THE PlANTSMAN
October/November 1991
THE PlANTSMAN
October/November 1991
\Wjer Spring
Summer or FsJL
Northeast Nurserys
QneStop Shoppmg
Covers itM
It doesn't make a difference what the time of year, or the size of the project.
Northeast Nursery has supphes and materials for all your needs. Northeast Nursery
has the widest selection in wholesale plant materials and landscape supplies in all of
New England. We direct ship throughout all of New England and offer many other
services. Stop by today and see why many consider us the best in supplying the
landscape and green industries with quality products and services. We're Northeast
Nursery, your one-stop nursery for all your shopping needs.
pJsfortheast Nursery, Inc.
Supplying Fine Plant Material & Landscape Supplies
234 Newbury Street, Rt. 1 South
Peabody, MA 01960 (508) 535-6550
Fax (508) 535-5247
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
A Growing Concern
36 North Road Danburv, NH 03230
A. P. Home Nursery 300 D. W. Highway Bedford, NH 03110
Bay Farm Nursery 400 Newingcon Road Newington, NH 03801
Belknap Nursery, Inc. 104 Lily Pond Road Gilford, NH 03246
Blue Star Peat Moss
PO Box 22
Coaticook, Quebec J1A2S8
Bobcat of New Hampshire
PO Box 496 Epsom, NH 03234
Brennan Sales, Inc. PO Box 427 Scarborough, ME 04070
Ckxjk House Gardens
Box 54, RED #1 Bamstead, NH 03218
Great Meadows Enterprises
15 Stoney Hill Road Goffstown, NH 03045
Grower Direct Farms
164 Hampden Road Somers, CT 06071
Herbs & Thyngs
PO Box 1357
Center Harbor, NH 03226
Hill's Florist & Nursery
PO Box 128 Intervale, NH 03845
Pawtuckaway Nursery Corp. PO Box 733 Epping, NH 03042
Pierson Nurseries, Inc.
24 Buzzel Road Biddeford, ME 04005
Richard D. Smith Co.
PO Box 42 Wyckoff, NY 07481
Rickey & Sons
PO Box 223
Gilmanton Iron Works, NH 03837
Rolling Green Landscape
PO Box 4093 Portsmouth, NH 03802
Spring Hill Garden Center
1269 Boston Road Ward Hill, MA 01835
Stewart's Nursery
Millers Falls Road Turners Falls, MA 01376
The Conrad Pyle Company
372 Rose Hill Road West Grove, PA 19390
Three Seasons Landscaping
PO Box 1082 Contoocook, NH 03229
Wageman Insurance Company
1217 Elm Street Manchester, NH 03101
Willow Pond Nursery
130 Bedford Road Merrimack, NH 03054
Cover Illustration : Lindsay Engel
Ms. Engel is a fourth-grader at Maple Wood School in Somersworth, NH.
She is a member of Ms. Bodner's 3 & 4 grade class.
Although she likes drawing rowers, her favorite subject is pigs.
Design: Joni Doherty Design Studio
INSIDE
3
FORUM
CALENDAR
FROM THE BOARD
Retail Florist: Endangered Species?
Paul Godbout
7 NH NEWS
8 NEWS FROM ELSEWHERE
13
Twilight Meeting —
Thinking About Christmas
in October
15
Management of Whitefly
on Poinsettia
Dr. Stanley R. Suiier
17
KATHAN GARDENS Old Fashioned Quality
21
A View from the Road Nancy Adams
25
Promoting Your Business
With a Special Event
Tina Sawtelk
27
Dwarf Astroemeria —
A Primer
Phil Gardenier
The Planisman is published in early February', April, June, August, October, and December with copy deadlines being the 5th of each prior month. While camera- ready is preferred, set-up assistance is avail- able at a nominal tee. Free classified adver- tismg IS offered as a member ser%'ice. We will carry a short message (no artwork or logos) for one or two issues of The Plantsman .
AD SIZE
6x
3 3/8" V |
â– X 2 3/8"h |
$120 |
$30 |
3 3/8" V |
â– X 4 7/8"h |
$160 |
$40 |
7" V |
â– X 2 3/8"h |
$160 |
$40 |
7" |
. X 4 7/8"h |
$250 |
$50 |
7" V |
• X 10 "h |
$400 |
$100 |
For further information, please contact the editor: Robert Parker at the UNH Research Greenhouses, EXirham, NH 03824, (603)862-2061; or PO Box 5, Newfields, NH 03856, (603)778-8353.
October/November 1991
Rhododendron PJM (H\;bndized m 1 940)
â– Rhododendron PJM (1940)'
m Rhododendron Henrv's Red (1958)'
â– Rhododendron Shnmp Pink Hybrids f J 95Sj*
â– Rhododendron Aqio (1964)'
m Rhododendron Olga Mezitt (1964)'
â– Rhododendron Weston's Pink Diamond (1964)'
â– Rhododendron Molly Fordham (1966)'
â– Rhododendron Milestone ('i 972j*
â– Rhododendron Apnl Snow (1978)'
'A WESTON NURSERIES INTRODUCTION'
A phrase which stands for the very best that fifty years of horticultural innovation and testing can produce. Weston Nurseries is proud to have developed and introduced these outstanding plants for the benefit of the American Nursery Industry.
Azalea Jane Abbott fi 942j' Azalea Vykingf 2 95gj* Azalea Pink and Sweei (1963)' Azalea Parade f J 963j* Azalea Golden Showers f 1 963j* Azalea Pink Clusters (1 912)'
'YEAR HYBRIDIZED
FOR THE FINEST "NEW ENGLAND-GROWN" PLANTS, VISIT OUR WHOLESALE SALES YARD OR CALL AND ASK
FOR TOM WILHELM, DAVE WALKER OR TOM WILLIAMS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING YOU.
Since 1923
Weston I^rseries
of Hopkinton
Growing New England's largest variety of landscape-size plants, shrubs, trees and perennials
E. Main St. (Rte. 135), P.O. Box 186, Hopkinton, MA 01748, Tel. (508) 435-3414 From Boston 235-3431, Toll free in MA, 1-800-322-2002 FAX 508-435-3274
FORUM
THANK YOU, PERILLO'S
Many thanks to Perillo's Catering of Manchester, New Hampshire, for an outstanding job done at our annual summer meeting.
Also, we wish to thank them for their contributions to the New Hamp- shire Plant Growers' Scholarship Fund. They bought a hundred dollars worth of items at the auction and also contributed 50 cents from the price of every meal. A total of 412 people were served, so that came to $206.00.
Perillo's catering has been in business since 1961. They are family-owned and-operated. They do family-style barbecues for all occasions and pro- vide a wide range of menus. Perillo's can be reached at (603) 624-1212.
Thanks again on behalf of the Board of Directors.
Robert E. Demers
Any questions or suggestions on the summer meeting, please call or write to: Robert E. Demers, 656 S. Mammoth Rd., Manchester, NH 03109; phone: (603) 625-8298.
MINUTES:
BOARD MEETINGS
My 10, 199]
The meeting opened at 8:45 at Demers Garden Center. Bob Demers, Chns and Jennifer were there.
Minutes and the financial report were read and accepted.
Rick Perillo, whose company is doing the cooking at the summer meeting, came by to finaUze plans. There was concern about a possible high number of walk-ins, but Rick said he would have no trouble feed- ing whoever came. It was decided that the name tag received at registration would be the meal ticket as well.
Other details — accommodations for Gilrein, the door prize, the auctioneer — were touched upon.
The upcoming twilight meeting at Van Burkum's was discussed. It will be from five to seven on the eleventh of Septem- ber; Peter will give a walk-through tour from 5:30 to 6:30; a promotional flier will be sent in late August.
There were no firm dates for the Farm & Forest Exposition yet, but once there were, planning would begin for the winter meeting.
The meering adjourned at 9:45.
Sef)tc»Tii>er 5, 1991
The Board Meeting was held at Demers Garden Center; Tom. Chris, Bruce, and Bob attended.
The financial reports were read and ac- cepted. Some money was made at the summer meeting — all the bills aren't in yet, so the amount isn't certain, but it will be a big help in balancing this year's
total budget. However, the board de- cided to take on no new financial com- mitments at this time.
The NHPGA added its signature to those of the state's other agricultural ot- ganizations to a letter drafted by Ken Marshall of the Farm Buteau protesting the elimination of the position ol cur- riculum supervisor for the vo-tech schools upon the retirement of Martin Mitchell, the present supervisor.
Chris announced that the paying mem- bership had increased bv fifty this year. This was the goal and it was accom- plished.
Plans seem set for the twilight meeting at Van Berkum Nursery on September II; the filer promoting it has been sent out. Plans tor the twilight meeting at the Conley Farm were finalized. The time was set; Bob Demers will arrange for some light refreshments; Chris will prepare and send out a tlier.
A slate of officers for the coming year was discussed. Bob Demers and Bruce Holmes will remain on the Board. Ri- chard Zoerb (Gloeckner) will join them. Other current members are welcome to stay and new people will be apptoached. A strong slate is needed bv the winter meeting.
It was decided to have our traditional Winter Meeting, but to publicize Farm &. Forest to our members and look into sponsoring a speaker there. The Win- ter Meeting will include a business meeting, a meal, awatds, and educational talks that may be used to obtain recerti- ficanon credits. The location hasn't been chosen yet.
The Board discussed whether or not to exhibit at the Granite State Flower Show in Exeter next year, but came to no decision.
The meeting ad|oumed at 10:30.
CALENDAR
October
22 NHPGA Twilight Meeting— 4-6 pm, at the Conley Farm, 437 Meaderboro Road, Roches- ter, NH. For information: Chris Robarge ar (603) 862- 1074.
24 Connecticur Greenhouse Short Coune; Ramada Inn, Mendien, CN. For informa- tion: (203) 268-9000.
25 Imerrvitianal Vlant Propaga- tors Society Area Meeting and Tours. Royal Pla:a Trade Cen- ter, Marlborough, MA. For in- tormation, see "Elsewhere in the News" or contact Kathleen Carroll, UMass Cooperative Extension, Amherst, MA; (413) 545-0895.
November
5 District Meetin*;, State of Neu' Hampshire FTD Florists. Keene Country Club, Keene, NH. For information: Peter Collins, (603) 882-2723.
14 All Day Pesticide License Recenification Seminar. Locaton to be announced. For informa- tion: Nancy Adams; (603) 679-5616
December
3-5 New England Small Fruit
6 Vegetable Conference; Sturbndge Host Hotel, Sturbridge, MA. For informa- tion: Alden Miller, Waltham, MA; (617) 891-0650.
January 1992
7-10 ERNA Trade Show. Kiamesha Lake, NY.
February
10-13 PA Nursery Conference and Nursery Trade Exfx), Hersey, PA.
April 1 -September 20
Ameriflora '92; International Garden Festival. Columbus, OH.
.October/November 1991 3
erry SfCill
nurseries inc.
v.. /;. Cherry Hill Street
y West Newbury, Massachusetts 01985
We Welcome Your Visit!
WHOLESALE ONLY
Growers of Quality Hardy Plants Trees - Shrubs - Evergreens B&B and Container Grown
508-462-6688
A growing tradition since 1832
,Ymng Yon To q
^o
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B,E, SUPPLY
GREENHOUSE SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT Hemlock Rd. - Langdon
Mailing Address: P.O. Box O Chariestown, New Hampshire 03603
•pre-filled flats & pots
•restricted pesticides
•fertilizers
•distributors for Plasti Form & Plasti Vac
•distributors for Hyde Park & Sunshine Soils
•Kord products
•JMM greenhouse
603-835^6930
4 THE PlaNTSMAN
FROM THE BOARD
Retail Florists: Endangered Species?
Paul Godbout
â– ^ our retail flower shops have closed in Manchester during the last two months. The hopes, dreams and talents of their owners are dashed by what? The recession? Their own incompetence? The wire services they belong to? Each flow- er shop closing has its own story to tell; my purpose today is to wonder out loud about the independent, or "mom and pop" flower shop's fu- ture. There will be no questions answered, no brilliant solutions of- fered, only more food for thought.
Retailing, as an industry, is domi- nated by giants: Sears, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, McDonalds, and Exxon, to name but a few. The retail flow- er industry has Conroy's in Califor- nia, Burnings in Florida, Royer in Pennsylvania, and — the biggest in terms of sales — Bachman in Minne- sota. Locally, we have Barber Brothers in Massachusetts as an example of "big". However, "big" in the retail florist industry means dominating a very small geographic area. Did you know that largest single shop in the U.S. is Mc- Shanes's of Dallas, Texas, at ap- proximately 12 million in sales? Bachman's, with a chain of 15, is only doing about 60 million in sales. How many of you reading this have ever heard of any of these shops or chains? The point is that the retail florist industry is fragmented, localized, and very, very small m retail dollars.
Did you know that Hallmark Cards has been test marketing flowers in Indianapolis, Indiana, and Baltimore, Maryland, in over 100 stores for a year? Hallmark is the 52nd largest advertiser in the U.S. They have marketing clout. Will they become the "McDonalds" of the retail florist industry? How can Jacques, McLeod's, Collins, Woodman's, Andenson, Mar\' Anne, or Garrison Hill compete with Hallmark? What if Sam Wal- ton decides his Wal-Mart chain
needs flower sales to add to his bil- lions? Pretty scary stuff for the ap- proximately 45,000 independent flonst in the U.S.A.
The local flower shop does have some advantages. We know our customer often by name and we work six or seven days a week to please them. Though our prices seem high to the customer, they are a good value when measured against our own annual income. We often take the order, make it, deliver it and bill it. When mis- takes are made, more often than not, we — the owners — are to blame. However, do most of our customers really care who "owns" the local flower shop? As consumers, we are interested in quality, price, service, and convenience, among other things. If our customers can find flowers and plants at Hallmark, Wal-Mart, or any number of gro- cery stores that satisfy their needs, do they really need or want us?
I believe there will he flower shops in the future, but they will be under increasing pressure from many different competitive sources. Those that survive will provide quality (always), and service (better than anywhere) at a good value to price relationship. The consumer will not care who owns that flower shop, or whether it is a national, regional, local chain or one-person shop.
Finally let's take a look at wire services. The vast majority of flower shops belong to a wire ser- vice: I.e. FTD, Teleflora, Florafax, Carik, Red Book, etc. Typically, wire orders "In" comprise 20 per- cent of a shop's sales. On the gross dollar amount of the order (100 percent), 20 percent is paid as a commission to the sending florist, and an additional 6-9 percent is deducted as cost of doing business
with the various wire services. The average New England flower shop has the following cost structure; Sales 100%
C/G/S i40%
Gross Proht Margin 60%
Other Income •♦•5%
delii'erv. wire oiii. comtrassion
Adiusted Gross Profit Margin |
65% |
Wages |
-28% |
Overhead |
-26% |
Owner Salary/Profit |
11% |
Thus if a wire "In" yields 71-74 percent of the gross dollar amount, a florist can go broke fast filling wire service orders "In". The solu- tion IS to factor into the cost-of- goods formula the anticipated an- nual commission paid and other fees. What does it all mean? Flow- ers from a wire service-affiliated florist must be higher priced than a non-wire service-affiliated florist, all other variables being equal. If not, the wire services-affiliated flo- rist will have less profit and/or salary.
Recently, the FTD magazine fea- tured a New York City florist who promoted his 1-800 number for wire orders. If you sent an average $30.00 order through this florist, he added an $8.95 service charge. The customer paid $38.95 The sending florist earned:
Service Charge $8.95
Commission $6.00
Rebate (through Carik) M^
TOTAL $19.45
The filling florist received $21.30 to make and deliver this order guaranteeing satisfaction (30.00 x 71%). Which florist would you rather be? No contest here: SEND- SEND-SEND!
What do you think? 1 love talking about the flower business. Call me at 1-800-834-0069.
Paul Godhout i$ die oimer of Jacques Fknver Shop, 1 1 1 Front Street. Marxchestcr. NH 05102.'^
October/November 1991 5
See^V
For twelve years. Pleasant View Gardens has built a reputation for quality, service and reliability. Our aops are healthy and hearty because they're grown in jn optimum environment, and our newly expanded green house area of 4 aaes enables us to provide greater availability and more varieties. Contact us today about:
â– foliage aops
â– 4" annuals and paks
â– hanging baskets
â– plugs
â– cuttings
â– herbs
P
lleascint^eu)
Qcnrdens
.Neu' BngJand s fastest giowint: wholesale
holiday aops
foliage for interior design
flowenng plants
large foliage plants
and trees
all your planting needs
RFD 3. Box 3701. Pittsfield. NH 03263 Tel. (6(13) -135-8361 oFa.x (603) 435-6844 © Pleasant Vieu Ciardciis IWI
9B |
VISA |
GRIFFIN
GREENHOUSE & NURSERY SUPPLIES
1619 Main St, PO Box 36, Tewksbury, MA 01876-0036
Phone 508-851-4346 Fax 508-851-0012
WE OFFER TWO SIZES: BOTH UNITS STOCKED FOR IMMEDIATE SHIPMENT
4 |
- |
SAFETY
BEGINS
HERE
No 1947 Cabinet
Each shelf supports 500 lbs
45 Gal Capacity
43'W, 18'D, 65'H
OTHER SIZES AVAILABLE
No 4 Storage BIdg 6'L. 6'4"W, 6'4"H - Outside Dimensions 4000 lb - 32 sq ft Storage Capacity 100 Gal Sump Capacity
PROPER STORAGE FOR A SAFE WORKPLACE
Secure Your Chemicals • Provide Security Reduce Exposure in Case of Fire
6 THE Plants MAN
NEW HAMPSHIRE NEWS
NEW COORDINATOR
Laurie Bryant of Hancock has been hired as New Hampshire "Agricul- ture in the Classroom" Educational Coordinator for the 1990-91 school year.
"Agriculture in the Classroom" is a national effort to provide support and reinforcement for teachers in the job of helping people develop an awareness of agriculture. In New Hampshire, it wants "to pro- mote an awareness of the diversity of New Hampshire Agriculture and its contribution to the state's econ- omy." It does this by sponsoring teachers' workshops, organizing stu- dent trips to working farms, selling educational resources (booklets, video cassettes, posters), etc.
This program depends on private funds and volunteers, but there
doesn't seem to be much input from the greenhouse/nursery indus- try. For more information and a chance to help out, the address is: Agriculture in the Classroom, 295 Sheep Davis Road, Concord, NH 03301; the phone number is (603) 224-1934.
FARM DAYS REVISITED
Six hundred people attended New Hampshire Farm Days (July 27) at Knoxland Farm In Weare, accord- ing to Lynne Blye, organizer. "It rained in the morning," Lynne said, "and people couldn't be haying, so that was good for us."
Three hundred people came to breakfast. Ten gallons of syrup had been donated by New Hamp- shire producers and the eight that weren't used on pancakes were auc-
A NEW HOTLINE
The USDA Pesticide Impact Program has set up a hotline (1-800- 262-0216 — between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday) to give out information on re-registration of minor-use chemicals. Almost all chemicals used by the nursery and greenhouse industry are considered minor-use. Minor-use pesDcides tend not to be re-reg- istered because the cost of developing data (environmental impact, etc.) necessary for re-registration offsets any profit for the manufacturer .
The service given by the hotline is to let you know what pesticides will be or not be re-registered before this information becomes public. "This IS to alert users and give them time to find an alternative," ac- cording to Rick Gomez, the program's director.
However, Gomez says that if a pesticide is not to be re-registered and a grower feels it is important to his operation, this early information can be used to try to convince the manufacturer to change its mind.
Or, if that doesn't work, the grower can request re-registration through the Minor-Use Pesticide Regulation Program's "Inter-region- al Research Project â– *4" (IR *4). Administered by Rutgers and funded by the USDA, this very successful program has been around awhile and has done the research necessary to re-reregister "thousands of pesticides still on the shelves." (Doing this expensive work for the company allows the company to continue to manufacture the product without losing money.)
The liaison person for IR *4 in New Hampshire is Jim Bowman at the Department of Entomology, UNH, Durham. (Each New England state seems to have its own contact person.) Anyone interested in having an endangered minor-use pesticide reregistered can call Jim at 603-862-1159. He can give you request forms to fill out and will see that they go to the right place. The pesticides are listed according to priority; the most-requested are at the top — so perhaps your voice can make a difference.
tioned off to cover costs. Weeks Dairy (Concord) and Stonyfield Yogurt (Londonderry) contributed dairy products and yogurt to the meal.
There were twenty product ex- hibitors and two panel discussions were held during the day. Panelists on "Marketing" (40 attendees) in- cluded Bill Stockman (Spiderweb Gardens, Tuftonboro), Rick Hardy (Brookdale Fruit Farms, HoUis), and Sahrina Mattison (New Eng- land Anenomes, Epsom). Panelists on "Innovative Opportunities in Agriculture" (25 attendees) were Gil Sanboume (who raises llamas at Llama-dama Farm in Lee), Les Barden (who gives horse-drawn hayrides at Barden Tree Farm in Rochester), and Laura Gund (who raises donkeys at Walnut Grove Farm in Lee). These activities are seen as sidelines; twenty-five at- tendees picked up ideas with which to begin profitable sidelines of their own.
Lynne would like to give "a spe- cial thanks to Knoxland Equip- ment, who were the hosts."
THE DOPE ON 'NATIVE'
(Weekly Market Bulktm, July 24, 1991) '
Every summer, inspectors ffom the NHDA Bureau of Markets encoun- ter instances in which the word 'native'
IS misused in the selling of farm products.
The law reads as follows: "No farm products sold, offered or ex- posed for sale or distribution in the state shall he labeled or described as ^native' unless the name of the state m which they were grown or produced appears immediately after the word "native'." (This does not apply to eggs.)
It is acceptable to abbreviate the name of the state: 'Native NH' is okay. The law's intent is to allow consumers to distinguish products which are produced locally and thereby benefit the producers them- selves.
October/November 1991 7
THE PlANTSMAN
OFFERS FREE CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING AS A MEMBER SERVICE.
WE WILL CARRY A SHORT MESSAGE
(NO ARTWORK OR LOGOS)
FOR ONE OR TWO ISSUES.
PLEASE MAIL YOUR CLASSIFIED TO
ROBERT PARKER, EDITOR
UNH RESEARCH GREENHOUSES
DURHAM, NH 03824
Hardy Northern-Grown Planting Stock
A Partial Listing
BARE-ROOT STOCK
Minimum order $100 and 100 of one size ana variety
100- |
250- |
500 |
|||
SPECIES |
ACE |
SIZE |
249 |
499 |
iiUP |
Concolor Fir |
2-2 |
6-12 |
2.00 |
1.40 |
1.00 |
2-0* |
4- 6" |
.40 |
.28 |
.20 |
|
Eastern White Pine |
2-2 |
12-18" |
1.30 |
.91 |
.65 |
2-2 |
9-15" |
1.20 |
.84 |
.60 |
|
2-2 |
6-12 |
1.16 |
.81 |
.58 |
|
5-0 |
9-15" |
.40 |
.28 |
.20 |
|
2-0 |
4- 6" |
.28 |
.20 |
.14 |
|
iMugho Pine |
|||||
Pumilio |
2-2 |
4- 8" |
1.20 |
.84 |
.60 |
3-0 |
3- 5" |
.34 |
.24 |
.17 |
|
Red Pine |
3-0 |
8-12" |
.36 |
.25 |
.18 |
2-0 |
3- 6" |
.24 |
.17 |
.12 |
|
Black Hills spruce |
2-2 |
9-15" |
1.20 |
.84 |
.60 |
Colorado Blue Spruce |
2-3 |
12-18 |
1.40 |
.98 |
.70 |
2-2 |
9-15" |
1.30 |
.91 |
.65 |
|
2-2 |
6-12' |
1.20 |
.84 |
.60 |
|
2-0 |
6- 9" |
.24 |
.17 |
.12 |
|
Norway Spruce |
2-2 |
12-24" |
1.20 |
.84 |
.60 |
2-2 |
9-18" |
1.10 |
.77 |
.55 |
|
2-0 |
6-12" |
.24 |
.17 |
.12 |
|
White spruce |
2-2 |
12-18" |
1.16 |
.81 |
.58 |
2-2 |
9-15" |
1.10 |
.77 |
.55 |
|
2-0 |
6- 9" |
.24 |
.17 |
.12 |
|
American Arborvitae |
3-2 |
12-18" |
1.30 |
.91 |
.65 |
3-0 |
6-12" |
.34 |
.24 |
.17 |
|
Canadian Hemlock |
2-3 |
9-15" |
1.50 |
1.05 |
.75 |
AH seectiings are root pruned |
|||||
•spring 1992 onlv |
|||||
Deep-rooted qu |
|||||
8 THE PlaNTSMAN |
SPECIES
CONTAINER-CROWN STOCK
Minimum order 4 trays (2 of same variety)
2-6 8 TRAYS
ACE
SIZE
TRAYS
& UP
Concolor Fir |
P2 |
3- 5" |
.57 |
.37 |
Austrian Pine |
P2 |
3- 6" |
.57 |
.37 |
Japanese Black Pine |
P2 |
4- 8" |
.57 |
.37 |
Mugho Pine Pumilio |
P2 |
2- 4" |
.57 |
.37 |
White Pine |
P2 |
3- 5" |
.57 |
.37 |
Black Hills spruce |
P2 |
6-12" |
.57 |
.37 |
Colorado Blue Spruce |
P2 |
4- 7" |
.55 |
.35 |
Norway Spruce |
P2 |
8-14" |
.57 |
.37 |
Sertiian spruce |
P2 |
8-14" |
.57 |
.37 |
American Arborvitae |
P2 |
8-12" |
.57 |
.37 |
Canadian Hemlock |
P2 |
4- 8" |
.57 |
.37 |
rnese container grown seedlings come in rravs of 67 cavities each and are snip- ped either in 2 or a tray Boxes, rnerefore. we reauest that vou order an even numoer of travs There /s a container deposit of S3 55 per tray wnicn /s refundable upon return of the containers in good condition, within 60 days, at the expense of the purchaser
^Western
TW^ AINE NURSERIES.KC
^^^^^^^^'^â– â– ^â– M ESTABLISHED
ONE EVERGREEN DRIVE • P.O. BOX 250 FRYEBURC, MAINE 04037 1-800-447-4745 • FAX 1-207-935-2043
SBA— ROUND ONE
By the July eighth deadline, thirty New Hampshire communities (out of 235) had called for information about the National Small Business Administration (SBA) Tree Plant- ing Program. Thirteen applications were actually completed and sent to Washington.
The $64,000 allocated to New Hampshire was used in projects ranging from $1000 to $44,000.
Mary Reynolds, program coor- dinator in New Hampshire, says that as soon as she hears from the SBA whether or not the projects have been approved, she will noti- fy the communities and oversee implementation.
There should be another round of grants for the next fiscal year (which began in October) and com- munities that didn't apply the first time might consider doing so the sec- ond. For more information, Mary can be reached at (603) 271-2214.
Also, Mary is working with Sharon Ossenbruggen in the compilation of a planting guide — Planting Trees for Communities . This will be available this fall and is free to anyone who asks for it.
NHPGA members might make sure their local communities know about this program. And hopefully, if your community's application is accepted (there is quite a bit of paperwork in- volved), you might sell some trees.
THANKS!
NEW HAMPSHIRE PLANT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION SUMMER MEETING
The New Hampshire Plant Growers' Summer Meeting was a huge suc- cess. Held at Pleasant View Gardens in Pittsfield on August 14, and co-hosted by MiUican Nursery of Chichester and D. S. Cole Growers of Louden, over 400 people from all over New England attended the event. (The people coming the furthest were probably Phil and Jackie Doak from Phil's Florist and Greenhouses in Caribou, Maine — a seven hour drive.)
People toured the buildings and grounds of the three businesses and vis- ited the displays of the seventy-three vendors exhibiting at the tail-gate trade fair.
Guest speaker Dan Gilrein of Cornell Cooperative Extension, Riv- erhead. New York, gave two talks. In the morning, he discussed "Put- ring IPM to Work for You," and in the afternoon, "Recognizing and Managing Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus." Approximately fifty people at- tended each talk and credit was given for pesticide re-certification. (This was Dan's first visit to New Hampshire and he was impressed by both the weather and all the hilly vistas.)
Around eleven, the smell of peppers and onions cooking began to be- come more noticeable. At eleven-thirty, lines began forming as an ex- cellent all-you-can-eat barbecue (hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, com- on-the-cob, watermelon, etc.) put on by Perillo's of Manchester, NH, filled the mid-part of the day.
The day ended with an auction, the proceeds of which go to the NHPGA scholarship fund. Thanks go to auctioneer Darren Rushford of Pleasant View Gardens and to all the vendors who contributed items for it. (Two scholarships will be awarded at the Plant Growers' winter meeting.) And finally — the door prize drawing: Clare Hardy of Hardy's Greenhouses in Tilton, NH, won a weekend tor two at the Snowy Owl Inn in WaterviUe Valley.
The Association thanks all who planned and worked to make the event so successful. Special thanks go to our hosts: Doug Cole, D. S. Cole Growers; John Bryant, Millican Nursery; and Henry, Jeff, and Jon Hun- tington, Pleasant View Gardens.
See you all next year.
The New Hampshire Plant Grow- ers' Association would like to thank the following vendors who participated in the tail-gate trade show: AMS Marketing; Atomizing Systems, Inc.; Bailey Nurseries, Inc.; Baker Valley Nursery; Ball Seed Company; Benjamin Bancroft; B. E. Supply; Blue Star Peat Moss; Bobcat of New Hamp- shire; Brennan Sales, Inc.; Caldwell Nursery; Cavicchio Greenhouses; Charter Oak Nurs- ery Sales; Conrad-Pyle Co.; Cobble Creek Nursery; D. A. Posocco, Inc.; Darbco, Inc.; Day's Greenhouse; Farm Family Insur- ance Co.; IV Seasons Marketing; Gardenworks Marketing; Gold Star Sod; Griffin Greenhouse & Nurs- ery Supply; Harnois Industries; Harry Stoler & Co.; Hop River Nursery; Imperial Nurseries; Jolly Farmer Products; Kingston Nurs- ery; Knoxland Equipment, Inc.; Knuttle Nursery; Langeveld Bulb Co.; Ledgewood Farm Greenhouse Frames; Liberty International Trucks; The Little Farm; Lofts Seed Co.; Mahoney's Rocky Ledge; Medford/Baker Nurseries; Millane Nursery; Monrovia Nurs- ery; Northeast Nursery, Inc.; Northern New England Nursery Sales; Northern Nurseries; Or- chard Equipment & Supply Co; Pargro Inc.; Pierson Nurseries, Inc.; Prides Corner Farms; Quality Plants, Inc.; Quansett Nurseries; Resource Conservation Services, Inc.; Richard D. Smith Co.; R. D. MacMillan; Roaring Brook Nurser- ies; Roseland Nursery; Rough Brothers, Inc.; Sharon Sales, Inc.; Skidelsky & Co.; Southern New England Farm Credit, Inc.; Spence Farm; Stanford Seed Co.; Stewart's Nursery; Syracuse Pot- tery; Tuckahoe Turf Farm; Van Berkum Nursery; Verbakel- Bomkas Co.; Verkade's Nursery; The von Trapp Nursery; Wageman Insurance Co.; Wales Nursery; Western Maine Nurseries, Inc.; W. H. Minkowski; Winding Brook Turf Farm; and Young's American Rose Nursery.
We thank you for coming and for your contributions to the scholar- ship auction. We hope that the day was as successful for you as it was for us and that we'll see you all again next year.
SUPPORT THESE FINE FOLK— THEY SUPPORT THE NHPGA.
October/November 1991 9
J. B. CARPENTER & SON, INC.
Olde English Greenhouses
220 South Main Street — Newmarket, NH 03857 — (603) 659-3391
''The Geranium Specialists''
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Spring Hanging Baskets Foliage Hydrangeas
JOHN B. CARPENTER, President — ROBERT J. CARPENTER, General Manager
71 Burlington. Street, Woburn, MA 01801
(617) 933-9815 Woburn, MA
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BUTLER
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10 THE PLANTSMAN
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
A MINI-DENDROBIUM
(Greenhouse Manc^er, August, 1991)
Researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa have developed 'Cathy Beck,' a miniature, seed- propagated dendrohium orchid for potted plant production. 'Cathy Beck' flowers only 18 months after germination, with the average height of pseudobulhs slightly under 2 inches at first flowering. After two years, plants remain short, with the tallest pseudobulh averaging about 6 inches.
Flowers average about 1 inch in length and 1 1/2 inches wide, with . relatively narrow petals and sepals. {
The half-life of sprays (from the
opening of first flowers until 50 percent of flowers wilt or drop) av- erages about 60 days. Flowers most often appear October to February.
For more: Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service, 3050 Maile Way, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822; telephone: (808)856-7138.
INSECTS THAT CONTROL THRIPS...
(Greenhouse Manager, August, 1991)
Hypoaspis, a soil-dwelling mite with a voracious appetite for fungus gnat larvae and thrips," soon will be available to US growers. The ben- eficial insect produces about one generation a week. Dave Marshall of Northern Biologicals said his company is the only one in the country that has an EPA permit to sell them. For more: Northern Biologicals, PO Box 11, Ferrisburg, VT 05456; phone: (802) 877-3396.
...AND PLANTS THAT REPEL MOSQUITOES
(Grotf erTaUcs , August, 1991)
A mosquito-fighting plant called Citrosa "is a plant whose time has come." Developed by Dutch scien- tist Dirk VanLeeni, the Citrosa plant IS the result of 13 years of
combining plant tissue cultures to produce just the right insect repel- ling power — one leafy, lemon- scented Citrosa protects you from bites for up to 100 feet, indoors or out. One plant per room or one every 5 to 10 feet in your garden or patio should ensure you a bug- free summer.
For more intormation, contact Austerica, Inc.; phone: (416) 764- 7485.
ROUGH BROTHERS—
New Coordinator...
Rough Brothers national sales manager Joe Tirschek recently announced the appointment of Sebnna Lovensheimer to Sales Coordinator.
"Sebnna will be our primary customer contact person when someone is interested in the status of an order or quote, including catalog orders and accessory quotes," Tirschek said.
Lovensheimer is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University and holds a degree in accounting and business management. Collateral duties include preparation of green- house bench, venting, and heating quotes, as well as coordination of communication between distribu- tors, salesmen, customers, and pros- pects. We wish Sebrina success in her new position.
...and an Award
Rough Brothers was recently pre- sented with a "Supplier Champion" award by one of the largest com- mercial flower growers in the coun- try, Yoder Brothers of Barberton, Ohio.
The award was given in recogni- tion of Rough's quick response to the repair of 11,000 panes of glass shattered by a hailstorm at Yoder's Pendleton, South Carolina, facility in late April. Quick protection of the crops — then at a critical point in their growing cycle — and the re- placement of all the glass within three weeks allowed Yoder to fill all their customer orders on time.
NEW PRODUCTS—
Preclude (TM)...
The first insect growth regulator in total release form has been intro- duced by Whitmire Research Labo- ratories, according to Jeff Martin, Sales and Marketing Manager, Hor- ticultural Division.
PT 2 '00 (R) Preclude (TM) breaks the whitefly life cycle by preventing immature insects from maturing into reproductive adults. The active ingredient — fenoxycarb — acts on the hormonal system of the young whiteflies. It IS also effective in control of scale.
For information, contact Whitmire Research Laboratories, Inc., 3568 Tree Court Industrial Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63122. Or phone 1- 800-325-3668.
....And Isolite
Isolite IS a porus ceramic which can be used to modify soils in order to create more favorable growing conditions. Basically, it decreases compaction and can hold water, releasing it to the plant when needed, for longer periods. Made of diatomaceous earth combined with natural binders rotar>' kiln fired at 1000 degrees C (1800 degrees F), the result- ing material is guaranteed not to break down — ever — in soil.
For information, contact Bob Brennan at Brennan Sales, Inc., PO Box 1082, Scarborough, ME 04070; telephone (207) 883-5799.
October/November 1991 11
TIPS
FROM THE GRIFFIN GURU
When Not To Let It Burn
Your greenhouse and headhouse are on fire and you call the fire department. They arrive and help you watch it burn to the ground. This almost happened just the other day.
1 am concerned with the lack of communica- tion between businesses and their local fire department relative to the above problem. Re- cent fires involving greenhouse complexes have been followed by extensive and time-con- suming clean up. Involved are pesticides and fertilizers spread by the efforts to extinguish the blaze.
Your local fire chief may read numerous ar- ticles and incident reports written about let- ting the complex burn as the best way to pre- vent an environmental disaster, but if he is made aware that the storage area for your supplies is safe from fire and will not cause a run-off problem with all that water used, your fire department should be able to react in the proper manner.
Let's put it another way. If your brother, son or daughter were in the fire service, would you want them exposed to the smoke and run- off from the contents of your greenhouse in the event of a fire?
MRCH/1/lONr
IRRIGATION / SNOWMAKING
in Manchester, NH
Providing all your Irrigation needs. Design services also available.
180 Zachary Rd.
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Manchester, NH 03101
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12 THE PlANTSMAN
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?.0. Box M, Thomaston, Maine 04061
(800) 541-9127
TWILIGHT MEETING Thinking Christmas in October
l^tfj In October, the horticulture business is thinking two months ahead: poinsettias are growing in greenhouses
^^^1 across the state and at the Conley Farm on Meaderboro Road in Rochester, NH, Bill Conley is getting ready
to harvest a this year's crop of Christmas trees. He'll begin November seventh.
A couple weeks before that — on Tuesday, October 22, a Twilight Meeting will be held at the Conley Farm.
Bill, who now works with his son and grandson running the place, started planting m 1968. Today, seventy-five of
the farm's 400 acres are in Balsam and Fraser Fir production. The trees are grown in blocks and m an eight-year cycle.
Each block is spot-cut the first year of cutting, then clear-cut the next. Ten thousand trees are cut each year.
The meeting is from 4 to 6 and around 4:30, Bill will give a walking tour of the farm. He will talk about such things
as the characteristics of different trees and how to shape them to what the customer wants (with Fraser Fir, this can
he difficult), weed and insect control, harvestingand dealing with stumps — basically, solid cultural information. (The
tree quality here seems exceptional and the plantation is extremely well-maintained, so the information Bill gives
must be information that works.)
One reason to attend is the site itself — it's a beautiful place to walk a mile or so on a late afternoon in late October.
A small 100-year-old horse ham is the only remaining structure of the original set of buildings. For those who went
to the Van Berkum's and heard them talk about the beginnings of their new ham, here is another good example of
fine bam construction. (The beams are hung from the rafters — there are no interior supports.) Some of the
equipment used in the Chnstmas tree business — a bailer, an elevator for loading trees onto a truck, Vicon spreaders —
will be displayed there.
After the tour, there will be a question-and-answer period and cookies and cider.
A flier with date and time and travel directions will be sent to all members — so we hope to see you there: at the
Conley Farm, 437 Meaderboro Road, Rochester, on October 22 . Whether you grow Christmas trees or not, it would
be worth your while to see this fine operation.
If you have any questions, feel free to call Bill at (603) 332-9942. (B.P.
^
October/November 1991 13
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Wheelbase options help maintain the original design integrity that's often sacrificed by unnecessary adaptions.
A durable, reliable chassis, fiame, and suspension system not only makes tiie ride smooth. But also protects the truck, the load, and your investment And, accepts a variety of body and box options.
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14 THE PlaNTSM AN
MANAGEMENT OF WHITEFLY ON POINSETTIA
Stanley R. Swier
=.anagement of whitefly is com- plicated because rarely will one simple technique provide the total solution. The whitefly population erupts quickly. The selection of insecticides is limited either due to government regulations, phytotoxicity, or resistance. Lastly, there is a low tolerance for whitefly on poinsettia. Customers complain when too many whiteflies abound in the home. I will briefly summarize the cur- rent knowledge on whitefly manage- ment. All of the following pest man- agement techniques should be consid- ered carefully.
â– ^o EXCLUSION Inspect plants before acceptance. Qua- rantine plants in a separate area, if necessary. It is much easier to prevent an infestation than to control it. Learn to identify the life stages of whitefly and search lower leaf surfaces. Screen vents whenever possible and keep doors closed.
-c^ SANITATION Control weeds inside and outside of the greenhouse. Eliminate nearby crops outside of the greenhouse which act as a source of infestation. Or, at the very least, spray these crops for whitefly.
-cTd DETECTION
Use yellow sticky boards at a rate of 1-4 per 1000 sq ft. Place traps at the top of the canopy and around vents and doors. Traps will not control whiteflies but will indicate population trends, detect "hotspots", and indicate the effectiveness of chemical controls. It is very important to make weekly counts of whitefly and change traps often be- fore they lose their effectiveness. Without this record keeping, traps are of much less value. Don't forget to check the plants for whitefly in order to develop a sense of the relationship between trap and plant counts.
^D CHEMICAL CONTROL Whitefly populations vary in their susceptibility to chemicals. What works for one grower may not work for another. Now, without Temik chemical control is more difficult. Chemical control can begin on a preventative basis with a systemic such as Oxamyl lOG. Systemics only work on young, actively growing plants and are only a partial solution. At the first
sign of whitefly on the sticky traps, begin a preventative spray program. Increase plant spacing to get better spray coverage and penetration, especially as plants get larger. Small droplets penetrate better than large droplets. Whitefly nymphs do not crawl around and contact insecticides. Spray droplets must hit them directly. Use a spraying system designed to apply pesticides to the undersides of leaves, where the whitefly feeds. Sprays are more effective if applied early in the morning when adults are less active. Make sure the proper rate is applied. Errors are very frequent. Proper application technique is as important as proper chemical selection. Even the bestof chemicals will network if misapplied.
An application every 10-14 days would be adequate on a preventative basis. However, once whiteflies are detected, reduce that interval to every 4-5 days for at least a month. Spray every 3 days if whiteflies are numerous. However, despite what I say, never violate label directions. My comments are guidelines only.
The whitefly completes its life cycle in about a month and all stages are found at the same time. Not every stage (egg, nymph, pupa, adult) is equally susceptible to cover sprays. Frequent applications are necessary to disrupt this life cycle. Don't get discouraged and keep repeating sprays. Treat the entire production area; otherwise you chase them around from spot to spot. Change chemical classes from month to month to avoid developing resistance. Remember, your goal is to get excellent whitefly control before the bracts show color. Watch for signs of phytotoxicity. Although any insecticide has the potential to cause phytotoxicity, be very careful with rates and frequency of applications with insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, Orthene, Thiodan, and Dibrom. Other registered chemicals are Resmethnn, Mavnk, Sumithnn, Talstar, and Tempo.
Once the bracts show color, phytoxicity and residues are a more serious problem. Avoid sprays unless certain no problem will occur on your varieties. Test the chemical on a few plants first. When bracts turn color, rely mostly on aerosols, fogs and
smokes. However, these materials only control adult whiteflies. If many nymphs are present, complete control is difficult. Use aerosols, fogs, and smokes late in the day when adults are flying for better control. Refer to the New England Greenhouse Pest Control and Growth Regulator Recommend- ations for more chemical control information. Be sure to follow label directions.
c?o BIOLOGICAL CONTROL The use of Encarsia formosa, a parasitic wasp, in commercial production is rare in New Hampshire. There are several problems. Large numbers of wasps must be released weekly for 4-5 weeks or more before it becomes established. Encarsia is effective only against the greenhouse whitefly and not the sweet potato whitefly. Chemicals harmful to the parasites can't be used. The grower must spend significant energy monitoring the Encarsia/Whitefly interaction to keep the whitefly population under control. However, the proper use of Encarsia can reduce pesticide applications. Few growers are willing to spend the time, money, and make the personal commitment it takes to make biological control work. This is understandable, as the risks of failure are great, and the consequences disastrous. For this reason, the UNH Cooperative Extension IPM program hopes to provide practical demonstrations of biological control and use of biorational pesticides in greenhouses. More will be reported on this effort in future articles.
c?D SUMMARY With proper knowledge of biology, chemical and cultural control, whiteflies can be managed. Forget about 100% control. Complete control will require the overuse of pesticides. Choose a low level that you can live with, for example 5 adults per week, per trap, and try to maintain that level. There is no magic to whitefly management, just hard work. For further information contact me or your County Extension Educator. Good luck.
Dr. Stanley Swier is an Extension Specialist in Entomology . For further information, \ou can lurite Dr. Swier at Nesmith Had, UNH. Durham, NH C 03824, oTcallhtmat (603) 862- J 159'^
October/November 1991 15
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16 THE Plants MAN
KATHAN GARDENS
Old-fashioned Quality
ne of the themes to which Dennis Kathan, owner of Kathan Gardens in Newport, kept returning was whether or not he was "old- fashioned." He hand-waters. Yes, this IS old-fashioned, but it's done because, when plants are sold, the remainder is consolidated and new plants — maybe completely different types — fill the emptied space. ("It's important that your bench generates all the revenue it can.") So it may be old-fashioned to water by hand, but if your goal's a good crop, it's an intelligent thing to do.
You could call Kathan Gardens an "old-fashioned" family-owned business. The business was started by Dennis's father, Oliver (OUie), who graduated from UNH Thompson School in 1950; He first began a small greenhouse in Wendell and did landscaping in the Lake Sunapee area. In 1955, OUie and Anne, his wife, moved to the house on the hill overlooking the town of Newport; the first crop — in a 12x48 converted chicken coop — was in the spring of 1956. The chicken coop has been replaced with a 22x72 Lord & Bumham glass house (and the glass has been replaced with poly), but the pattern of its roof line is still kept visible on a wall of the work area.
How else is Kathan Gardens old- fashioned? Well, they use loam. Each August, Dennis is out searching for the best screened loam in the area. It's steamed and sterilized (180 degrees for thirty minutes), then mixed with peat moss and sand with a tractor in the yard. About a hundred cubic yards of this mix is stored each fall.
Then, using a blender that mixes a cubic yard at a time, this mix is combined with blonde Canadian peat ("a more fibrous type that doesn't break
down as easily"), vermiculite, perlite, and composted bark. It's amended with 14-14-14 osmocote; the Ph (the mix has been tested) is adjusted with lime; superphosphate is added if needed. It's now ready to be used and is carted a half-yard at a time to a potting room beside the storage area.
"Sometimes 1 feel we're still in the dark ages," Dennis said, "but I detest the trend toward soilless mixes." He feels soilless mixes dry out more easily and have nothing in them that will support the plant once it's off constant feed. The plants he sells his customers last longer — and customers notice it — because the soil has more nutrients and can hold moisture while still draining well (the sand and bark help). "Sure, It's easier to buy a trailer-load of mix, but I'm not sure it's less expensive. All the materials 1 use cost far less than the equivalent amount of pre-packaged mix; you do, however, have to factor in the labor."
Today there are eleven houses (25,000 square feet of growing area) at Kathan Gardens and — besides the family — two full-time employees, plus fifteen part-timers in the busy season. (Employees tend to stay awhile. Ken Smith, their grower — and another graduate of UNH Thompson School- has been with the business since 1961 . Is this "old-fashioned" too?)
The newest house is a 4000 square- foot polycarbonate-covered Nexus house that is used as their retail plant- sales area. This was put up five years ago and is connected to a smaller wooden building that serves as a garden
center. The benches were not as full — a few annuals, geraniums, begonias — in August as they are in June, when customers fill little red wagons with plants and come back to fill up some more.
Outside are metal benches on which perennials are grown. Some are bought bare root; most are grown from seed. They are outside from early spring and can be protected from heavy frosts by electric heaters that can be put under each bench and plastic coverings that go to the ground.
All the production houses (a variety of types — Criterion, Ohlmson...) are double-poly. In August most were empty, but there were two houses of poinsettia stock. These were covered with shade cloth — a large blanket of it over the roof and tied down at the
Poinsettias are a major crop. Kathan grows 20,000 cuttings for 8500 finished pots — some pots are singles, hut some use four plants, some use ten. ..five types are grown — Top White, Hot Pink, Marble, Lilo, and Annette Hague from Ecke. Lilo is a favorite: customers like the dark green foliage and the darker red bracts. But "Lilo has a problem — it doesn't always break where pinched, so it just doesn't end up having the number of breaks of another plant." So Dennis uses Annette Hague for his pinched plants and Lilo for his straight-ups.
He specializes — "We do what we do best." They do poinsettias best. They grow a few Christmas cactus, buy in a
October/November 1991 17
Wholesalers & Retailers
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'Annuals
'Perenials
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Claremont Hill, Newport, New Hampshire
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18 THE PlaNTSMAN
few cyclamen, and sell crafts, Chris- tmas trees, and decorated wreaths, but the one crop is basically what they sell at Christmas.
He also specializes in Fisher geraniums, a type that was developed in the Canary' Islands. He likes the colors and the compact habit. The growth pattern is useful from a production standpoint as well — they grow slowly for a long time, then put on a sudden flush of heavy growth, so he can keep them pot-to-pot longer than other geraniums, making better use of his production space. He grows 15,000 4 1/2 "pots.
And New Guinea impatiens is a specialty' — he buys in over 6000 for 4 1/2 and 6 1/2" pots and 10" hanging baskets.
The year is orderly — well-defined. In winter, a core of three houses is kept running. On Valentines C)ay, some potted tulips — from the bulb cellar — are offered. And primroses and cineraria — both cool temperature crops.
On Easter, the bulk of the bulbs — daffodils, hyacinths, tulips, crocus, miniature iris — are sold. Crops of hydrangeas, miniature roses, and Martha Washingtons are for sale then too.
Mothers Day sees geranium sales and the start of the summer business in annuals. (A spectacular garden of annuals just behind the garden center should insure strong sales. ) There arc hanging baskets of lantana, verbena, fuchsia, heliotrope — all "old- fashioned." And there is vinca and German ivy. Kathan Gardens does a lot of business with the summer people at Lake Sunapee and in the Woodstock/Norwich area and their tastes tend toward material that is traditional, but very well-grown.
Armuals sales last until the end of July. August IS quiet. Then there are 3,000 mums in September.
If there is an "old-fashioned" aspect to the overall tone, it may he some- what calculated. Kathan Gardens is also a business with a very pragmatic, unsentimental side.
To help dry out the houses, hori- zontal airflow fans help circulate the air. (These are also useful when fum- igating.) Equally important, l>nnis has connected the air exchange system to a time clock in order to have the end vent louvers open for twenty seconds every ten minutes around the clock.
It took him a long time to decide to let in twenty seconds of cold air every ten minutes all winter, but Dennis makes two points: ( 1 ) he saves money on chemicals that would be used to combat various moisture-caused diseases and (2 ) dryer air is more easily heated — so he may not be increasing his oil costs.
Each of the eleven houses has its own alarm. An electrical panel with switches for all alarms is in the work area. If the heat goes off somewhere, the alarm sounds at Dennis's home and a light on the panel indicates which house is in trouble. The alarm system also dials a local security service that will phone either Dennis or his father, whoever is at home. And if Dennis is going to be away, he lets the security service know — "we like to be thoroughly covered."
Choices have been made. From 1978 until 1988, Kathan Gardens was a year- round business. Dennis was buying in foliage from Florida after the spring crop, finishing it off and re-wholesaling to flower shops and grocery stores from the Upper Valley to as far south as Milford. But he gave it up: he threw away $50,000 in business. But he feels It was worth it. He was able to let one full-time person go; he saved on gas
and vehicle wear, time and oil. So there are lulls between crops. It's quiet for a long stretch from mid-September until Thanksgiving. And from Christmas until Valentine day. But there's plenty to do — just maintaining quality may be enough.
In marketing, Dennis — who majored in business at UNH — has also made choices. With the help of a small advertising firm in Newport, he's created Kathan Gardens' own news- letter. It's a two-color four-page quarterly full of information about new crops and tips for caring for them at home. (How much light do primroses need' What can you do to get rid of mites?) There are pictures of OUie and Anne and of Dennis and his family. We see children Kristie and Andrew planting their vegetable garden and wife Jill decorating wreaths. Relent- lessly cheerful, the newsletter seldom asks you to buy — it merely makes Kathan Gardens appear to be the only place you'd ever want to go. And of course there are coupons — usually a back page full of them.
Outside of word-of-mouth and "a good sign on the road," this is Kathan's only advertising. L3ennis feels it's best to aim toward a known market. It seems to work — he has a mailing list of over 2000 and gets lots of coupons back.
So underneath it all is old-fashioned business sense. Again, another choice has been made — to grow slowly and to develop a large and loyal local market. But "old-fashioned quality" — what custcimer — anywhere — doesn't want that? Kathan Gardens should continue to do well. (B.P.)
For more in/orma:ion , write: Kathan Gardens, RFD#3, Box 214, Newport, NH 03773, or call Dennis at 603-863- 1089. (^
PRUNERS â– LADDERS â– SPRAYERS â– FORKLIFTS â– PUMPS
^^Z~-~—-TrQ n \ ROUTE 116, P.O. BOX 540
Q^^_H_AxL^J CONWAY, MA 01341
^^^ 413-369-4335
For Friendly, Courteous, Efficent, Technical Service CALL US AT 1-800-634-5557 FOR INFORMATION AND CATALOGS HOSE â– TANKS â– REELS â– MOWERS â– SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Carino Nurseries
Lining Out Stock
Million of Seedlings High Quality Reasonable Prices
Over 100 selections for Christmas trees, ornamentals, windbreaks, umber, soil conservation, wildlile cover. Free Catalog: Carino Nurseries Box 538, Dept. CC. Indiana, Pensylvania 15701
PHONE: 412-463-3350 or 463-7480
HARRY STOLLER & CO., Inc.
109-113 Essex St., Haverhill, Mass. 01830, (508) 373-6838, (800) 322-0332 We cater to the small and medium size nursery In any quantity desired:
1 . New heavy grade domestic burlap sqs. 5. Wire baskets
untreated & no-rot-treated 6. Flat-folded burlap basket liners
2. Open burlap bags 7. Truck covers
3. New windbreak burlap 8. Sisal twine & poly twine
4. Balling bags 9. Woven polypropylene sqs.
J^
35 Porttand St., East Rochester, NH 03867 • (603) 332-7388 • 332-0127 • 332-2723
B & B CONTAINER AND BARE ROOT GROWN: TREES • EVERGREENS • SHRUBS SMALL FRUITS • FRUIT TREES • ROSES • AZALEAS • RHODODENDRONS ANNUALS • PERENNIALS • GERANIUMS • 10" FALL MUMS NURSERY CARTS • TRACKING TRAILERS
CAU. OR WRnE FOR CATALOG . DBJVERY SBWICE OR FARM PICK-UPS WELODME • HARDY NH GROWN
PLANT KMTERl^
20 THE Plants MAN
A VIEW FROM THE ROAD
Nancy E . Adams
he chance to travel and visit greenhouse and nursery businesses always points out new and different growing and management techni- ques. Recently, eight UNH Coop- erative Extension Agricultural Edu- cators and Specialists took a driv- ing tour down the northeast corri- dor visiting ornamental and fruit operations. Stops in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Washington D.C were de- signed to include both large and small size wholesale and retail busi- nesses. Here are some ideas that you may want to adapt to you par- ticular situation. 1 hope you enjoy the tour!
THE GARDEN BARN in Con- necticut utilized old tires as the support structures for a retaining wall. Filled with soil, the tires were stacked at a slight angle and have remained firmly in place for a num- ber of years.
THE GARDEN BARN also places container grown chrysanthemums in an unused portion of their parking lot. During the busy spring months, the entire parking lot is full of hap- py customers. As the season pro-
gresses, the overflow lot is convert- ed in useful growing space and it provides a colorful outdoor display area for late summer mum sales.
MATTERHORN NURSERY m Spring Valley, New York, offered number of interesting business ideas. Growing and selling primarily water and landscape plants, their customer base is upscale New York- ers seeking unique and unusual plant materials.
Designed for longevity and beauty, these propagation beds are made from pressure treated lumber. Raised beds filled with an "artifi- cial" mix can be used in many situations where native soil and terrain are unsuitable for inground propagation.
Display gardens are an integral part of Matterhorn Nursery. Not only do they showcase the plant material on sale at the nursery, they also are used as a teaching and demonstration tool. Their plans call for expanding the display gardens to include an arboretum where customers can stroll and re- lax. The beauty of display gardens can greatly enhance any sales yard!
An eight-cell decorative plastic basket filled with a mixture of herbs (photo left) is being sold as a ready-made indoor windowbox gar- den. No transplanting is required by the customer and the deep cells provide ample space for root growth. Matterhorn also fills similar baskets with annuals such as impa- tiens.
Cooling of greenhouse environ- ments can be a challenge during warm summer months. This is a "Humidifan" (photo left) manufac- tured by Jaybird Manufacturing Inc. of Centre Hall, Pennsylvania. A thermostat regulated the opera- tion of the oscillating fan which disperses a fine mist of water aver- aging below 25 microns in size. Matt Horn has been very pleased with this cooling system.
BEHNKE NURSERIES INC., of BeltsviUe, Maryland produces a large number of annual and peren- nial plants as well as nursery stock. To increase point of purchase sales in their outdoor areas, they have built moveable sheds which contain seasonal dry goods such as fertilizers and pesticides. For example, when roses are in bloom, the shed would
October/No VEM BER 1991 21
be relocated to that sales yard to encourage customer purchases of related dry goods.
Perennial plant sales in the spring can be particularly difficult when the plant is not yet in bloom. Beyond color-photograph sales tags, Behnke Nurseries dis- plays large specimen perennials which are forced into bloom early in spring. A stencil on the pot indicates that it is for display only. Because of their size, these plants can then be used for propa- gation purposes.
As customers become more dis- cerning and look for specific plants, a "plant locator" or loca- tion listing of the plants in your nursery can help self- service cus- tomers. Of course, this requires some clear aisle marking to direct customers m the right direction.
To encourage multiple perennial plant purchases, MCNAUGH- TENS NURSERY, New Jersey, groups together different perenni- als with similar color schemes. Arranged at the end of sales benches, the colorful flowering
perennials provide useful gardening ideas.
Double cropping m a greenhouse takes on a new meaning when Orie Van Wingerden, VAN WINGER- DEN GREENHOUSES, New Jersey, speaks. A motorized assemble (photo above) moves bedding plant trays from the greenhouses to the outdoors. This allows an additional crop to remain on the greenhouse heated floor thereby maximizing
the growing space. Minimal labor is required due to the automatic out- door watering system. A similar set up IS now in place in New Hamp- shire at D.C. Cole's business. Nmcy E. Adams is Extension Educaior, Agricukural Resources, L'NH Cooperative Extension, Rock- ingham County. For information write Nancy at Rockingham County Exten- sion, PC Box 200, Eppmg, NH <^ 03042. Or cdl (603) 679-5616. ^
Have you seen our new perennial i catalog?
VAN BERKUM NURSERY
Peter & Leslie v.in Herkum, 4 James Rd., Deerfield, NH 03037 603 463-7663
22 THE Plantsman
n
'Our goal, quality
Our strength, our employees"
FOR A GREENHOUSE VEFJNJTLV VIFFEREhIT CONTACT:
ELLIS E.SPRAGUE
ORONO, MAIWE
TEL: 207-866-4747 FAX: 207-866-4747
HfiROOIS
WINDING BROOK TURF FARM, INC.
Quality Bluegrass Sod
Connecticut's Largest - est. 1959
• Deliveries Made Daily throughout MA, CT, Rl, Eastern NY, Southern NH and ME
• 100% of Deliveries made with Sod Handler
• Palletized Sod - 504 sq. ft.
• Big Rolls - 200 or 250 sq. ft.
• Bluegrass Blends
• Penncross Bent Available
Maine Division Farm Location: Intersection Rtes. 111 & 35
Kennebunk .j>-
Corporate Office; 240 Griswold Road "L , Wethersfield, CT 06109 (203) 529-6869 All Ordering: 800-243-0232
Newton Greenhouse
32 Amesbury Road, Ncwlon, NH 03858 603-382-528^
Quality Plants green and Jlowering
from 2 1/2" to 10" pots
Holiday, bedding plants, and dish gardens
year round snap, pot mums.
Gloxinias, and African violets
Licensed propagator of New Guinea Impatienls
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.
RO. BOX 9169
WETHERSFIELD, CT 061 29-01 69
1 (800) 326-HART
OcTOBER/No\' EMBER 1991 23
greenhouse plants
chrysanthemums
nursery stock
poinsettias
bulbs/lhjes
gpzraniums
pere:nnials
CYCIvVMEN
SEEDLINGS
AZALEAS
PLUGS
SEEDS
D.A. POSOCCO
Greenhouse Plants - Nursery Stock
Joseph Giannino
14 Sigourney Street
Revere, MA 02151
617-286-6541 (Home)
Fax 617-286-6541
greenhouse plants
chrysanthemums
nursery stock
poinsettias
bulbs/lilip:s
geraniums
PERENNL\LS
CYCLAMEN
SEEDLINGS
AZALEAS
PLUGS
SEEDS
D.A. POSOCCO
Cireenhouse Plants - Nursery Stock
Steve Calautti
RO. Box 2092
Middletown.CT 06457
203-346-7980
Fax 203-346-5235
WE SUPPORT:
Fair is
MIC HA UD
Nurseries & Greenhouses, Inc. %^
Route 85 — PO Box J34 — Exeter, NH 03833 (603) 772-3698
Wholesale & Retail Nursery
Annuals, Perennials. Nursery Stock. Landscape Supplies
WHOLESALE NURSERY
TREES • EVERGREENS • SHRUBS
150 acres of quality plants Write for catalog Member MNA. NENA. AAN
Millers Falls Road, Turners Falls. MA 01376 Telephone 413- 863-2510
^'.'^i.
Sltewart^
NURSERY, Inc.
y
wS^
CANTERBURY, NEW HAMPSHIRE 03224
EXIT 18, 1-93, 1/2 MILE
TELEPHONE 1-800-287-4716
SOD FARMS & WHOLESALE NURSERY, INC
GROWERS AND DISTRIBUTORS:
NURSERY STOCK
• GARDEN SUPPLIES
• CHRISTMAS TREES • SOD
24 THE Plant
S M A N
PROMOTING YOUR BUSINESS
WITH A SPECIAL EVENT
Tina Sawtelle
H.
.ave you considered having a special event to promote your busi- ness, gain media coverage, increase sales to current customers, and gam new customers? A special event can range from an open house where you offer specials and some refresh- ments to such elaborate events such as a mini-fair, a Christmas Festival of Trees, a Poinsettia Festival, a Hardy Mum Fall Festival, a Daffodil Festival, or a Spring Garden Party, depending on the season.
Following is a potpourri of hints to make your special event a great marketing tool:
P^ Have one unique attraction that you can call your own, that sets you apart from the rest. This proves to attract people as well as the media. "Come see our 14' snowman made of poinsettias."
p^ Develop a press release about
your event and send with a picture to your local newspapers. Invite the media to attend your event for coverage. Develop follow-
up press releases with pictures for post-event coverage
f^ Have foodl Its amazing how food draws people to events. Refreshments seem to have a dra- matic impact on sales.
U^ Design buttons, T-shirts,
balloons, or stickers as a pro- motional tool. The best promo- tional Items are those that have a use to the customer and those that "hang around" — like a magnetic refrigerator note clip.
B^ Have a contest and award a trophy or prize. This makes great local news for a press release!
D^ Demonstrations and workshops
are great at a special event. Give a workshop on designing a perennial bed, decorating a wreath, or pruning a tree. And of course all the Items needed you have for sale.
I@^ Have entertainment. Anyone
can be a clown. Develop a business mascot that is always at your business's special events and
busy weekends. Music is always a nice addition.
C^ Put forethought into your
event. Be sure your insurance covers anything you are doing. Check with your insurance about outside vendors and how to treat them. If parking could become a problem, be sure you have an alter- nate plan.
The ideas and possibilities for a special event are endless! Make yours unique! If planned well and promoted properly, it is sure to be a big success!
Remember — marketing is one of your business tools to success!
Tina Sawtelle , principal of Sawtelle Marketing .Associates , consults with a^icukurd direct retail businesses on marketing and merchandising. In addition, she teaches agricultural business management techniques at the Thompson School at UNH. For more information, call (603) 659-8 J 06 in Lei
â– e, NH^
RR 1 • TYLER BRIDGE ROAD • HINESBURG, VERMONT • (800) 525-9405 • FAX (802) 482-4056
• CALL US FOR COMPLETE LISTINGS
• FAX US YOUR WANT LIST
• HAND PICK YOUR TREES
•WELL DIRECT SHIP • QUANTITY DISCOUNT PRICING
GROWERS OF FINE QUALITY SHADE TREES
Octoeer/Novem BE R 1991 25
SPECIALIZING IN
Heath. . .Heather. . .Bearberry.
Herbs... Seashore Plants...
also, a full line of quality nursery stock
1028 Horseneck Road
Westport, MA 02790
508-636-5615
issna
FOR QUALITY SOD AND SERVICE
TSimBHiiif
Route 3A
Litchfield, NH
427-7000
Hubbard Road
Ben/vick, ME
1-800-848-7550
i»Mm«Knainm,'i'an<'ijiimrtw
mmrnvrntjimm.
Big Rolls with Roll-out Service Convenient Farm Pick-up Prompt Delivery Service
\^_yNURSERIES
a division of Culbro Corporation
Find out more Write lor a Catalog or Conact Sales Rep Doug Lentz a! (617) 933-6184
PO BOX 120. 90 SALMON BROOK STREET GRANBV. CT 06035 (203) 653-4541
KRAUSLAND FARM, ROUTE 90, QUINCr' FLORIDA 32351 (904) 6Z7-7501
PO BOX 1288, SANDY, OR 97055 (503) 668-8032
Wholesale Nursery Stock that looks good and sells well Container and B & B Shrubs
Laughlon's Ciarden Cer»leT Inc.
... .„^^„,, ^^^-,,, A..,K...Air> CHARLES LAUGHTON • PRESIDENT
NURSERY STOCK • ANNUALS dave polygreen - nursery sales
PERENNIALS FERTILIZERS • INSECTICIDES
Cal Laughton, Florist
Distributors of Sentinel Foam Overwinter Blankets
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL NURSERY
Tel. 1-800-633-0] 59
155-165 Princeton Blvd.
No. Chelmsford, MA 01863
LAUGHTONS
26 THE Plantsman
DWARF ALSTROEMERIA A Primer
( from an article by Phil Gardenier in GrowerTalks, August, 1991)
their vibrant colors and long-lasting blooms. They are excellent garden and patio plants. Alstroemeria is an excel- lent cutflower because the flowers have a long vaselife; they are also long-lived in the garden. The plants are sold to customers in 6- or 7-inch pots. They can be used as houseplants, then planted outside.
PROPAGATION
Alstroemerias are currently propagated by two methods: by seed or asexually, by runners or tissue culture. Plants perform differently depending upon how they're propagated. In general, alstroemerias produced from seed don't achieve consistent height or color and command a lower price on the market.
GROWING ON
Soil: Use a light well-drained ( 1/3 peat, 1/3 perlite, 1/3 bark is one possibility) mixture. This mixture is recommended for a slower develop- ment of the root system. If the roots develop rapidly and fill the pot com- pletely, the plant may go dormant and stop producing stems. Aslstroemeria likes lots of water, but it is susceptible to soil diseases, so don't saturate the soil.
Transplanting: Transplant into 6- or 7- inch pots, placing one rhizome per pot just below the surface of the soil.
Temperature: Temperature and light intensity are important in keeping the plants flowering. The temperature should be below 65 F ( 50-60 F is best), and the light intensity should be high. In a warm room, the plant will survive only a few weeks.
Light: Additional lighting of 13-16 hours may help the plants to flower earlier, although lighting shouldn't be supplemented earlier than 1 1/2-2 months after planting. Plants need the opportunity to develop plenty of foliage before flowering shoots are initiated.
Outside, choose a location with
morning sun and afternoon shade. Ferrili^otion; Before planting, amend the potting soil to make it slightly acidic (pH 6.0 to 6.5). Alstroemerias are heavy feeders, so a constant feed with 20- 10-20 fertilizer is recommend- ed. Prevent the soil from drying out or accumulating salts (this will cause fo- liage to yellow). Leaves may also dis- color from iron deficiency or, possibly, a high pH. Apply iron chelate and/or magnesium sulfate to alleviate yellowness.
Pests and Diseases: Alstroemeria is usu- ally not very susceptible to diseases, but the following precautions are advisable:
Make sure your crop stays dry and leave enough space between plants for adequate ventilation.
Spray regularly for aphids, whitefly, thrips, catipiUars, slugs, botrytis, rhizoctonia, and pythium.
Because alstroemena tissue is sensitive, avoid chemical weed killers.
Harvesting: Harvest time is usually in three to four months, depending on the time of year. Plant alstroemerias grown from runners in January to have plants ready for sale in May.
VARITIES
Three genetic dwarf types of alstroemeria, propagated by runners, are currently marketed under the name 'Little Princess Lily.' All three grow 8- 16" tall: 'Mira' is lilac or purple; 'Silvia' is bright red; 'Marita' is pinkish-red.
This year, Ohio growers reported the first commercial experience with 'Little Princess Lilies. ' 'Mira' performed par- ticularly well. Although not always grown in optimal environments, 'Mira' developed into a piofusely-flowering plant no more than 12-14" high.
When pure parent lines of alstroemeria have been established, uniform Fl- hybrids will be produced by seed. At this time, nci pure lines have been es- tablished and hybridizing results in a wide vanety of colors and heights.
Phil Garder\ier is area export manager for Van Staaven\/Aahmeer, in Aalsmeer, Nederland, which does breeding research for devebping new potted plant varieties . Little Princess Lilies are available from Van StaavemI Aalsmeer. ^^
Let
Rough Brothers'
expertise
turn your
greenhouse into
a powerhouse
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Call the experts at Rough Brothers
for information and technical
assistance on these quality products.
Manufacturers of: •WhiteHouse ■The International
â– Harvest House
•The "21 00" gutter-connected house
• Free-standing poly arch houses ■Techlite glazing
• Ro-Flo benches
• Ebb & Flo benches
Distributors of:
• Alcoa Aluminum Fin Heating
â– Heating and ventilating equipment
• Maintenance supplies, glass, parts
... and more.
Rough Brothers
P.O.Box 16010
Cincinnati, Ohio 45216
rmn
ROUGH
BROTHERS
3
1-800/543-7351
O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R 1991
TREES • EVERGREENS • SHRUBS
COLORADO SPRUCES 3' to 10'... QUANTITY PRICES AVAILABLE
O'Donal's Nurseries
HOURS: Mon. - Sat. 7:00 - 5:30 Sunday 9:00 - 5:00
Located at junction of routes 22 & 11 4
Gorham, Maine 04038
Phone (207)839-4262 or 839-6364
Fax 207-839-2290
We specialize in growing specimen plant materials
BAG&BURUP'*^
SeivingJYoui NeBds^inceJLaiOl
Hartford, Connecticut (203) 653-8191 • FAX (203) 653-8221
We Are Major
Manufacturers
and Distributors!
SAVE $$ - order direct from tfie manufac- turer of quality plain and treated "No-Rot" burlap squares and rolls, bags, shiode dotfi , digging supplies, jute erosion control netting and many occessor/ products.
-' Sirtcel910,wehiave worked to aid ttTe /* (tsim grower and nurseryman • ' ^. -_ witti quality products, in stock ;,"_ and ready for immediate S^i^i shipment.
You Deservo the Best . . . You'll get it at Dayton Bag & Burlap!
For Customer Service Call Toll Free: 1 -800-543-3400
YOUR FULL SERVICE WHOLESALE and RETAIL GARDEN CENTER
CaU or insit our convenient Cocation U) see our compUu stock^of these fim. products:
Annuals, Perennials and Nursery Stock
Scotls' Lawn Pro Authorized Dealer
Ortho • Ames Tools
Country Pride Compost Products
Featuring Seasonal and Holiday Plants and Accessories
Route 16, Ossipee, N.H. 03864 603-539-5995 . Hours 8 -5 7 Days
Featuring 'NH Gold' Forsythia
The best of the new, hardy forsythias
developed here by Paul Joly.
Several sizes available.
Rooted Cuttings -- Potted Liners
of other hard-to-find shrubs and trees. Send for a catalog.
Perennials & Nursery Stock
Wholesale and retail.
Landscape Consulting
M
WirtDSOR ROAD NURSERY
Rt. 2 ' Box 884 - Cornish, NH 03745
Call for an appointment Telephone 603-543-3239
II u
^'7
POROUS CERAMICS
For Root Zone Modification
REDUCE WATER COSTS, INCREASE TURF QUALITY
THE
ISDK
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Upward to 50% water savings.
Remarkable water holding capacity permanently solves drought problem areas.
Relieves compaction permanently— hard porous granules will not compress.
Environmentally safe— will not affect soil chemistry.
Hard ceramic granules— will not break down, shrink or swell in the soil.
70% porosity— holds water against gravitational and evaporative loss, but releases it to the root.
Extremely low C.E.C. (1 .2-1 .9 meg/1 OOg)— will not tie up nutrients.
Low bulk density (.5-. 6 g/cc)— improves both water and air permeability.
Low E.G. (.1-.4 mmhos/cm) helps to eliminate salts.
For Information on
ISOH
CALL:
Bob Brennan
BRENNAN SALES, INC.
PC Box 1082, Scarborough, ME 04070
207 883-5799
CAVICCHIO
GREENHOUSES Wholesale Growers
110 Codjer Lane
Sudbury, MA 01 776 (508)443-7177
ANNUALS PERENNIALS HARDY MUMS GROUND COVER KALE & CABBAGE
FALL PANSIES
JUMBO ANNUALS
HOLIDAY PLANTS
CLASSIC PERENNIALS
HARDY FALL ANNUALS
FLOWERING HANGING BASKETS
EXTRA! EXTRA!
Hold That Date!
. ost greenhouse, nursery, and sod growers haven't thought much about it yet, hut those people holding private pesticide applicator permits will need to he recertified in 1993. There are two ways to do this. Retake the exam or accumulate 4 CORE and 8 COMMODITY credits by the end of the recertification year (in this case 1993). That's why recertification credits have been offered recently at meetings (New Hampshire Plant Growers Summer Meeting and Griffin Greenhouse's Open House).
In April of this year, New Hampshire moved to a partial credit system for the recertification of private pesticide applicators. Under this system, permit holders will be able to accumulate credits over the entire 5 year recertification period as they attend educational meetings that offer credits. Unfortunately, for the green- house, nursery and sod categones, the next year in the recertification cycle is 1993. This means that there is a little less than 2 1/2 years for you to acquire credits. Keep in mind that since 1 2 credits are required for recertification and approximately 1 hour of teaching equals one credit, there is no way to recertify by attending just one all-day meeting. With that in mind, it might be wise to start watching NHDA's Weekly Market Bulletin for postings of approved seminars.
There is an all day seminar coming up in November that has been designed to offer 4-6 recertification credits. It will be geared primarily toward greenhouse growers (although some CORE credits will be offered). Sponsored by UNH Cooperative Extension, it will be held on November 14 and will feature Dr. Richard Lindquist
of Ohio State. The program will run from 9:30 am to 4;00 pm. Notices will be sent shortly to all New Hampshire private pesticide applicators in the
greenhouse category. If you do not receive a notice and registration form by mid- October contact your county UNH Cooperative Extension Agncultural Educator. Keep an eye out for a program this winter that will be designed to provide credits for those in the nursery category.
Margaret Pratt
Extension Educator, Agriculture
1991 NEW HAMPSHIRE
PLANT GROWERS'
ASSSOCIATION OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
Tom Price
Meredith Gardens
RED 1, Box 233
Center Harbor, NH 03226
284-7709
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Christopher Robarge
UNHrrSAS
Horticultural Facilities Manager
Durham, NH 03824
862-1074
DIRECTORS
Bob Demers, Jr.
Demers Nursery & Garden Center
656 South Mammoth Road
Manchester, NH 03 103
625-8298
Alan Eves
Garden of Eves Greenhouse
192 Breakfast Hill Road
Greenland, NH 03840
436-3581
Paul Godbout
Jacques' Flower Shop
1 1 1 Front Street
Manchester, NH 03102
625-5155
Jennifer Gould
Philips Exeter Academy
Exeter, NH 03833
778-0224
Bruce Holmes
Post Oftice Box 75
Center Tuftonboro, NH 038 1 6
569-2127
New Hampshire Plant Growers Association The Plantsman Editor UNH Research Greenhouses Durham, NH 03824
Non-Profit Org.wization
US Postage
PAID Permit No.. 43