Cut Flowers for High Tunnels

By Ginny RosenkranzExtension Educator, Commercial Horticulture

rosnkrnz@umd.edu

Site Analysis for Cut Flowers

Ginny Rosenkranz

Extension Educator, Commercial Horticulture

University of Maryland Cooperative Extension

rosnkrnz@umd.edu

Keep in mind the 4 Elements

Soil

Sun

Water

Wind

Start with the right Site!

Good soil drainage

Full sun

Adequate irrigation

Know your history

Weed Control

Look a little closer

Get a soil test

Check out the weeds

Any nematodes?

Any earthworms?

Miss Utility

Soil Tests

Nitrogen

Phosphorus

Potassium

Calcium

Magnesium

Iron

boron

Soil pH

Soil Tests Results

Nitrogen

Phosphorus

Potassium

Soil Tests Results

Calcium

Magnesium

Iron

Soil test also reveals……

Soil type

Soil texture

Soil profile

Hard pans

Soils also reveal

Plot out property

Draw map of site

Add north south east west

Topography

Buildings, fences, roads

Easements

Views to be screened

Weeds tell stories

Sedges

Wire grass

Canadian thistle

Know life cycles

Consider plastic

Nematodes

Best time to test

Planting rotation

Earthworms

Soil life

Organic matter

Can We Plant Yet?

Start in the fall

Remove perennial weed problems

Add organic matter

Plant grass cover crop

Research cut flowers and sources

Plan your market

Check out the Organic Matter Content

Excellent slow release nutrients for perennials

Higher organic matter stimulates soil life

Organic matter can influence the soil pH

Sun

Full sun = 6-8 hours

Tall flowers go north

South slopes, East slopes

Plan around buildings, fences etc

Plan for planted wind breaks

Water

Test the water!

pH 5.8-7

Alkalinity

Soluble salts

Turbidity

filters

Water Sources

Ponds

Streams

Wells

Back flow protection

Rate of flow

Always use trickle!

Watering Plants

Clean water – filter if necessary

Trickle irrigation

Beside rows

Between rows

Soil type determines spacing

Above or below the ground

Water systems

Pump

Pressure tank & pressure switch

Backflow prevention

Shut off valves

Fertilizer injector

Filters

Pressure gauges

more on water….

Couplers ease in adding and removing tubing

Pressure regulators usually 8-10 psi

Electric solenoid valves

Trickle row crop tape – row crop tubing

Header

Time clock controller

Wind

Plan for wind!

Summer winds more important

Plant wind breaks – they will do double duty

Plant deciduous flowering plants

Plant evergreens for foliage & fillers

Erect fences

Wind

Netting

Establish netting when plants are planted

Raise netting as plants get taller

Add more if needed

Questions?

Choose Your Flowers

• Profit • Markets • Quality

Lisianthus• Warm season crop• Pelleted seeds • Plugs • Single petals• Double petals• Picotee edges

Eustoma grandiflorum -Lisianthus

• Soil fertility– High organic matter

• Irrigation– 150 ppm N – Use raised beds for best drainage– Uniform soil moisture

Cultivars • Mariachi

– Group II– Double – Camellia head

• Arena III– Group II and III– Large to small flowers

• Echo - early flowering– Double – Spray type

Cultivars • ABC• Excalibur• Minuet• Piccolo • Rosita

Mariachi• AmeriSeed

– Blue Picotee

Mariachi• Sentier

– Pure White

Mariachi• Highsun express

– Misty Blue

Mariachi• AmeriSeed

– Pink

MariachiAmeriSeedTakata

Carmine

Arena III• Johnnys Seed

– Gold • Export Unite Flora

– Yellow

Echo • Champagne

ABC • PanAmerican Seed

Excalibur • Sakata• AmeriSeed

Minuet• Miyoshi

Piccolo • Wellgrowhorti.com

Rosita • Flowersense• florAccess

Vulcan ™• Group III • Early flower• Spray type • Vulcan Pink Picotee

– Thick petals– Uniform purple rim

Zinnia elegans – Zinnia • Warm season crop

– Direct seed when soil is warm• Annual

– Seeds do better than plugs• Soil fertility

– Rich soil• Irrigation

– Trickle is best– 100 ppm N every other week

Zinnia• Cultivars

– Benary's Giant– Benary’s Oklahoma– Burpeanna Giant – cactus flowers– Candy cane– Ruffles – Swizzle series – Whirligig – Zowie! Yellow Flame

China Aster• Unicom Mix• Tower Custom Mix

– Uniform in height

China Aster• Serenade

– Spray habit • Valkyrie

– Unique

Calendula • Alpha • Antares flashback

Dianthus • Sweet William

– Hollandia mix– Dynasty mix– Amazon Neon series

Larkspur • Sublime series

Stock • Quartet Formula mix

Delphinium • Belladonna mix• Magic fountains mix

Snapdragon • Potomac mix• Madame Butterfly

Snapdragon • Rocket mix• Chantilly

Talinum• Jewels of Opar

Nigella • Love in a Mist

Tithonia• Mexico Sunflower

– Torch

Gomphrena• Strawberry fields• Bicolor Rose• QIS • Fireworks

Bells of Ireland • Moluccella laevis

Celosia • Cramers series• Chief mix

Celosia • Sylphid• Eternity • Pampas

Dahlias

Lilium hybrids -Oriental, Asiatic and L.A. Hybrid Lily• Warm season crop

– Start with mature bulbs• Treat as annuals

– Plant in the fall or early spring• Soil fertility

– Fertilize with 2-3 lbs of 10-20-10/100 feet

• Irrigation– Trickle is best– Evenly moist

lilies• Cultivars

– Asiatic • Pulsar• Minstrel

– Oriental• Acapulco• Montreal

– L.A. Hybrids• Detroit • Royal Star

– OT Hybrid• Crystal Star• Shocking

Questions?

• References– Ball Redbook– Ball Perennial Manual– Specialty Cut Flowers by A. Armitage– Herbaceous Perennial Plants by A.

Armitage

Cut Flowers for High Tunnels Choose Your FlowersLisianthus Eustoma grandiflorum -Lisianthus Cultivars Cultivars MariachiMariachiMariachiMariachiMariachiArena IIIEcho ABC Excalibur MinuetPiccolo Rosita Vulcan ™Slide Number 20Zinnia elegans – Zinnia ZinniaSlide Number 23Slide Number 24Slide Number 25China AsterChina AsterCalendula Dianthus Larkspur Stock Delphinium Snapdragon Snapdragon Talinum Nigella Tithonia Gomphrena Bells of Ireland Celosia Celosia Dahlias Lilium hybrids -Oriental, Asiatic and L.A. Hybrid LilyliliesSlide Number 45Slide Number 46Slide Number 47Slide Number 48Slide Number 49Questions?