It’s that time of year when Oriental bittersweet berries are in abundant supply and show up as wreaths, swags and in other decorative crafts for sale at roadside stands and other retail outlets. This is just a reminder that bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) is considered an invasive plant along with purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus) and many others. Connecticut has 96 plants on the official state list that are invasive or potentially invasive and 81 of those are banned. Massachusetts has 140 plants identified as either noxious and/or invasive that are banned. In MA a few woody ornamentals have an extension until January 1, 2009. When choosing plants to grow and sell and when using plant material for crafts, obtain a list of prohibited plants from your state Department of Agriculture. Noxious and/or invasive plants are prohibited from being sold, traded, purchased and distributed. Invasive plants, as defined by the Massachusetts Invasive Plant Group, are “plants that have spread into native or minimally managed plant systems in Massachusetts. These plants cause economic or environmental harm by developing self-sustaining populations and becoming dominant and/or disruptive to those systems.” For a list of prohibited plants in Massachusetts and Connecticut and for more information, see the websites below.

USDA National Invasive Species Information Center:  Massachusetts   Connecticut  (Other States)

Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources - Massachusetts Prohibited Plants

Massachusetts Nursery Landscape Association (Includes alternative plants)

Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group  

Purple Loosestrife Biological Control Projects
Massachusetts:
Massachusetts Wetlands Restoration Program’s Purple Loosestrife Biocontrol Project  

Connecticut: Beetle Farmers Project
http://www.hort.uconn.edu:80/ipm/general/biocntrl/beetlefarm/beetlfarmmain.htm

Tina Smith, University of Massachusetts Extension
Donna Ellis, University of Connecticut Extension

Several greenhouse businesses received financial incentives for energy conservation and renewable energy systems this year. More funding is available and now is a good time to find out if you qualify and how to apply.

 www.dsireusa.org is a comprehensive source of information on federal, state, local and utility incentive programs. The following are some incentives for CT and MA that apply to greenhouse and nursery operations.

Connecticut
To help sort out what is available for Connecticut growers, John Bartok, UConn compiled a good fact sheet on Federal and Connecticut Incentives for Greenhouse Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy. It includes contacts for the USDA Rural Development Section 9006 Loan and Grant Programs for Energy Efficiency and Energy Generation, Energy Programs as part of the Connecticut Energy Efficiency fund, and many others. For details see: http://www.umass.edu/umext/floriculture/fact_sheets/UConn/08energy_resources.pdf

Massachusetts
Phase 2 of the Mass Farm Energy Program (MFEP) will provide energy audits, renewable energy assessments, and/or provide incentives for implementation of audit recommendations, including those recommended by public utility programs. MFEP audits, assessments, and consultations will be paid at 75% with the applicant responsible for the remaining 25%. Incentives for implementation will be based on energy savings. Although the emphasis of Phase 2 is energy conservation and efficiency, there will be some funding opportunities for renewable energy projects, especially those projects that are not eligible for other programs. Some fundable energy saving technologies for greenhouses include: electronic temperature controls, thermal blankets, automatic or manual, sidewall/foundation wall insulation, energy efficient ventilation fans & associated tight sealing louvers, lighting, higher efficiency heating systems, higher efficiency refrigeration systems including heat recovery and IR layer of polyethylene.

 See the Berkshire-Pioneer RC&D website to learn more about the MFEP Energy Audits & Incentives: http://www.berkshirepioneerrcd.org/mfep/energy.php

 Berkshire-Pioneer RC&D will also offer technical assistance and grant writing assistance to at least 25 farmers interested in the 2009 funding for USDA-Rural Development’s Section 9007: Rural Energy for America Program (formerly called the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program).  This program pays 25% of the cost of energy projects through grants and can also provide guaranteed loans.

 Contact information:
Berkshire-Pioneer RC&D (grant writing, energy audits and financial incentives):
Ann Gibson at 413-256-1607, agibson@berkshirepioneerrcd.org
Darlene Monds, 413-256-1607, Darlene.monds@ma.usda.gov

USDA-Rural Development’s Section 9007: Rural Energy for America Program (grants and loan programs for energy generation and energy efficiency)
Rural Development Area Office

Tina Smith, University of Massachusetts
Leanne Pundt, University of Connecticut
Paul Lopes, University of Massachusetts

Rich McAvoy, University of Connecticut provided a good article on scheduling the 2009 Easter Lily crop. Below is a little information from the article. To see the entire article including energy saving options for growing Easter Lilies see: High Oil, Tough Choices - Scheduling The 2009 Easter Lily Crop.
Tina Smith, University of Massachusetts

With record high energy prices lily growers will be looking for ways to reduce oil consumption or cut production costs. Tighter crop spacing, increased double cropping and lower forcing temperatures are the steps most growers resort to first. Last year some growers added an extra layer of plastic film, suspended above the truss, to provide some extra insulation. Any reduction in light, from overhead structures or baskets, will affect lily development. Every time you add an extra layer of plastic film, you reduce light transmission by as much as 10%. If the film collects condensation and dust, light transmission is further reduced, and of course more overhead baskets reduce light even more.  Easter lilies are a high light crop. The best quality lilies grow under maximum light conditions. As light is reduced, stem stretch and the incidence of lower leaf yellowing increases. If increased overhead shading is combined with tighter spacing, the incidence of stem stretch and leaf yellowing will increase even more.

In 2009 Easter falls on April 12, this is mid-date Easter that will allow plenty of time for forcing (see the 2009 Easter lily schedule for details).  This is good news since you can grow cool for most of the schedule and still bring the crop in on time.

The normal Easter lily schedule for pot-cooled bulbs takes a total of 23 weeks. This includes 3-weeks in the pot at 60-62°F to stimulate root development, 6-weeks of bulb cooling at 40-45°F and then 14-weeks of greenhouse forcing at 60-65°F or higher as needed. For case-cooled bulbs the process is still 23 weeks but this includes 6-weeks bulb cooling at 40-45°F and then 17-weeks of greenhouse forcing.

This season start bulb programming by November 2 (23 weeks before Easter).  However, bulb programming must begin as soon as bulbs arrive and they may arrive early (24-25 weeks before Easter).

Watch for bacterial leaf spots on poinsettias. Xanthomonas leaf spot on poinsettias begins with dull gray water-soaked areas. Yellow or tan spots can develop across the leaf. As the disease progresses, spots turn brown and angular so it could be confused with poinsettia scab. It is a good idea to send samples to the diagnostic laboratory if you see leaf spot symptoms.

Like all bacterial diseases, Xanthomonas is spread by water splash from overhead irrigation, high humidity and close plant spacing. If detected early, discarding plants showing symptoms and reducing leaf wetness help reduce disease spread. The use of bactericides such as Bacillus subtilus (Cease) or coppers (Phyton 27) may also help.

Photos page 8 in photo gallery

Leanne Pundt, University of Connecticut

Mealybugs are typically a problem on long-term crops such as orchids, foliage plants that are often found in retail greenhouses, conservatories, and interiorscapes. Common species include the citrus mealybug (Planococcus citri), longtailed mealybug (Pseudococcus longispinus), and obscure mealybug (Pseudococcus viburni). Other mealybugs that have been introduced into the USA, which may be present in greenhouses, include the pink hibiscus mealybug (Maconellicoccus hirsutus), maderia mealybug (Phenacoccus madeirensi), and the Mexican mealybug (Phenacoccus gossypii).

Mealybugs usually enter a greenhouse on already infested plant material.  Now is a good time to inspect any tropical plants that you are thinking of overwintering in your greenhouses.         

Look on leaf undersides, petiole and leaf junctions, and near the base of plants. Mealybugs can also be found on the inside of container lips and in the drainage holes of containers.  On standard plants, they may hide under the tape on the garden stakes. Mealybugs can live for 2 to 3 weeks without hosts.  Power washing the greenhouse between crops is helpful to remove mealybugs hiding in cracks and crevices. Young, immature mealybugs prefer to move to tip growth to feed, so inspect stock plants before taking cuttings. Susceptible plants, should be monitored closely and include coleus, rosemary, sage, Swedish ivy, artemesia, Ipomoea, and gardenia.

Chemical control is difficult because the mealybug’s waxy covering reduces its contact with spray materials. Crawlers, with the least wax, are most susceptible to chemical treatments. The systemic insecticide, Safari, is very water soluble and effective against mealybugs  as a drench treatment. Recent research has also shown that Celero, Aria & Talus or Talus also work well.  Repeated applications may be needed as eggs hatch throughout the growing season.

Stanton Gill, University of Maryland reports that growers of edible herb crops may apply insecticidal soap (containing fatty acid and alcohol) to dissolve some of the waxy coating, then follow-up with an application of horticultural oil a day later.

 Biological Control of Mealybug

To choose the best natural enemy, it is important to have the mealybug identified to species. For example, the commercially available parasitoid, Leptomastix dactylopii only attacks the citrus mealybug.  In general, predators are less efficacious against mealybugs than parasitoids.

The mealybug destroyer, (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri) feeds on citrus and longtailed mealybugs as adults and larvae. .The wax-covered larvae resemble mealybugs, except they are twice as large and feed on mealybug eggs, crawlers, and honeydew. Adults and young larvae prefer to feed on mealybug eggs, however older larvae will attack any stage. The mealybug destroyer is also most effective during spring through fall; less so during winter.

For more information see: Managing Mealybugs in the Greenhouse, University of Connecticut

Mealybugs Web Page by Lance Osborne
http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/LSO/Mealybugs.htm

Leanne Pundt, University of Connecticut
Tina Smith, University of Massachusetts

Growers are reminded to keep an eye out for symptoms of Chrysanthemum White Rust (CWR). Symptoms are quite distinctive. Look for raised pink or white waxy pustules on the undersides of the leaf. Chlorotic spots develop on the upper leaf surface that may become sunkin and necrotic. Severly infected leaves dry up and persist on the stems.  Photos of Chrysanthemum White Rust

CWR has recently been detected in Connecticut (which was confirmed by both state and APHIS inspectors) at both wholesale growers and retail operations. If you do see this disease, because it is a quarantine-significant disease, you will need to inform the CT based USDA office in Wallingford and Experiment Station officials in New Haven, who will supervise the eradication and treatment procedures. Experiment Station officials (203-974-8474), Plant Diagnostic Laboratory (203-974-8601) and the USDA APHIS (203-269-4277).

Massachusetts growers should contact the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources through the Pest Reporting Form or call the Pest Hotline (617-626-1779).

 For more information, which includes cultivars that were infected last year, see the message: Chrysanthemum White Rust (posted October 1, 2007)

Information on CWR Eradication Protocol established by the USDA APHIS-PPQ is available on the following website. Eradication details are on page 5. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/cwr/downloads/cwrplan.pdf

Leanne Pundt, University of Connecticut
Tina Smith, University of Massachusetts