Black CLOTH These outdoor-produced black cloth Garden Mums are being forced to flower for August sales at Adam Henning Greenhouses in De Motte, IN.
• Plants can be pinched approximately 9 days after planting once plants have approximately 1 inch (3 cm) of new growth. • The number of weeks of required shade time depends on the response time of the mum. For example, mums with a 7-week response time will flower 7 weeks after shading and will be ready for sale. • Black cloth, or 4 to 6 mil of reflective plastic, can be used to shade crops. Place shade cloth at least 2 ft. above plants to avoid heat delay. Continue to pull black cloth until buds are well formed and show color. • Heat build-up over 78°F (26°C) can delay flowering. To reduce heat build-up, use reflective shade cloth and pull shade from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Black Cloth Tips Controlled Flowering of Summer-Fall Garden Mums Using black cloth to shorten the daylength enables the grower to flower mums over a longer season and have the crop ready when desired. • After transplanting, plants require approximately 3 weeks of long days to establish before beginning shade. The number of weeks needed to establish depends on pot size. For example, 2.5 to 3 weeks is required for 6-inch pots; 4 to 5 weeks is required for 8-inch pots. (See chart, below.)
SCHEDULE WITH PINCH, MEDIUM VIGOR
PLANT
LONG DAYS
SHORT DAYS
Pot Size PPP
For Sales (Crop Time)
Rooted Liner
Pinch
Start Shade
Response Group
Sell Date
6-6.5”
1 Weeks 24-36 (9 Weeks)
Weeks 15-27 7 Days After Planting 14 Days from Pinch Date
6 Week
6 Weeks from Shade Date
6-6.5”
1 Weeks 25-37 (10 Weeks)
Weeks 15-27 7 Days After Planting 14 Days from Pinch Date
7 Week
7 Weeks from Shade Date
6-6.5”
1 Weeks 26-38 (11 Weeks)
Weeks 15-27 7 Days After Planting 14 Days from Pinch Date
8 Week
8 Weeks from Shade Date
For 4-in. pot/1-PPP programs, adjust the plant and pinch date by 1 week. For 8-in. pot/2-PPP programs, adjust the plant and pinch date by 1-2 weeks earlier.
SCHEDULE WITH NO PINCH, 7-WEEK RESPONSE, MEDIUM VIGOR
PLANT
LONG DAY WEEKS
SHORT DAYS
APPROXIMATE FINISHED PLANT SIZE
Pot Size PPP
Crop Time - Weeks*
URC or Liner
After Potting
Start Shade
Width
Height
4”
1
9
Plant Liner
2
2 Weeks After Planting
6 in. (15 cm)
5 in. (13 cm)
4”
1
10
Direct Stick in Pots
3
3 Weeks After Sticking
6 in. (15 cm)
5 in. (13 cm)
6”
1
10
Plant Liner
3
3 Weeks After Planting 11-12 in. (28-30 cm)
6-7 in. (15-18 cm)
6”
1
13
Direct Stick in Pots
6
6 Weeks After Sticking 11-12 in. (28-30 cm)
6-7 in. (15-18 cm)
8”
1
12
Plant Liner
5
5 Weeks After Planting 13-14 in. (33-36 cm)
8-9 in. (20-23 cm)
10”
3
13
Plant Liner
6
6 Weeks After Planting 18-19 in. (46-48 cm)
11-12 in. (28-30 cm)
10”
1
16
Plant Liner
9
9 Weeks After Planting 18-19 in. (46-48 cm)
11-12 in. (28-30 cm)
12”
3
16
Plant Liner
9
9 Weeks After Planting 19-23 in. (48-58 cm)
13-14 in. (33-36 cm)
Add 1 week to crop time for 8-week response varieties; reduce by 1 week for 6-week response varieties.
18
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