A look at some of the top performers from the 2023 season. Page 8
Editorial 5
Industry News 9
Fighting fungus 14
Manipulating climate to manage fungal disease
Year of… 18
National Garden Bureau shares this year’s featured edible
Inside View 30
22
An ornamental pepper plant called ‘Capiscum Onyx
22 24 26
Pest
update
A Q & A on Thrips parvaspinus with entomologist Dr. Ken Fry from Olds College
BY GREENHOUSE CANADA
Mealybug management
Strategies for keeping this pest at bay
BY JADEN GIMONDO AND RAYMOND CLOYD
Variety development
Vineland Research and Innovation Centre ushers in new era of plant variety development
BY AMY KOUNIAKIS
Orange’ from the University of Guelph’s 2023 plant trials
Photo courtesy Rodger Tschanz
Transformation and preparation
February, it seems to this greenhouse industry-newb, is a month of transformation for the sector.
It’s a big one for retailers, flower growers and nurseries in light of Valentine’s Day. It’s also an important month for growers of bedding plants whose benches are quickly filling up with this spring’s garden must-haves. Depending on the crop cycle, edibles growers may be in the process of clearing out old plants to make way for new ones. Regardless of where you work in the industry, February is a busy and important month.
At Greenhouse Canada, this month is one of change and growth as we prepare to offer more opportunities to connect with you, our readers, and facilitate opportunities for learning.
For growers looking for something unique for upcoming seasons, check out our cover story on the University of Guelph’s 2023 flower trials. Rodger Tschanz shares some of the fascinating lessons he’s learned this past trial season and offers some practical advice for growing and caring for these gorgeous plants.
On the edibles side, Diane Blazek, from the U.S.-based National Garden Bureau, talks about everything you need to know about squash – 2024’s ‘Year of’ selection.
The winter months also require some extra care in the greenhouse as outside temperatures and light levels remain rather low. On page 14, Dr. Mohyuddin Mirza offers some guidelines for battling potential blight by effectively managing the greenhouse climate.
Pest management is also a focus in this issue of Greenhouse Canada as we look at ways to management mealy bugs and get a quick update from Olds College entomology instructor, Dr. Ken Fry on Thrips parvaspinus. In this
“It is a particularly important time for planning ahead.”
In fact, next month (March 26) we will be hosting a webinar featuring the research and insights of Fadi Al-Daoud, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs’ (OMAFRA) Greenhouse Vegetable Specialist. We will also be launching our annual grower survey, in an effort to provide the industry with some benchmark data. We are getting ready to launch our Top 4 Under 40 and Grower of the Year awards programs and all while we start preparations for Grower Day 2024, which will be in St. Catharines on June 18th. More details about these events and programs are forthcoming so stay tuned.
There’s a lot happening in February and it seems much of what happens in this month determines how the rest of the year shapes up because it is a particularly important time for planning ahead.
Q and A, Fry shares some important resources for growers looking to arm themselves against this pest.
And finally, our Inside View columnist, Gary Jones, takes a moment to talk about marketing and what he thinks the best tools are. He challenges readers to think of new ways to get products in front of consumers.
On that note, I will wrap up this editorial by offering my well wishes for a healthy and productive growing season and I am looking forward to connecting with you in some form or another in the coming months.
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NIC K F LAX
Vineland launches new metabolomic profiling service
The Vineland Research and Innovation Centre recently announced that they are now offering a service that taps into their specialization in comprehensive metabolite profiling of plants, microbes, soil and environmental samples. Metabolomics is an emerging field in horticulture, offering insights into underlying biological activity and cellular states. This service employs Vineland’s expertise in analytical and organic chemistry, mass spectrometry-based
metabolomics and biotechnology and provides support to clients from experimental design to the translation of complex metabolic data to deliver tailored solutions. Some areas they specialize in include: geneticallymodified plants, cannabis, insects (pests and beneficials), soi and irrigation media, and much more. More information on the service can be found on Vineland’s website. (Source: Vineland Research and Innovation Centre)
TERRA NOVA NURSERIES RELEASE LIST OF PANTONE 2024 COLOUR-OF-THE-YEAR PLANTS
Terra Nova Nurseries unveiled its annual Pantone Color the Year Plant List in honour of the recently announced PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz for 2024. “The evident harmony between Peach Fuzz and Terra Nova’s Color of the Year plant selections is showcased in the inherent sensibilities that Terra Nova varieties evoke,
combined with what Pantone refers to as ‘…a velvety gentle peach whose all-embracing spirit enriches heart, mind, and body.,’ a January press release noted.
Select Terra Nova varieties were meticulously selected by the company’s breeding and marketing teams for one or more of the following colour traits:
Terrazza MC expands into Canada, U.S. with A.M.A. Horticulture as official distributor
Terrazza MC and A.M.A. Horticulture Inc. announced in January a new distribution partnership. This expansion marks Terrazza MC’s increased presence in the United States. and Canada, focusing on nurseries, plant growers, and landscaping businesses. The collaboration combines Terrazza MC’s innovative products, including their patented brushes, with A.M.A. Horticulture’s broad distribution network. The introduction of the patented brush technology by Terrazza MC is expected to bring significant benefits to North American nurseries, plant growers, and landscapers. (Source: A.M.A Horticulture Inc.)
Flower or bloom colour, foliage colour, colours accented in leaf textures or veins, and overall hues and tones.
Terra Nova’s roster of companion plants includes 19 best-ofbreeding varieties featuring a range of hues and tones that harmonize with the warmth and coziness of Peach Fuzz. Retailers and finishing growers
can showcase Pantone’s Peach Fuzz through Terra Nova’s Color of the Year-inspired plants, all featuring one or more shades of peach such as pink, coral, orange and other corresponding hues. The list includes varieties of Echinacea, Begonias, Heuchera, and coleus, among others. (Source: Terra Nova Nurseries)
BY
THE NUMBERS
Energy Statistics, October 2023
Total electricity generation in Canada declined 4.0% year over.
Meanwhile, electricity consumption climbed 2.0% year over.
Imports of electricity from the United States almost doubled (+96.3%) year over year to 2.1 million MWh in October 2023.
PLANT RESILIENCY put to the test
University of Guelph’s 2023 trials yield impressive results
BY RODGER TSCHANZ
The following plant descriptions are of some of the best or most popular selections of annuals in the 2023 plant trials at the University of Guelph’s trial sites. Most of the plant entries were trialled in both containers and in the landscape.
The season’s growing conditions in our region of southern Ontario started of warm and dry but was followed by weeks of unseasonably wet weather before drying as we entered the fall. The wet conditions contributed to increased disease pressure, especially in the landscape, and contributed to the leaching of nutrients from the root zone, especially in containers.
The best plants from this trial were truly resilient to climatic abnormalities.
1. Capsicum Onyx Orange
This ornamental pepper has dark purple foliage when grown outdoors in full sun. The fruit is shiny, and marble shaped; it’s coloured a dark purple black when unripe but then ripens to an orange. It is a sister colour to the AAS award winner Onyx Red. The Onyx Orange seed in our trial was slower to germinate (by almost a week) than the Red selection. Both pepper cultivars have a similar, compact growth habit. Onyx Orange reached a garden height of approximately 30 cm with a spread of 35 cm. The ripening of the fruit coincides nicely with late summer where the colouration is a perfect fit for fall seasonal planters etc. This cultivar was very popular with visitors to the September trial garden. (American Takii)
PHOTOS: RODGER TSCHANZ
2. Gazania Sunny Side Up
Brilliant and bright are the words I use to describe this new gazania from Benary. The brilliant bright yellow has white edging that highlights the dominant yellow colour well. Gazania blooms will often close under overcast and rainy conditions; this selection seemed less prone to do so than others in this year’s trial. (Benary)
3. Verbena bonariensis ‘Vanity’
This is a compact form of purple top vervain propagated from seed. By season’s end it reached height of approximately 1 m with a spread of 50 cm. It was a national AAS ornamental winner in 2022. The compact, well branched form is suitable for container applications as well as in the landscape. This selection came out of VanHemert’s breeding program but is offered on the market through Benary with its ApeX seed treatment to break dormancy. We found the germination to be uniform, relatively quick and suitable for standard greenhouse production schedules. This was voted one of the Top 5 favourite annuals at the trial open houses in August and September. As you can see in the picture, this selection is attractive to butterflies.(Benary)
This seed propagated compact sunflower offers a new colour pattern to the variety of seed-propagated, season- long bloomers already available on the market. The rich yellow of the ray floret petal has a splash of brown/mahogany colour at its base. The intensity of the inner mahogany coloured ring on the inflorescence may vary with growing conditions. While this helianthus is a great addition to the annual garden bed, this selection is also suitable for large container applications with heights reaching a metre and spreading to 90 cm by season’s end. (Takii Europe/Sahin)
5.Coleus ColorBlaze Cherry Drop
This is a new edition to the ColorBlaze series. We grew this in both containers and in the landscape. Excellent vigour and performance. The leaves are small with smoothly toothed margins and tricoloured with chartreuse margins, followed by maroon and finally with a hot pink cherry centre. The growth habit is mounding and semi-trailing reaching garden heights of 50 cm with a spread of 1 m. Works well in containers or the landscape. (Proven Winners)
Feeling inspired by the Barbie movie
One of this past summer’s hit movies was Barbie. This prompted us to ask visitors to the trial garden to identify flower cultivars from the 2023 trial that would have made suitable additions to the set of the movies with its intensely pink colour scheme. Here are some of the Barbie
Pink picks made by our trial garden visitors. Dianthus Odessa Twiggy, Impatiens Solarscape Magenta Bliss, Impatiens Solarscape Salmon
Glow XL, Impatiens Sol Luna
Tropical Punch, Dahlia Darlin
Abstract Fuchsia, Salvia Unplugged Pink, Verbena Superbena Cherryburst.
Canna Cannova Rose Dark
Bud, Calibrachoa Lia Spark Pink, Zinnia Zydeco Cherry, Petunia Supertunia Mini Vista Hot Pink, Petunia Supertunia Mini Vista Pink Star, Verbena Superbena Pink Cashmere. Petunia Picobella Rose Morn
Imp., Petunia Opera Supreme Rose. I suspect, like me,
many of you would not agree with all the pink selections that were made. Of course, this was a highly subjective, non-scientific bit of fun in the garden that had no point than to encourage our visitors to spend more time looking at the trial plants than they would normally have done.
4.Helianthus Semi Dwarf F1 Orange Mahogany Bicolour
6. Coleus Premium Sun Coral Candy
I’ve talked about this coleus series before. It’s the first coleus from seed, that I have trialed, that can handle both shade and full sun growing conditions. Coral Candy has long, narrow foliage with shallow, serrated margins. The colour pattern on the leaf includes a cream to pink centre with margins ranging
from bronze to maroon; the leaves are outlined by a thin ribbon of green. In full sun, the intensity of the leaf coloration is more muted than in part sun. It tends to have an upright bushy habit but stays compact. Garden height when grown in full sun was approximately 20 cm with a spread of 25 cm. (PanAmerican Seed)
7. Coleus Volcanica Solar Flare
Last year Ball FloraPlant sorted its coleus offerings into named collections to better reflect their vigour and growth habit. As you might gather from the name ‘Volcanica’, this collection contains plants that are vigorous and really make a statement in the garden. Solar Flare, with its deeply toothed green margins and two-toned purple/cherry centre, is the first member of this collection. It is vigorous with garden heights over 50cm and a spread of 70 cm. (Ball FloraPlant)
8. Zinnia Belize Double Scarlet
In 2023 American Takii introduced a new zinnia series to join the ranks of the powdery mildew (PM) resistant Zahara, Profusion and Zydeco series. Belize is its name and at its introduction has three single colours and four double colours. I trialed Double Yellow, Double Orange, and Double Scarlet this past season. All three got through the season without PM infection. They also had excellent bloom performance. The three colours I trialed were well matched for size and vigour. Belize Double Scarlet was the most popular of the colours with the public. Garden height is approximately 40 cm with a spread of 60 cm. (American Takii)
9.Jamesbrittenia Safari Dusk
In 2023 we trialled both Jamesbrittenia Safari Dusk and Safari Sky. Container performance was similar for both cultivars but of the two, Safari Dusk appeared to be the most resilient and demonstrated exceptional landscape performance under the wet growing conditions of 2023. This selection has large violetcoloured petals marked with dark purple or white near the base of the petal. The throat of the flower is a golden yellow. Garden height is approximately 24 cm with a spread of 80 cm.(Proven Winners)
10.Bidens Blazing Star
This selection of bidens has an inflorescence composed of yellow ray florets emblazoned with a red stripe down the middle. The red marking was consistent with a high degree of stability throughout the summer under the wide variety of growing conditions that were experienced. Blazing Star was another Top 5 favourite as determined by the public who visited the trials in the fall. It has a slightly mounding habit reaching heights of 30 cm and spreading to 80 cm. Its performance was excellent in both containers and the landscape. (Danziger)
11.Dahlia Darlin’ Abstract Fuchsia
Of the six colours in this series trial this summer, Abstract Fuchsia was the one to make the Top 10 popularity list as determined by visitors to the garden. Its double bloom has petals with a white base and pink/purple outer tips. This series had great all summer bloom performance but really stood out in the late summer and early fall. Garden heights were 60 cm with a spread of 75 cm. (Danziger)
12. Cuphea SweetTalk Series
There are three colours in this new series of Cuphea procumbens: red, deep pink and lavender splash. Deep Pink is pictured here. These cultivars are well matched in bushy habit. I pinched our trial plants in the plug stage but based on observations of the same plants grown at another trial site without a pinch or growth regulator treatment, that pinch may not have been necessary to achieve the branching. It may be best for individual growers to experiment with cultural treatments that make sense for your situation. Based on my limited experience with SweetTalk, I tend to believe the
genetics are forgiving and resilient. This is a pollinator friendly series was observed to be very attractive to bees. Garden height of between 40 and 50 cm with a spread of 50-70 cm.
(PanAmerican Seed)
13. Lobelia Techno Deep Blue with Eye
This trailing lobelia exhibited exception performance throughout the summer of 2023 with its drought followed by high rainfall and high temperatures. It exhibited great heat tolerance and bloomed continuously through the summer. Based on our experience, this is great choice for both containers and the landscape. The white eye in the blue background of this flower contrast well helping it to stand out in the landscape. Garden height of 30 cm and a spread of 65 cm. (Syngenta Flowers)
14. Petunia Itsy Pink
The new addition to the Itsy series is pink and small; now there are pink and white colour options for this series. The summer performance in containers was amazing in 2023. If you’re not familiar with this series, it’s worth giving it a try. Bloom diametre of the Itsy series is smaller than many calibrachoa cultivars but with the petunia genetics that tends to be more forgiving of different growing conditions such as higher soil pH. Garden height of approximately 27 cm and a spread of 50 cm. (Syngenta Flowers)
15. Verbena Superbena Pink Cashmere
Here’s another wonderful colour to add to your choices of trailing verbena for both containers and landscape. Superbena Pink Cashmere is both vigorous and heat tolerant and reliably produces blooms that open as medium pink, and fade to a light pink with age. There’s something about this colour combination that never failed to grab my attention when in the garden. Garden height of 37 cm with a spread of 120cm. (Proven Winners)
16. Canna Cannova Rose Dark Bud
This is a compact seed propagated F1 hybrid canna bred by Takii and marketed by Ball Seed. This was voted as one of the Top 10 favourites in the trial beds in September. The dark buds and rose-coloured petals contrast well against the dark green foliage. This proved to be a great choice for both the landscape and container applications. Expect garden heights of approximate 1 m and a spread of 80 cm. (American Takii)
17. Lantana PassionFruit
It is always gratifying to see a new plant live up to the hype that is thrust upon it in the spotlight of CAST and elsewhere. That was certainly the case for this new lantana which has a dramatically different habit from the other lantanas in the trial. It is low growing and spreading with great bloom performance. This selection was in the Top 5 picks by visitors to the 2023
trials. With its spreading habit it is a great choice for both landscape and container applications. We saw it reach heights of 16 cm and spread to 80 cm in the tirals. (Ball FloraPlant)
18. Euphorbia (Chamaesyce) Star Dust Super Flash
This filler plant has medium vigour with a mounding/semi trailing habit and with large, densely arranged floral bracts. Garden height was approximately 20 cm with a spread of 30 cm. Container height was approximately the same at 20 cm. (Dümmen Orange)
19. Euphorbia Euphoric Double White
This selection is another dense grower with a high concentration of bracts per unit area. It has a mounding habit and by the end of the season can be seen to grow in an almost sculptural way (see photo). In the late season, the brilliant white bracts can develop a pinkish blush. Observed height in containers was over 30 cm. In the landscape it was over 25 cm with a spread of 40 cm. (Syngenta Flowers)
20. Euphorbia Glamour
The most vigorous selection of Euphorbia in the 2023 trial was the seed propagated Glamour. This selection reached heights of 61 cm with a spread of 70 cm in the garden by summer’s end. It has a much more open look then the two vegetatively propagated cultivars previously mentioned. It is a great choice for the landscape as well as for blending with other vigorous growers in mixed containers. (PanAmerican Seed)
There were many more trial entries that deserved comment over their summer’s performance and then there are the perennials that had an exceptional year. More on these in an upcoming edition of Greenhouse Canada In the meantime, stay tuned for more information about the upcoming 2024 trial season.
Geese love euphorbia
All the euphorbias had poor landscape performance in 2023 at the Landscape Ontario site because, shortly after transplanting, they were fed upon by a large flock of Canada geese to our trial beds. (We were able to take plant growth data from other trial sites that weren’t impacted by the geese.) It seems that geese have preference for this species since they avoided other plants in the trial: all euphorbia cultivars in the trial received equal treatment from the geese before we were able to shoo them away. The containers survived this onslaught since they were raised off the ground.
NOTE: I have since learned that deer repellent sprays may also work to ward off geese; this will be something I experiment with in 2024.
Battling blight
Managing two major greenhouse fungal diseases by manipulating climate: Botrytis grey mold and powdery mildew
BY DR. MOHYUDDIN MIRZA
There are many strategies to control fungal diseases in greenhouses including use of registered chemicals, pesticides and other products. There are many biocontrol agents available that can be used in the root zone. Many fungal diseases can be controlled by paying attention to climate strategies.
UNDERSTANDING CLIMATE IN A GREENHOUSE
So, what factors make up the climate?
• Light, CO2 and water: Light, of course, is the first fundamental input where the energy is fixed from the photons provided through the process
ABOVE
of photosynthesis. The reaction involves carbon dioxide absorbed from the surrounding air and water molecule is split and the end result is the glucose which is converted to carbohydrates and stored in cells for later on use in different metabolic processes. Plant health depends on how much food plant can manufacture and utilize for roots, shoots, leaf and flower development and subsequent growth.
• Temperature: It is the starting point for climate control and its application at appropriate times is critical. For example, for each crop there are recommendations for daytime, nighttime, predawn, pre night, daytime average, and 24-hour
Water droplets on a geranium leaf in a greenhouse. Above, right: Spores started germinating and infecting the leaf.
PHOTOS: MOHYUDDIN MIRZA
Image
SPECIAL FUNDING CALL
TO CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE (CEA)
The B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation (BCCAI) is pleased to announce, with generous support from Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) and the Province of British Columbia, a special Agritech Innovation Funding Opportunity for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) . BCCAI has allocated up to $4 million in funding to accelerate the growth of BC’s CEA by de-risking the development and adoption of agritech. The project budget will range from $200,000 to $1 million. Registration for the call is now open and applicants have until February 16, 2024 , to submit Expressions of Interest.
This call is open to agritech companies, technology developers and providers and CEA operators to support a new or adapted technology to improve CEA facilities’ efficiency and productivity. To be eligible, the applicant must:
→ be for-profit or non-profit organizations or cooperatives in BC.
→ have up to 499 employees.
→ have project collaborators that are small and medium enterprises, agri-businesses and farms, post-secondary institutions, Indigenous communities, or government.
The call will support innovation projects contributing towards integrating CEA operations with engineering and technologies, such as internet-of-things (IoT) sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), driven data analytics, robotic automation , and agriculture biotechnology to help the industry adopt advanced smart automation, precision farming, sustainable energy solutions, and biological pest control, etc.
Visit sfu.ca/agritech-innovation to learn more.
An example of what happens when ventilation is poor and water droplets are able to condense on flowers.
average temperatures. Then there is temperature ramping from day-to-night and night-to-day and this is the most important aspect of controlling the development of fungal diseases.
• Relative humidity: This goes hand-in-hand with the temperature. This is because the ability of air to hold moisture depends on the temperature of the air. Warmer air holds more moisture while cooler air holds less moisture and that is where condensation comes in.
Growers monitor almost all climate related data on a minuteby-minute basis. Light is logged in Joules and watts, temperature, venting percentage, relative humidity, irrigation volumes and one of the most important data on Vapor Pressure Deficit or Moisture Deficit. By monitoring the data in a graphic form (like in the above image) one can see the relationships between light and temperature, temperature and relative humidity and thus watch for any situations where dew point may be reached. If relative humidity is above 85 per cent then dew point can be reached and condensation can occur on plants surfaces and lead to development and growth of Botrytis grey mold.
Condensation takes place when the air cannot hold on to the moisture and deposits it on cooler surfaces, maybe it is the greenhouse roof or leaves or fruit. Condensation is the root cause of the fungal disease spread and germination of spores.
The amount of water that condenses depends on the
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humidity, the greenhouse air temperature and the temperature of the plastic roof. Calculations using a computer model show that every year 100 litres of water per square metre condense against the greenhouse roof. The greenhouse ventilation and dehumidification system are designed to get rid of this amount of water and set points on computer help to achieve this.
GREY MOLD
This fungus is considered “ubiquitous” meaning they are present every where and once settled down on plants parts, need water droplets to germinate and start the process of infection. It is considered a weak pathogen and needs an injury or damaged or decaying parts of plants to start infection. In image 1, on page 14, one can see how water droplets were sitting on the geranium leaf. In image 2, spores have started germinating and infecting the leaf. In this case the grower was watering late in the afternoon and water did not evaporate. Image 3, above, is from the same greenhouse where not enough attention was paid to adequate ventilation and
BELOW
A computer screen showing greenhouse climatic data.
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Image 3
water droplets were able to condense on the flowers. These pictures emphasize the importance of moisture management and air movement. Any fungicide sprays would not have worked at this stage. Climate control strategies would include:
• Manage temperature in such a way that dew point is not reached
• Temperature ramping from night to day should be gradual. One degree centigrade per hour.
• Dehumidify by ventilation based on relative humidity set points. If outdoor temperature is low, then heat and ventilate at the same time.
• Look for early warning signs of botrytis infection as spotting on leaves.
• Watch for any signs of moisture condensation on leaves and fruits. Tomato fruit may show condensation before it appears on leaves.
POWDERY MILDEW
Since bedding plants season is coming up, it should be noted that verbena plants (pictured above) are very sensitive to this fungus. Petunias, begonias and rosemary also show symptoms very quickly.
This fungus can also be controlled and prevented by environmental management. This fungus has two stages of growth and development. For germination of spores,
Hydra
LEFT
Verbena plants
it requires free water sitting on the leaves or stems and drier humidity to produce white spores. I have seen devastation of crops when plants are grown at a relative humidity of around 50 per cent. This is practiced by growers who are afraid of high humidities. This is also called a disease of over ventilation. Climate control measures include:
• Grow crops at a relative humidity of between 60 to 75 per cent
• Like Botrytis grey mold, avoid condensation by temperature ramping and watching dew points
• Silicon use as part of nutrients management is helpful
Having knowledge of integration of climate factors can help to avoid these two and other diseases as well for better sustainability.
Dr. Mohyuddin Mirza is a greenhouse industry consultant based out of Alberta. drmirzaconsultants@gmail.com
Sprayer
2024 IS THE YEAR of the squash
Reflects rising interest in home and
culinary gardening
BY DIANE BLAZEK
Every year, National Garden Bureau decides which crops to highlight in our “Year of” program. We select plant classes that are popular, or gaining in popularity, are easy to grow and have had some interesting new breeding work of late.
For 2024, we chose squash in the edible category because of the rising interest in home gardening and specifically, culinary gardening. The basic varieties always continue to sell but more and more new gardeners like to grow something unique that is also healthy to consume. Many squash varieties certainly fit that bill! Even better, many squash can be grown for decorative purposes as well.
A FEW VARIETIES OF SUMMER SQUASH TO NOTE:
Sunburst F1 – A pattypan or scalloped type known for its earliness and productivity. Can be harvested at two-to-three inches as a baby squash or grown larger. A buttery flavour makes this perfect for stir fry.
Eight Ball F1 – The first dark green round, zucchini squash. Easy to grow, the baby squash is ready about five-to-six weeks after planting. Leave the ball to get larger and use it as a bowl.
Easy Pick Gold II – A parthenocarpic golden zucchini that doesn’t need bees for pollination! An open habit and nearly spineless make it easy to harvest without pain and less scaring on the fruit.
Spineless Perfection – An improvement on Spineless Beauty with the addition of powdery mildew and virus resistances. Produces attractive, high-gloss fruit on open, truly spineless, upright plants.
summer squash that produces creamy yellow, tender fruit early in the season.
A FEW VARIETIES OF WINTER SQUASH TO NOTE:
Sweet Jade F1 – A cute, single-serving-sized kabocha type. Sweet, earthy, and nutritious, the high-yielding plants produce one-to-two-pound fruits.
Bush Delicata – Also known as Sweet potato squash, Bush Delicata is so sweet itself that butter and brown sugar are optional. The sweet flesh is fine textured without coarse strings. Skin is edible.
Sugaretti F1 – A spaghetti winter squash produced on semibush vines that spread only about 2 feet wide/long. Making it perfect for small urban gardens. The nutty sweet flesh can be used as a pasta substitute. Hard shells protect the flesh for a long shelf life.
Bossa Nova F1 – The beautiful dark and light green mottled exterior of this zucchini sets it apart and makes the fruits easier to see during a long and prolific harvest. Smooth flesh texture and sweet, mild taste.
Black Beauty – This early and prolific variety has been exceedingly popular for its very dark green skin and creamy white flesh. Fast-growing plants will produce abundantly all summer long if picked continuously.
Early Prolific Straightneck – An early, prolific straight neck
Honey Bear F1 – A flavourful and sweet, high-yielding acorn squash that tolerates cool, moist temperatures and continues to ripen squash while other varieties succumb to mildew. Compact, bush habit.
Goldilocks F1 – A golden orange acorn squash that has high yields, disease tolerance, and a sweet, rich nutty flavor. Vigorous plants produce 10+ fruits each weighing about 1 pound.
Waltham Butternut – It has a hard, yellow-to-tan exterior with a deliciously sweet, orange flesh inside. Exceptional quality, no stringiness. This long-lasting squash stores all winter.
Bonbon –Has an upright, semi-bush habit needing less garden space. The squash has thick orange flesh and, when cooked, delivers a sweet flavour (hence the name Bonbon) and creamy texture.
TIPS FOR GROWING SQUASH:
1. Sowing Seeds
• Direct sow into the garden once soil temperatures are above 65oF. Germination will not occur if soil temperatures are below 60oF.
• Avoid the temptation to sow too early as squash are a warm-season crop. Raised beds and mulch will help keep the roots warm.
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The rise in popularity of culinary gardening helped pave the way for squash to be named 2024’s ‘Year of...’ edible plant.
• Seed Depth: 1/2 – 1 inch
• Days to maturity: Usually shown for direct sow. Subtract two weeks if transplanting.
2. Summer Squash Growing Tips:
• Plant Spacing: 12-24” (read labels for specifics on your variety)
• Row Spacing: 5-6 feet
• Harvest: Most summer squash has the best fruit quality when harvested at 5-8” or smaller. Some varieties are suitable as baby vegetables. Frequent harvesting will keep the plant productive. Squash will increase in size rapidly. Inspect plants frequently for harvestable fruit.
• Storage: Summer squash is very perishable. Store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
3. Winter Squash Growing Tips:
• Plant Spacing: Bush types: 18-24”; Vining types: 24-36”
• Row Spacing: Bush, semi-bush, and short vine types: 6 feet; Vigorous vining types: 9 feet.
• Harvest indicator: Fruits are full-sized, have a deep rich color, and hard rinds that can’t be dented easily with a fingernail. Another indicator is that the ‘ground spot’ changes color from yellow to cream, gold, or orange
• Harvest and Curing: cut the stem at least 2”-4” from the fruit. A short or broken stem can lead to rot. Cure after harvest
by keeping in a warm (80-90F), dry location for a few days. Curing time will be dependent on the type. Delicata and Acorn squash do not need curing but will not store as long as other types. Gently wash in a sanitizing solution such as 10 parts water to 1 part bleach.
• Storage: Store at 50-60F with 50-75% humidity and good air circulation.
4. Pollination:
Squash requires bees to move pollen from the male to the female flowers.
• A monoecious plant, squash can produce male and female blooms, and both produce nectar which attracts the bees.
• Male blooms are borne on long, narrow stems.
• Female blooms are found close to the stem of the plant.
• It takes as many as twelve visits to a female flower by pollenladen bees to complete the pollination process.
• Timing is everything and there should be both male and female blooms open for pollination to occur.
• Incomplete pollination results in the appearance of fruits that turn from green to pale yellow and never size up.
• Oftentimes the immature fruit appears shriveled or woody.
• Remove these from the plant as soon as detected.
• Incomplete or lack of pollination can occur under windy conditions which make it difficult for the bees to move about productively or under cool, wet conditions which discourages bees from foraging.
• Planting ornamental flowers near squash can help attract bees to your vegetable garden.
• Most bees tend to fly within 30 feet of ground or tree level. If growing squash on a high balcony or rooftop, you could be out-of-range to attract bees. It may be necessary to handpollinate in this situation.
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5. Common Pests and Disease Info:
• Spotted and Striped Cucumber Beetle – the use of a floating row cover can be effective in controlling cucumber beetles. Remove all crop debris to discourage overwintering populations and practice crop rotation.
• Squash Vine Borer – causes plants to look wilted even when moisture is adequate. If possible, slice open the stem, remove the borer, and destroy it.
• Squash (Stink) Bugs – feed on plant sap and fruit juices. Make sure to harvest often and remove overgrown fruit. Neem oil, Insecticidal soap, and homemade soap or coffee ground sprays work against adult squash bugs. Or if you are fast, handpick the bugs and drop them in a pail of soapy water. Crush the bronze to brick red coloured eggs found on the stems and underside of leaves. Remove old vines and leaf litter from the garden where adult squash bugs overwinter.
• Powdery Mildew – create good air circulation by providing wide spacing and eliminating weeds. Choose resistant varieties. Remove severely infected leaves. Squash will releaf.
• Fruit rots – such as scab, fusarium fruit rot, and anthracnose are common under wet conditions. Space plants apart, avoid wetting foliage and water early in the day so leaves can dry by nightfall.
• Bacterial Wilt and Virus –infections can be controlled by removing and destroying infected plants to prevent further spread. Choose resistant varieties.
Diane Blazek is executive director of National Garden Bureau (NGB). NGB is a North American non-profit organization and marketing arm of the gardening industry. It exists to educate, inspire, and motivate the use of plants in homes, gardens, and workplaces. NGB members come from around the world and are experts in the field of horticulture.
Squash Fun Facts:
1. The first pumpkin pie was baked in the pumpkin shell, not in a pie crust.
2. “Squash” comes from the Narragansett word askutasquash, which means “eaten raw or uncooked”
3. Just one acre of squash plants could yield about 10,000 squash
4. Squash have been found since at least 8,000 BC in Mexico, Peru & the Eastern part of North America.
5. Early squash were used as containers and utensils due to their hard outer shells.
6. All types of squash are part of the genus Cucurbita
Thrips parvispinus Q & A
A quick update on monitoring this pest and resources for growers
BY GREENHOUSE CANADA
Greenhouse Canada recently reached out to entomologist Dr. Ken Fry, of Olds College in Alberta, to share some up-to-date insights on one of the newest Thrips species making a pest of themselves in Canadian greenhouses. Here’s what he had to say about this unwanted intruder:
1.What are the primary challenges associated with studying and controlling Thrips parvispinus
Dr. Ken Fry: The damage is similar to broad mite damage so it can easily be misdiagnosed. They are very small so may be missed when conducting visual inspections. The larvae prefer young rolled up leaves (newly emerging) therefore not easily detected. This species does lay its eggs in the bracts of flowers so flowers are also damaged and not just the leaves (this is important to note to distinguish from broad mite damage, as broad mites do not usually damage flowers). Another aspect of this
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species that is concerning is tropical or ornamental plants with a single growing point are worst affected. The feeding can dead-head the plant.
2. Are there specific environmental factors that contribute to the population dynamics of Thrips parvispinus?
Fry: [Thrips parvispinus] is not much different than the Western flower thrips in terms of response to environmental conditions.
3. Can you recommend any monitoring or surveillance techniques that growers can use to detect Thrips parvispinus early in their crops?
Fry: Monitor vegetative foliage before flowers develop in order to be proactive in managing the thrips. Plant tapping (tapping foliage over a white sheet of paper) is well correlated with foliar damage versus adult counts in flowers. This thrips is usually
According to Dr. Fry, Thrips paravaspinus lay eggs in the bracts of flowers so flowers are also damaged and not just the leaves (this is important to note to distinguish from broad mite damage, as broad mites do not usually damage flowers).
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found to be patchy in its distribution. Plant tapping has been found to be more reliable than using sticky cards. Monitoring should be conducted weekly as the developmental time is short (approx. three weeks).
4. Are there any practices or crop management strategies that can help reduce the risk of Thrips parvispinus infestations?
Fry: Biosecurity is the first step. Quarantine all new plant material coming in to detect contamination and prevent spread in the production area. Communicate with your suppliers about possible risk of contamination, which biocontrols or pesticides they have used so you can integrate your practices accordingly (i.e. pesticide mode of action rotation sequence).
Cuttings can be dipped in soaps, oils and Beauveria bassiana. Check the label for approved crops and rates. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) website has good information on preventative dipping. Mass trapping of adults using yellow sticky cards has been shown to be effective in ornamental crops. The adults are very active fliers and readily go to sticky cards. There are several biological control agents that have been shown to be effective against this Thrips, including Orius spp., green and brown lacewings, and Amblyseius swirskii. Anystis is also being evaluated for efficacy against the pepper thrips. For pesticide use and this species, please see the Greenhouse Canada article in the August 2023 issue by Dr. Sarah Jandricic.
5. What is the current state of research on Thrips parvispinus, and are there any recent developments or findings that are particularly relevant?
Fry: I know that there are people in Florida testing various pesticides (see the IR4 thrips efficacy update (https://www.ir4project.org/ehc/ researchsummary/efficacy/thripsefficacy-2022/). Dr. Rose Buitenhuis at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre is also doing some work on monitoring, as is Dr. Sarah Jandricic, from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).
Resources for growers:
MEALYBUG management
Strategies for effective control in greenhouses
BY JADEN GIMONDO, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION AND RAYMOND CLOYD, KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Mealybugs are a common insect pest in greenhouses, causing damage to plants and reducing yields. Mealybugs extract plant fluids through their piercing-sucking mouthparts, leading to stunted growth, yellowing leaves, wilting, and the production of sticky honeydew. Mealybugs can be introduced into greenhouses through tropical, foliage, and succulent plant material shipments, making effective control strategies important. A combination of cultural, insecticidal, and biological management strategies need to be implemented to manage mealybug populations.
Identifying mealybugs is relatively easy due to their elliptical shape and distinctive white, waxy filaments protruding from their body. While they retain their legs in all instar stages, mealybugs seldom move except for the first nymphal instar stage or crawler, which actively searches for a place to feed. Some species leave behind white, cottony egg masses and excrete honeydew, which can lead to the growth of black sooty mold. Their ability to hide in plant crevasses makes them particularly difficult to manage. Since only adult male mealybugs fly, yellow sticky cards are not effective for scouting. Therefore, using a hand lens or magnifying glass to confirm the identity of mealybugs is recommended. Keeping records of mealybug infestations and location will help in making effective management decisions.
DISPOSAL AND QUARANTINING
comprehensive assessment of the crop, pest, economic factors, and the availability and effectiveness of management options. Plant material susceptible to mealybugs should be quarantined before introducing into the greenhouse. For high-value crops where disposal is not ideal, quarantining infested plants helps ensure mealybugs do not spread to unaffected plants. Quarantine protocols will be different depending on the size of the operation and the crop type, but the basic steps include the following:
1. Isolation: Place new plants in a separate area, away from the main greenhouse, to prevent the spread of mealybugs to other plants. This could be an area as large as a greenhouse or as small as a grow tent.
2. Inspection: Before bringing new plants into the greenhouse, inspect them thoroughly for mealybugs, focusing on growing tips and areas where the leaf attaches to the stem.
damage on a citrus leaf.
One of the most effective ways to stop the spread of mealybugs in the greenhouse is to dispose of heavily infested plant material. Setting up pest thresholds in your operation is important to determine when to cut your losses and throw away plant material. A pest threshold is the level at which a pest population in a crop reaches the point where it begins to cause economic losses. In other words, it is the point at which the cost of controlling the pest exceeds the cost of the damage it causes to the crop. Determining a pest threshold requires a
3. Prevention: Rejecting the shipment and contacting the supplier may be necessary.
4. Treatment: If mealybugs are found on new plants, treat plants with an insecticide before introducing them into the greenhouse. Thorough coverage of all plant parts is important and multiple applications will be required.
5. Monitoring: Regularly inspect quarantined plants for mealybugs and treat with an insecticide as needed.
6. Record keeping: Record when and where mealybugs are found, severity of the infestation, and any insecticides applied. Record-keeping will help determine the effectiveness of the quarantine measures.
SANITATION
Proper greenhouse sanitation is crucial to mitigate the spread of mealybugs. It is important to keep greenhouses clean. Doing so will help to minimize mealybug problems before the spring growing season begins.
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Before bringing new plants into the greenhouse, inspect them thoroughly for mealybugs, focusing on growing tips and areas where the leaf attaches to the stem.
The first step in greenhouse sanitation is to remove all plant debris. Weeds, plant debris, and unsalable plants can serve as hosts for insects, mites, diseases, and plant viruses. Remove all weeds and plant debris and place them into a tightly sealed, covered garbage container to prevent pests and pathogens from migrating out and back onto the main crop. Remember to remove organic material and debris (media, spent plants, other organic material) daily, to increase the effectiveness of disinfectants.
Mealybugs are easily spread in a greenhouse. Therefore, educating employees/workers on the importance of sanitation practices is important. Workers should be trained to identify signs of mealybug infestations on plants and the areas in the greenhouse where mealybugs are commonly located to prevent infestations from spreading. It is also important to remind workers to wash their hands frequently and disinfect, not only tools and equipment, but also any containers, trays, or other items used to transport plants. By taking these measures, workers can help reduce the risk of spreading mealybugs in a greenhouse.
PESTICIDE CONTROL
Due to their protective waxy covering, mealybugs can be challenging to manage with insecticides. The covering is waterresistant and reduces exposure to insecticide residues. Most
insecticides have limited activity on mealybug eggs. The nymphal stages are the most susceptible to because they have not formed the waxy covering. Insecticides need to be applied frequently, at least once per week, due to the presence of multiple generations. When using insecticides to manage mealybug populations be sure to rotate insecticides with different modes of action. This will reduce the likelihood of mealybugs developing resistance. Refer to the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) website on information pertaining to insecticide modes of action.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL?
Biological control agents such as mealybug destroyers (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri) and lacewing larvae (Chrysoperla spp.), can be released to manage mealybug populations.
Vineland Research and Innovation Centre launches unique, Canadian-specific service
BY AMY KOUNIAKIS
A unique service offered by the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland) is ushering in a new era of plant variety development designed specifically for Canadian growers.
Vineland’s new consumer-driven plant variety development service aims to eliminate some of the guesswork and inherent risks associated with new variety development all while keeping the needs of Canadian consumers and growers in mind.
“We want to get the best varieties into the hands of Canadian producers,” said Travis Banks, Vineland’s director of plant variety development. “A lot of material is developed outside of Canada and seed companies don’t breed with Canadian issues in mind.”
For example, Banks explains, tomato varieties developed in Europe will be bred to perform and
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appeal to consumers in that part of the world. While they may still be able to grow in Canada, they might not be bred to resist diseases or pests found in Canada or to the taste of Canadian consumers.
This is a gap Vineland looks to close with its new service. In fact, while the plant development service is relatively new, the program has been founded on the success of several projects that have yielded some uniquely Canadian results.
Banks recalls a decade ago being approached by Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) about developing a new tomato on the vine (TOV).
“We helped develop a TOV that out-yielded others growing in Canada,” Banks noted adding, “it tasted better and exhibited better disease resistance.”
How did they do this, one might ask?
Vineland Research and Innovation Centre’s new consumer-driven plant variety development service helped to develop the Radiance Sweet Potato.
The Radiance Sweet Potato out-yields most other varieties and is frost-resistent.
“All of our processes are data-driven, bringing consumer science together with breeding and genomics,” Banks said. It starts with understanding consumer (and this can be a groweror end-product consumer) needs.
To zero in on those preferences, Vineland’s team of consumer and sensory scientists and researchers work extensively with consumer panels.
Resources are then focused on materials with the highest potential. These are then subjected to extensive agronomic evaluations. Variety evaluation guided by consumer preference at an earlier stage in the breeding process gives researchers an opportunity to select for varieties that will perform better in the Canadian marketplace, Banks explained.
In the meantime, “we incorporate the consumer work, all the way through and we can select for highest consumer preference,” he said.
In some cases, a desired trait may not exist so Vineland researchers subject materials to Deep Variant Scanning, a patented, new spin on a 100 year-old technique which allows researchers to ‘turn off’ specific genes in a particular crop to help develop the new desired trait.
Variety development is still a lengthy process, as “we can only move as fast as plant biology allows us,” Banks said, but the end product is one that is better positioned in the marketplace.
Another successful Canadian-specific variety development project Banks highlights is the Radiance sweet potato.
Several years ago, researchers noticed that most sweet potatoes were being imported to Canada from the U.S. They started looking into why this was the trend and how could they possibly support the local production of sweet potatoes..
Vineland took up the challenge and the resulting variety is the Radiance sweet potato. “It can be grown in time for Canadian Thanksgiving,” noted Banks, “and it is frost-resistant and out-yields other varieties by 20 per cent.”
In addition to new variety development, Banks’ team at Vineland also does evaluations of plant materials for the Canadian marketplace.
“We can help make predictions on how a plant is going to perform and how
it will be seen by consumers,” Banks said. “We can help guide a company in how
Your local Plant Products representative is always available to provide industry-leading technical support.
Everything you need to grow
Plant Products is a distributor of fertilizer, biocontrols, crop protection, and other innovative inputs serving the Canadian specialty horticulture industry for over 80 years.
Syngenta Canada announced in January that electric trucks will roll through southern Ontario in 2024 delivering crop protection and seed products with zero CO2e emissions. Working in collaboration with supply chain partner Future Transfer, Syngenta Canada will debut three electric trucks – marking a sustainability win and an industry first.
“By adding electric trucks to our logistics transportation fleet, Syngenta Canada will reduce CO2e emissions by approximately 25,000 kg each year. This is equal to removing eight passenger vehicles from the road,” said Jose Nucci, Head, Production and Supply, Syngenta Canada, in a press release.
Electric trucks significantly reduce CO2e emissions, and when compared to
diesel, provide upwards of 90 per cent reduction. Delivering on the company’s commitment to sustainability, the distribution of crop protection and seed products using electric trucks will begin in 2024 with routes departing from Future Transfer’s Tillsonburg, Ont. sites.
“This is an exciting time for agriculture and for our organizations,” says Ron Thorner, National Logistics Manager, Future Transfer. His team not only provides Syngenta with distribution, warehousing, and production services, but is a strategic partner in delivering sustainability and innovations to benefit Canadian growers. “Partnering with Syngenta to serve customers with reduced emissions is a great step forward to achieving our shared sustainability goals,” he says. (Source: Syngenta Canada)
Horticulture industry mourns loss of David
van Wingerden
The Express Seed Company recently shared the sad news that David van Wingerden, passed away on January 15th after a 19-month battle with leukemia.
“On behalf of our family, management team, and employees, we extend our deepest sympathies to David’s family,” a press release from Express Seed said. “David was a devoted figure who brought passion, stewardship and energy in horticulture to Express Seed Company, its suppliers, and its customers.”
Growing up alongside his siblings in the greenhouse business founded by his father, John van Wingerden, David developed a love for the horticultural industry early on and recognized the importance of vertical integration within this industry’s global supply chain.
He began his career in the family companies in 1997 at Green Circle Growers. He eventually made the switch to Express Seed and became COO in 2006. More recently he took on the additional role of CIO.
Prior to entering the family companies, Van Wingerden and his wife Keri served in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia for 16 months of life-changing work and ministry. He advised several local farms regarding the production of different vegetables, fruits, flowers, and dairy products. While there he established Genesis Farms for vegetable production and helped Alema Farms, a chicken hatchery and feed company, get their start.
“We’ve lost a son, brother, friend, and fellow business partner. This is a sorrowful time after his courageous battle against leukemia,” a statement from his father and brothers, reads. “We will miss him dearly. We thank everyone who has supported David and his family during his 19-month battle with leukemia.” (Source: Express seed company)
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INSIDE VIEW
GARY JONES | greenhousewolf@gmail.com
Shout it from the hilltops
Well, I know you’re not reading this until February (earliest!), but as I’m writing, the Christmas and New Year festivities are just fading into the rear-view mirror. The sun is shining, and the daffodils and crocus are already poking their first foliage up full of Spring promise.
Yet, watching the evening news on the TV, it would appear that for most people this time of year would mean only one thing – those high street sales! (Personally, I’d rather not be in the mall, but out enjoying a hike near the mountains, but that’s another story.) All the commercial breaks in this prime-time slot seem to be in-yourface, shouting loud deals that you’d just be crazy to miss. I don’t know how it started, (perhaps someone can enlighten me), but Boxing Day and New year are now the ‘traditional’ time of those High Street ‘sales’, with retailers doing all they can to get people to spend. (As if we didn’t all spend enough already before Christmas.)
But marketing these days is very diverse and takes many options. Not just the immediate screaming ads style, offering you the opportunity to ‘buy now, pay (much) later’ that works our built-in need to avoid ‘F.O.M.O.’, and makes us act. Of course, there are the blitzes of community mail that comes through the mailbox. (Community mail, not junk mail, unless you want to upset your Canada Post mail carrier.) You might send out your own flyers, with special offers to get
of-sale information and encouragements for customers to buy. Presumably your company’s loyalty cards (I bet you have several from your local coffee shops?) or ‘points’/’rewards’ schemes. Of course, there are always ‘seasonal sales’, and the ‘Buy 3, Get a 4th free’ kind of promotions (be careful – as we’ve seen in this magazine in the past, that the economics of discounting are not as straightforward as you may think). Putting on special customer appreciation events or workshops are other ways to build customer loyalty.
And of course, there are lots of online or digital options. You might want to do some webinars or other educational sessions. Our very own Editor Amy had news of Greenhouse Canada’s ideas for these in her December Editorial. Or use social media outlets for spreading the word about your products, business, or services. Maybe direct e-mails to customer lists.
Your customers are still one of your best marketing tools
folks to your garden centre. Posters, billboards, roadside signs. Perhaps if you’re creative, those funny phrase boards to make passers-by think. You know, things like “You can’t plant spring flowers if you haven’t botany”. (Not mine). Pictures/ marketing material on the side/back of transit buses maybe. Perhaps you also use your own newsletters (paper or digital) for your regular customers, keeping them up to date as to what to do this month or to prepare for in the coming season. (Realtors are often telling clients how to increase the value of their real estate, and this often includes pieces on your home’s front yard curb-appeal – is there a partnership there ready for taking?)
No doubt you have some really cool point-
The possibilities are extensive (not quite endless…). You’re probably applying many of these options already. Which is great. But I was thinking that building long-term customer relationships and connecting people to your products, is ultimately about simply connecting with people. Making them feel special. We have some amazing products in our industry. Just look at the crazy amount of choice for new poinsettia varieties this year, or Mel Sawaya’s trials reviews that take not just a couple of pages in Greenhouse Canada, but multiple parts over several issues. We’re certainly not short of some incredible, eye-catching, value-for-money materials for marketing.
Of course, there’s something to be said for the old style ‘produce a quality product and encourage word-of-mouth, personal touch’. Your customers are still one of your best marketing tools. But these days, our industry has so much top-notch quality product and competition, that we should use all the options available to us. As we’re at the start of a new season, what is it that you need to step out into to market your products?
Gary Jones sits on several greenhouse industry committees in BC and welcomes comments at greenhousewolf@gmail.com.
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