PowerPoint Presentation

Programing Perennials & Annuals

Ivan TchakarovDirector of growing Tue. September 20| 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM |

What they said I am talking about

This discussion will help you understand the ingredients of a successful propagation environment, how to optimize and hasten callusing and rooting of annual cuttings and herbaceous perennials, and identify fast, moderate, and slow callusing and rooting herbaceous perennials.

What I am going to talk about..Our journey to become perennial propagators!

What I am going to talk about..Our journey to become perennial propagators!This is a great example of working with new crops and learning from your mistakes.

Our journey began with

an interesting story in the news

Our Journey Began

BackgroundMetrolina was mainly an annual grower.We root 90 million cuttingsWe germinate 300 million seeds.We had dabbled in some perennials.As of July 2013 we were now in the perennial business.

What we acquired~200 outdoor production30 acre greenhouse5 acre Leased greenhouse 45 minutes away for being used to propagate.Good team of people but under staffed

Growing ProceduresNo records of how plants were being produced.Schedules were very, very loose (compared to what we were used too).Most experienced head grower had left the year before the acquisition.

Another DecisionLeased propagation facility.45 minutes away5 acre 80 people were working there.Very inefficient.Closed the facility and moved all perennial propagation to Huntersville, NC

Starting from scratchAll Metrolina schedules are online using a Microsoft Sharepoint website to manage.Over 50 crops we had never produced before.100s of genera

How we manage growing schedules

How we manage growing schedules

Propagation

Propagation

How we manage growing schedules

PerennialsNo schedules were keptTeam sat together for 3 days in a tiny windowless room to rough out how we thought we were growing the crop.Team put together on the Sharepoint site few schedules

So we were feeling pretty good..We had a plan in place of how we were growing the crops.

Year one the plan did not work so great

August 2013- A little tall/late

Back to the drawing board

Monarda ExampleStart with the basics: Why did this plant get too big?

Monarda ExampleStart with the basics: Why did this plant get too big?

You need to understand the plant to be able to grow it.

Monarda ExampleMonarda is an obligate long day plant.Needs long day to flower.We were growing early season natural photoperiod (ie short day)

Monarda Propagation Schedule

Monarda Propagation Schedule

Success!!

Week 20 2016!

EchinaceaFirst year was a little challenging

EchinaceaFirst year was a little challengingOk maybe a lot.

EchinaceaEchinacea from seed is a tricky crop.

EchinaceaEchinacea from seed is a tricky crop.Short day/long day crop

EchinaceaEchinacea from seed is a tricky crop.Short day/long day cropSowing to ~4 leaves Juvenile not responsive to photoperiod

EchinaceaEchinacea from seed is a tricky crop.Short day/long day cropSowing to ~4 leaves Juvenile not responsive to photoperiod4 leaves on- responsive to photo period. Short days to bulk.Long days to flower

EchinaceaIf you dont do these things

Echinacea Seed

Echinacea Seed

Echinacea Seed

Echinacea Seed

Starting with a good liner

Results in better crops in finish

Rudbeckia goldstrumRudbeckia is very popular item.Tricky to grow since it is a vigorous plant.

Why is my phone going off at 9:48 am on Saturday?

Why is my phone going off at 9:48 am on Saturday?

Why is Abe emailing?

Hey a picture from the store?

Rudbeckia

We needed to make improvements!!

We have been buying in Goldstrum Plugs

We have been buying in Goldstrum Plugs

Bought In Versus In-house

Bought In Versus In-house

Decision: Be in charge of our ownRudbeckia goldstrum destiny!

Bought In Versus In-house

If are going to screw them up we will screw them up ourselves!

Rudbeckia Plug

Rudbeckia Plug

Rudbeckia Plug

Rudbeckia Plug

Rudbeckia-Short Day CriticalShort days give more branches, beefier plug.

Short Day Long Day

Rudbeckia Plug

Rudbeckia-Florel ConfigureBetter Branches

1000 ppm Florel/300 Configure Control

Rudbeckia Today

ConclusionIf you boss buys a perennial rangegood luck!Perennial plug production is not difficult as long as you pay attention to details.

Thanks to the Van Wingerdens and team Metrolina !

Thanks to Dr. Royal Heins

Didnt I put this in my report last year?

Thank You For Your Attention!