEASONS FOUR CHRISTMAS CITY GOLT ) ^STAR ^ The professional landscaper's source for over 50 years. COLO STAR \VHOLESALE 250 WEST ROAD 1265 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE 264 WILLOW/ STREET NURSE RY, INC. CANTERBURY, NH O3224 LEXINGTON, MA 02420 YARMOUTH PORT, MA O2675 TEL: 800 648 8873 TEL: 800 631 3013 TEL: 800 696 8805 fax: 603 783 4596 fax: 781 86i 7608 fax: 508 775 1173 WHOLESALE NURSERY TREES • EVERGREENS • SHRUBS 200 Acres of quality plants Write for catalog Member MNLA. NENA 135 Millers Falls Road, Turners Falls, MA 01376 Teb 413-863-2510 Fax: 413-863-3079 Jewart^ NURSERY, Inc. Quality Landscape-Grade Plants all season long! tm The Winter Blanket a better way to overwinter your nursery stock Call for info or a product sample 1-800-692-7752 fax: 978/692-5887 WveGot f With Our One-Stop Shopping. *Nursery Stock *Bedding Plants *Landscape Supplies *Prufessional Sales Staff *Bulk Materials *Dependable on time Delivery throughout New England. *Quote Service *Unique Plant Source*Finest Selection Of Nursery Stock in New England! *QUALITY J *$ERVICB ^ *SCLECTION y *AVAiLA8iury y *VALUE y *DEPENMBIUTV J * KNOWLEDGE V flU AT NORTHEAST NURSERY INC. Northeast Nursery mc^ Supplyin<^ Fine Plant Material & Landscape Supplies 234 Newbury Street Rl, 1 South. Peabodv. MA 01960 Tel. (978) 535-6550 Fax (978) 535-5247 CALL, FAX OR STOP BY TODAY TO FILL YOUR ORDER! wvvw.northeastnursery.com email info@northeastnursery.com 16 The Plantsman ELSEWHERE N THE INEWS Strategies for Plant Health Management of Woody Ornamentals This recently updated 44 page manual, written by UMass Exten- sion Educators for professional grounds managers and landscape contractors, is now available. The 3- hole punched and bound reference includes articles on: • IPM and plant health care • Bio rational pesticides Fertilizing trees and shrubs Planting and maintaining trees and shrubs Sour mulch The long term drought effect on trees and shrubs References for production nursery operators Utilizing the UMass Urban For- estry Diagnostic Lab and the Soil Testing Lab To order send check (payable to UMass) for $17.00 to the UMass Trees, shrubs and vines for low Extension Bookstore, Draper Hall, maintenance landscapes 40 Campus Center Way, Amherst, MA 01003-9244. Credit card orders are accepted by calling the Exten- sion Bookstore at 413-545-2717. A New England plant hardiness zone map Advertiser's Directory Company Name Page B.E. Supply 2 Bobcat of New Hampshire 10 Carpenter's Olde English Greenhouse 12 Chas. Hart Seed. Co. 8 Concord Crop Center 13 D.S. Cole Growers 10 Demcrs Garden Center 24 Eaton Farms 4 Fillmore Flat Filler 17 Gold Srar Sod Farm & Nursery 16 Greenhouse Supply Inc. 6 Griffin Greenhouse & Nursery Supplies 4 Hortica 2 Jolly Gardener 10 Joseph Giannino Co. 24 Laughton's Nursery 16 Liberty International Trucks 24 Millican Nurseries 10 Ncwron Greenhouse 24 Norrh Counrry Organics 12 Northeast Nursery 16 Norrhern Nurseries Inc. 12 O'Donal's Nurseries 22 Pierson Nurseries Inc. 22 Pleasanr View Gardens 8 Rimol Greenhouse Systems Inside Back Cover Rolling Green Nursery 22 Scenic Nursery 24 Sherman Nursery 2 Sibgo Tree Company 27 Stewart's Nursery Inc. 16 Stratham Circle Nursery 6 Sylvan Nursery 26 The Flower Company 22 The Green Spot Inside Front Cover Tuckahoc Turf Farms 22 Van Berkum Nursery 8 W.H. Minkowski 6 Webber's Dublin Nursery 24 Western Maine Nurseries 2 FILLMORE BENCH TOP FLAT FILLER °**iig^isiiytf.«*gg8ittatyfwgBiw'' mK •%\ AFFORDABLE AUTOMATION Lightweight at 70 lbs. Compact— 22" W, 36" L, 30" H 3 Cubic Foot Hopper Adjustable Heavy Duty, All Welded, 16 + 18 gauge galvanized steel construction Externally operated paddle auger, keeps potting soil from bunching Contact: Russell Nolin at (603) 476-8855 for additional product information send SASE to: Nolin Welding & Fabrications RFD 1, Box 373, Route 171; Moultonboro, NH 03254 WINTER 2005 17 MEMBER PROFILE Ron Hill — 2003 NH's Young Nursery Professional BY MELISSA MOORE Ron Hill of Londonderry is New Hampshire's 2003 Young Nurs- . cry Professional of Year. This award, sponsored by the New En- gland Nursery Association, honors a grower under the age of 40 who has shown exemplary achievement in the area of horticulture. Recipients have demonstrated involvement in his or her state association and have been active in promoting a positive image of horticulture to the public. Ron was recognized as this year's recipient at the NHPGA Annual Winter Meeting in Bedford and New England Grows. Ron is an experienced grower with in depth knowledge oi plant produc- tion. Beginning in 1995, Ron and his wife Kathy purchased nine acres and established Shady Hill Greenhouses. They currently grow plants in three greenhouses, and raise approximately 11,000 chrysanthemums outside on the ground. They started with just one greenhouse and supplied gerani- ums to wholesale markets. As more greenhouses were built the inventory and business hours expanded. Ron says, "Last year, was the first year we were open for retail sales. " In 2003, Ron plans to open soon after Easter and will stay open seven days a week through the fall. Each greenhouse is a double poly. Northern Star model measuring 30' x 96'. Ron says, "I prefer this length. With twenty years of experience in the green industry, I've learned that a 100 ft. greenhouse is a good length to heat, irrigate, and pull orders from. A house even fifty feet longer is just a little too long. A smaller house isn't advantageous for growers when you consider how much space is lost to benches and walkways." The first greenhouse was filled with a mix of plant material. Now with three greenhouses, plants with similar needs can be grouped and grown to- 18 gether. The optimal temperatures for the particular plant species can be maintained in each house. Ron has automated some key labor-intensive areas of his business. Each house is watered automatically. The geraniums are grown on 8 " trough benches. All other crops are on drip irrigation. The greenhouse climates are moni- tored around the clock. Should a problem arise, an alarm system deliv- ers the information to Ron or Kathy. A pot-filler eliminates hours of hand labor at potting time. Ron says, "The hours saved can be spent on more important things such as moni- toring plant growth. " Retail customers are encouraged to stroll through the greenhouses and choose plants. Here they will find a mix of traditional favorites, new spe- cialty annuals, and perennials. Future plans for Shady Hill Greenhouses in- clude installing more display gardens around the property. "Display gardens give customers the opportunity to see how a plant will perform, and how different plants work together, " says Ron. "We want to be a place where people can see and enjoy the plants. We're striving for a garden atmo- sphere. " Perennial beds and window boxes on fences are likely to appear in upcoming seasons. Ron also envisions building a shade structure for shade loving plant material. In June, mum pots are set out in rows 4 pots wide that alternate with grass walkways. The rows of mums perpendicular to the main road are a spectacular natural attraction. When deciding which variety to grow, Ron considers color, flowering time and bloom type. He says, "My goal is to strike a balance between color and blooming time so we offer a consis- tent supply through the season. " The utmost care is lavished on these atten- tion-grabbing fall plants. Each plant is pinched three times before it is con- sidered ready for sale. All mum pots are grown on drip irrigation. A soil- less mix is the media of choice for producing quality plants. Under this growing system, plugs planted in a variety of different sized pots will grow into a strong and well branched plant by Labor Day. Ron also works as a salesman for W. H Minkowski in Stafford Springs, CT. His territory is all of NH, Maine, and northern Mass. He stays current with new developments in the field through his work in plant sales. On the road, he has the opportunity to visit with many growers. He can observe first hand how a plant grows throughout the season. In his own greenhouse, Ron tries a handful of new introductions every year. The new varieties are offered along with traditional favorites such as fuschias, ivy geraniums, specialty annuals, and perennials. Since Ron is on the road during each weekday, he is very strict with the delivery schedule of his own in- coming plant material. The ideal de- livery day is Friday, so the material is held just a few hours before it s pot- ted up. All planting is completed on the weekends. To insure optimal growth, water and soil tests are sent out on a regular basis. Ron enjoys plant production and greenhouse management because it's a diverse business. "You're never doing the same thing day in and day out," he says. "It's a four season business with a lot of variety." Three years ago, Ron was elected to serve as a director for the NH Plant Growers Association. Through- out his term on the board he has spearheaded the membership commit- tee. As a result, growers statewide have discovered the benefits of NHPGA membership and signed on as members. The Planlsman A Letter From Peru PAUL FISHER Every seventh year, university professors are eligible for a sabbatical leave in order to catch up on the backlog of projects, learn new skills, and plan new ini- tiatives. For 1 1 months, I am travel- ing overseas to Peru and New Zealand with my wife Rosanna Freyre and my two children, Diego and Maya. As many of you know, I am an Associate Professor and Ex- tension Specialist in Floriculture. Rosanna is an Assistant Research Professor in Flower Breeding at UNH. So what are we doing during this trip? The past week will give you a flavor. I am writing research proposals for projects on plant nutrition and fungus gnat control, in order to fund new graduate students. You might find it interesting that it costs $26,000 per year to fund a graduate student for stipend and tuition, plus typically $15-25,000 per year for supplies and experimental costs (i.e. about $80-100,000 for a two year Masters degree). In contrast, indus- try grants usually range from $2,000 to $30,000, so a lot of a professor's time is spent splicing together fund- ing sources. Throughout this year, I am writing several grant proposals. I am sure you are familiar with "publish and perish " - the need for academics to put out publications or get the boot. It is not a-bad system. We have accumulated a lot of re- search over the last six years at UNH that is useless unless it is put into the scientific and industry press. I am especially focusing on pH and micronutrient nutrition Rosanna Freyre collecting NOLANA IN LOMAS NEAR LiMA, PeRU work. Bill Argo of Blackmore Co. and I have just published a book "Understanding pH Management for Container-Grown Crops" (available from Meister Publishing, at Tel. 800-572-7740 ext. 205, or http:// meisterpro.com and select "Find Products In: Ornamentals"). Using e-mail, I was able to com- municate with poinsettia growers throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts during the growing season. I was able to help with problem-solving and crop monitor- ing. For example, McLeod's Florist in Concord sent me digital photos of their poinsettia crop showing bet- ter root growth in plants grown in thick-walled pots. Poinsettias grown in thin pots grow poorer roots be- cause light transmission reduces root growth. It is worth purchasing qual- ity containers. Related to using the computer, I am currently working on new software to help growers track plant height, soil, and pest counts in their greenhouse (see the extension web site at http:// ceinfo.unh.edu/agricultu re/docu- ments/flora.htm for these products). I am expanding the software to make them more useful for growers and teachers. I will be working on this with a university team in New Zealand in 2003. Rosanna is developing new flower varieties for production as vegetative annuals. We just returned from four days (and 870 miles) traveling through Southern Peru collecting wild species of Nolana (somewhat similar to petunia in a white-blue- purple color range) in various "lomas". The coastline of Peru is desert, generally with very little veg- etation except in the river valleys. The lomas are coastal sand hills in certain areas that are completely bare for most of the year. These ar- eas suddenly change from desert into greenery and bloom for about 2-3 months during the moist period when coastal fog and sometimes rain briefly visit the area. The concept of a short "sabbati- cal" may be useful for you also, to get away from the clutter of your normal routine. Could you plan a trip to visit other greenhouses and nurseries, get fresh ideas, take a break to look at the big picture, and reassess goals? To adapt an old saying, sometimes keeping your nose to the grindstone (concentrating on working hard) just ends up giving you a flat nose. WINTER 2003 19 Tools for Measuring Ethylene Gas in the Greenhouse BY SUSAN S. HAN Department of Plant and Soil Sciences University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003 Ethylene has long been associ- ated with abortion, abscission, and premature death of leaves, buds and flowers of many plant spe- cies. Depending on the plant spe- cies, some flowers are very sensitive to ethylene and concentrations as low as parts per billion (ppb) can induce senescence. Other species are less sensitive to ethylene and may display either no symptoms or only have subtle changes in growth. Eth- ylene (C,H^) itself is a very small, gaseous compound that penetrates readily into any air space. Most greenhouse growers are aware of the potential damage from ethylene pol- lution in the greenhouse. In most cases, the source of the ethylene is a result of improperly installed heaters or from inefficient and defective units. Despite the precautions taken by growers to maintain and inspect the heaters regularly, it is not un- common to have reports of crop loss due to ethylene pollution, espe- cially in the Northeast where heaters are heavily depended upon for growing crops in the winter. A gas chromatograph is the most widely recognized device for the precise measurement of ethylene. It is an expensive piece of equipment that requires regular maintenance and skilled technicians to operate and is thus generally used in academia or commercial research laboratories for detection of C,H, 2 4 concentrations. The current practice in the industry is to send gas samples from greenhouses suspected of ethylene pollution to an analyti- cal laboratory which then uses a gas chromatograph to measure the ethyl- ene concentration. Results from gas chromatography are dependable but the costs for the analyses are high. In addition, this entire process usu- ally takes a few days, a time period during which the entire crop may be destroyed. In the past, I have received gas samples from commercial green- houses in the New England area containing very high levels of ethyl- ene, usually due to faulty furnaces. Typically by the time gas samples are sent for analysis, crop damage is substantial. With the sharp increase in energy costs, growers are prompted to plug small air holes in the greenhouse in order to reduce heating bills. These holes are vital for venting away any ethylene that might exist in the greenhouse and, when plugged, greatly increase the risk of ethylene damage to the crop. It is, therefore, critical that green- house growers monitor ethylene concentration in the greenhouse each year when first firing up the heater and on a regular basis during the crop production period. In 2002, the New Hampshire Plant Growers' Association funded a research project in my laboratory to investigate the accuracy of a simple and inexpensive device for measur- ing ethylene in the atmosphere. The device from GASTEC^^ is designed to provide instant readings of ethyl- ene concentration from 100 to 400- ml gas samples. This method is in contrast to the 1-ml samples typi- cally injected into the gas chromato- graph. The GASTECT^ ethylene de- tector device works like a syringe. It has a plunger to pull air in and the tip of the device is connected to an ethylene detector tube (Fig. 1). Ac- cording to the manufacturer, the tubes are constructed to detect eth- ylene concentrations in the range of 0.2 ppm to 800 ppm. There are two types of tubes, one for the lower range of 0.2 ppm to 50 ppm and the other one for the higher range of 50 ppm to 800 ppm. The device is designed to draw in 100 ml of gas with each sampling and four withdrawals are required for the lower range tubes. For the higher range tubes, one gas sam- pling of 100 ml is sufficient. The detector tubes are disposable and can only be used once. Each tube has a calibrated scale printed on the outer surface and the degree of color changes inside the tube (from light cream color to blue), due to interaction of (NH^),MoO^ and PdSO^ with ethylene gas to produce molybdenum blue, indicates the concentration of ethylene in the at- mosphere. Each drawing of the 100- ml sample takes 2 minutes. There- fore, eight minutes (four samplings) is required for the sampling process in the low range tubes. For the high range tubes, only two minutes is re- quired. The color change is sponta- neous, therefore, giving growers in- stant readings of the ethylene level in the greenhouse. If the device proves accurate and produces consis- tent results, it would be a very use- ful tool for a quick check of the ethylene concentration in the green- house and, thus, greatly reduce the risk of losing the entire crop due to ethylene gas. In order to determine the accu- racy and dependability of the GASTEC^^ for measuring ethylene gas in the greenhouse, we compared the ethylene readings from the GASTEC^''^ device to those of the Shimadzu 9A gas chromatograph in my laboratory. A series of experi- ments were conducted where ethyl- ene concentrations ranging from 0.1 20 The I'lanlsman a30 E ing the level of pollution in the greenhouse, then gas samples should be collected and sent to commercial or 1 academic laboratories — at equipped with a gas chro- matograph for further deter- mination. On the other lS:o hand, when color change is ^ not detected, it indicates '" that either there is no ethyl- ene in the greenhouse or if ethylene exists, its concen- tration is < 0.1 ppm. At 900 this level, some ethylene sensitive plants will be af- fected whereas those less _'™' sensitive would not display g«oo symptoms. If a grower de- ~^o\ tects subtle changes in g plants that suggest possible 5 ethylene existence in the S300 greenhouse, then it would ,„„ be advisable to send gas samples to an analytical laboratory for analysis. ° It is best to check for ethylene pollution in the morning before the vents are open and after the fur- nace has been running for an entire night. As soon as the vents are opened, the ethylene gas dissipates quickly and it is unlikely that a grower will detect the existence of the pollutant. Collect the gas samples from the end opposite to the entry point through which some of the ethylene has already escaped. The color changes in the detector tube occur as soon as sufficient air (400 ml for the low-range tubes) has been pulled through the tubes and readings can be taken immedi- ately. With time, the blue color (the reaction of the fillers inside the de- tector tubes and the ethylene mol- ecules) will fade, therefore, stressing the importance of reading the tubes immediately. The fading of the color is temperature dependent and storing the tubes in a cooler (refrig- erator) will slow down the process. C2H4 concn. (ppm) Figure 2. Determination of ethylene concentrations ranging from 0.2 ppm to 50 ppm (A) or from 50 ppm to 800 ppm (B) by 1 ml of gas injected into a Shimadzu gas chromato- graph fitted with a flame ionization detector or by drawing 400 ml of gas through a GASTEC^"^ gas detecting device fitted with a low-range ethylene detec- tor tube. Data are means + standard deviations of readings contributed by twelve participants tn a blank study. Standard de- viations smaller than the symbols are not displayed. 200 300 400 500 600 700 C2H4 Concentration (ppm) As previously stated, it is advisable that growers check for ethylene pol- lution in the greenhouse each year when first firing up the heater (ide- ally when the house is vacant) and periodically throughout the winter. Given that many greenhouses in the New England area consist of many small houses, each equipped with their own furnace, it would be a worthwhile investment for a grower to purchase an ethylene detecting de- vice. I suggest that checking for the existence of ethylene in the green- houses should be part of the regular cultural practices, just like checking for pH and conductivity during the growing season. By regularly moni- toring for ethylene in the green- house, a grower will detect small leaks in the furnace before it be- comes a serious problem and destroys the entire crop. Acknowledgment: I wish to express my sincere gratitude to New Hamp- shire Growers' Association for partially funding this project and to all of the participants of this project in the De- partment of Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Massachusetts. Disclaimer: Use of trade names in this publication does not imply en- dorsement of products or criticism of those not mentioned. There are other gas detecting devices sold commercially under a different brand name but they appear to work similarly. TOTTER 2003 23 Newton Greenhouse Quality Plants Qreen & Flowering 32 Amesbury Road, Newton. NH 03858 603-382-5289 FAX 603-382-0632 Liscensed propagator of New Guinea Inipatieiis Annual & Perennial Plugs, Plug & Ship Geraniums, Prefinished Plants Proven Winners, Bulbs, Holiday Crops Flowering Plants Joseph Giannino Co. Representing fine growers of quality plant material 17 North Road East Kingston, NH 03827 Office (888)948-2001 FAX(603)642-9230 www.josephgiannino.com New For 2003 The Ultimate Tool for Your Landscaping Needs 7 Person Crew Cab, Automatic transmission When manpower makes the difference, this truck is for YOU! A 2003 Mitsubishi FESP 7 Person Crew Cab ^ In Slock HtrSUBISHI FUSO Liberty International Trucks OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, LLC 1 40a SOUTH wiLLuw Street . Manchester NH 03 1 aa-AOW Phone • 6D3-623-aBV3 • Saa-5 6 2-3 8 1 -1 (Sales FaxI 6G3 SZ3-0653 . (nFFiCE FaxI eD3-G4l-g4B& > $250 Cash rebate with copy of this ad on first purchase • WEBBER'S DVBLIIV Nursery PERENNIAL SIX-PACKS For resale, lining out, or containers WHOLESALE PRICE LIST PERENNIALS * HERBS * WILDFLOWERS 200 Varieties in 6-cell packs Cost per 6-cell pack: $2.00 Minimum order; 24 6-cell packs, 3 6-celI packs of one variety UPS Shipping Available WEBBER'S DUBLIN NURSERY P.O. Box 266 Dublin, NH 03444 603-563-8180 603-563-8272 '•'^. & Nursery Inc. in Canterbury, NH is j the newest member to join the NHPGA Board of Directors. The Board of Direc- tors work year round on behalf of the membership to plan educational programs i and promotional activities. Directors who : serve on the legislative committee follow events at the state house. John has agreed to serve as chairman of this busy commit- tee. Look for legislative updates on the website at www.nhplantgrowers.org and in upcoming issues of The Plantsman. The Board hears input on a regular basis from other standing committees. The committees focus on membership, programs, or marketing and promotion. Participation is encouraged to assist the board members with their efforts in these areas. Contact Ginny Hast, Executive Director, or a board member to identify how to lend a hand. In future issues of The Plantsman look for details of the summer meeting which will be held at Pleasant View Gardens. This year. New England Nursery Asso- ciation will hold their summer meeting in conjunction with the NHPGA summer meeting. NENA will also have the updated green industry survey available at this meeting. THE PLANTSMAN EDITOR UNH Research Greenhousees Durham, NH 03824 Non-profit Organization , US Postage j PAID ! Permit No. 43 i ^U^fe NEW HAMPSHIRE Ji Plant Growers QUALITY GARDEN CENTERS & GROWERS { ************ *.**i,*t*i,ti,i,ttt,i,t*i,i,i,tti,i,i,t NH HORTICULTURE ENDOWMENT 5 BIRCH TREE LN BOW NH 03304-4401 AUT0**3-DIGIT 033 2 11 IiiIiIiiIiIiiIIIiii.i.IMIi,,,|,ImIIii