Floriculture Greenhouse Update

April 30 2010 Update

Friday, 30 April 2010 12:41

Monitor for Downy Mildew. See previously posted message on Downy Mildew.

Thrips populations are increasing with the warmer temperatures. Monitor for thrips using yellow sticky cards and monitor plants for Impatiens necrotic spot virus. See the message Thrips and Tospoviruses

Iron deficiency symptoms are showing up on crops. Symptoms appear as an interveinal chlorosis, normally starting at the shoot tips, but often they occur throughout the entire plant. Sometimes the leaves of iron deficient plants turn almost white. Bacopa, calibrachoa, scaevola, snapdragons, and petunia are crops susceptible to iron deficiency. Preventing iron deficiency can be accomplished by controlling pH and using an iron chelate fertilizer. Before applying iron, check the plants roots to be sure they are healthy. Unhealthy roots will result in yellow, stunted plants that may be confused with iron deficiency. See Preventing Iron Deficiency and Selecting which iron chelate to use.

Late Blight reminder to retailers: Buy and sell only tomato plants that have been started and grown here in the northeast. Tomato growers and home gardeners will be very appreciative if you do not bring late blight into New England. Late blight is a very destructive and very infectious disease that killed tomato and potato plants in gardens and on commercial farms throughout the eastern U.S. during 2009. Please do your part to prevent this disease! For information and photos on late blight, see the message: Garden Retailers and Late Blight

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