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Field and High Tunnel Grown Cut
Flowers About Us: This project directly assists produce growers in diversifying into cut flowers by providing some of the answers to three of the most important issues that effect cut flower growers: The evaluation of new cut flower cultivars against industry standards, developing production budgets and working out the details of succession planting protocols. In addition, the 2005 research program began evaluating biorational fungicides for control of powdery mildew in zinnia. By providing this information, growers will directly benefit through improved profitability. This program is supported in part by a grant from NE SARE. Current flower growers, Master Gardeners and research staff have cooperated in the cultivar evaluation part of the project by growing and evaluating cut flowers for compatibility with our climate and growing conditions, marketability and saleable yield. Production budgets for Sunflowers, Zinnias, Karma Dahlias and Summer Bouquets are in various stages of development. This project was started in 1999 with a demonstration planting at the Ag Progress Days site in Rock Springs. Since that time the program has greatly expanded from that single site to include several producer farms, Master Gardener trial gardens, the Franklin Horticulture Education Center, and the SE Research and Extension Center. The results of these ongoing trials were disseminated at the 2005 ASCFG (Association of Specialty Cut Flowers Growers) New Growers School in Lancaster as well as at other venues. The 2006 program features succession planting trials on Salvia ‘Blue Bedder’, Benary’s ‘Giant’ Zinnia, and ‘Sunbright Supreme’ Sunflower. The overall theme of the cultivar trials is the “Best of” all of the cut flowers that have been in the program since 1999. Karma Dahlia’s are the featured High Tunnel planting for 2006 with Lisiathus planned for 2007. A production fact sheet and budget are planned on Karma Dahlia’s for fall 2006. Location: Plants are grown at several locations 2006 Variety Trial Field Day: Thursday July 27, 2006 at the SE Research Farm in Landisville Factsheets:
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Contact Information:
Penn
State | College
of Agricultural Sciences | Department
of Horticulture Copyright
Information |
