A Challenging New Weed
Many growers are already all too familiar with common weeds such as annual blue grass (Poa annua), common chickweed (Stellaria media), common groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) and hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsute) to name a few. The above weeds are all classified as winter annuals, however, these weeds frequently occur year-round in many greenhouses and nurseries.
I’ve come across a new weed this fall that's proving itself to be a formidable challenger that most prolific growers may be facing in the future. Check it out:
This image was taken just weeks after the crop was planted. I’ve seen it spread rapidly appearing in both new crops and old crops, in different growing mixes and even in hanging baskets. What is this weed?
This weed has a very short life cycle and produces tons of small, indiscreet white fluffy seeds that easily float in the air. Not only were the roof vents wide open most of the time this summer and fall, but the side wall vents were open, too. This allowed them to initially blow inside the structures and Mother Nature continued to work her magic from there (dark magic in this case). I have one more clue to pass along ...
Here's the appearance of a seedling.
Now this is where you come in. Have you seen this weed before or has it also taken you by surprise this fall? Instead of our normal challenge where I disclose the answer at the end of the newsletter, let’s mix it up and
send me your guesses and I’ll reveal the answer next time. Try answering or making your best guess without googling it and if you have no idea, I’ll accept that as an answer, too.
Good luck!
Top-Rated Perennials in the UGA Trials
Each year the University of Georgia does a wonderful job trialing numerous categories of plants in their outside field trials. Here are a few of the perennial standouts from this year’s trials:
Dianthus EverBloom Strawberry Tart
EverBloom Strawberry Tart submitted by Garden Choice forms compact domed mounds with unusually large two-toned bright pink flowers with red circles surrounding the white eye of each flower. Like its name suggests, EverBloom Strawberry Tart blooms from May until frost. Hardy to Zone 4.
Crocosmia Nova Gold Dragon
Nova Gold Dragon submitted by Terra Nova Nurseries provides an impressive and powerful display of large gilded golden blooms. Each flower stalk consists of an arching spray full of long-lasting, bright-shining star-like blooms. Nova Gold Dragon isn’t for everyone, as it’s only hardy to Zone 7, but it's an awesome variety in places it does survive.
Coreopsis Nova Jewel
Terra Nova also had a highly rated coreopsis in the UGA trials. It’s
Nova Jewel and it produces loads of blooms with light, clean yellow centers radiating out towards attractive lilac edges that deepen in color as the flowers age. Hardy to Zone 5.
Classic City Award Winner
The City Award Winners in the UGA Trials are the very best plants in the trial gardens based on their eye-catching beauty and/or their year-round performance in the beds. With over 2,000 plants in the garden, being a Classic City Award winner is described as the equivalent to an Oscar and a Tony award rolled up into one.
Echinacea Double Scoop Watermelon Deluxe
Echinacea Double Scoop Watermelon Deluxe from
Darwin Perennials racks up another prestigious and well-deserved award. It has beautiful hot pink double flowers and an attractive compact growing habit. Hardy to Zone 4.
Perennials at the NE Greenhouse Conference
The Northeast Greenhouse Conference is being held in Manchester, New Hampshire, November 8-9, 2023. I haven't been to this conference for a few years, but I'll be giving two presentations in the Perennials and Natives track at this year's event.
Perennials and Natives Track
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Perennials: Past, Present and Future—Paul Pilon, Opel Growers
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Natives and Beagles—Peter van Berkum, Van Berkum Nursery
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Growing and Selling Native and Naturalized Perennials for Pollinators—Jane Sorenson, Northeast Pollinator Plants
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You Grow Perennials, What Could Possibility Go Wrong?—Paul Pilon, Opel Growers
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Perennial Trial Results—Eileen Anderson, Aris Horticulture, Inc.
The perennials and natives track is just a sampling of the great learning opportunities being offered at the NE Conference. Here are the other education tracks being offered, each of them consists of several topics and presenters:
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Business & Marketing
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Controlled Environments
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Cut Flowers
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Floriculture Disease & Pest Management
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Floriculture Production
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Sessions in Spanish
In addition to these great educational tracks, there’s a special Townhall Panel called "What's New in Floriculture Breeding & Genetics" featuring industry experts Jim Devereux, Green Fuse Botanicals; Megan Bowman, Ph.D., Ball Helix; Gary Sainsbury, Syngenta Flowers; and Stephanie Whitehouse, Dümmen Orange, North America.
In addition, the NE Greenhouse Conference has a large trade show and is chock full of networking opportunities.
Click
HERE to learn more.
More Upcoming Events
Here are several upcoming events I thought might be beneficial for many of you. Click on the event name to learn more.
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October 28 to November 1 |
Durham, North Carolina
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November 2 |
Storrs, Connecticut
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November 6-7 |
Columbus, Ohio
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November 8-10 |
Vijfhuizen, the Netherlands
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November 8-10 |
Aalsmeer, the Netherlands
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November 15-16 |
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
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December 5-7 |
Grand Rapids, Michigan
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Thanks for reading this edition of Perennial Pulse. My email is paul@opelgrowers.com if you have any comments, article suggestions or if you'd just like to say hello.
Best regards,
Paul Pilon
Editor-at-Large—Perennial Pulse
Director of Growing—Opel Growers
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