Page 5 - Griffin Gazette - July 2026
P. 5
Variety selection is one of the most critical Disease Management: Disease requires three
decisions in programming a successful garden elements: inoculum, a favorable environment, and
1 mum crop, so ask yourself: did I program 3 a susceptible host. Eliminating any one of these
appropriately? prevents disease from developing.
Use the Fresh-All-Fall tables in our Garden Mums The primary soilborne threats are Pythium and
Catalog to select cultivars that flower exactly Fusarium, both of which thrive when plants are
when you need them. Identify your region using stressed. Common stress factors include:
our Geographical Regions map which accounts
for varietal responses to night temperature and • High temps and intense, direct sun
day length, then match your desired finish week on a container
and color accordingly. • Fluctuating moisture levels
(overly wet or dry conditions)
Additional resources including At-A-Glance tables
and Culture Guides are available to support your • High soluble salt buildup in the growing media
program.
Fungicide programs are the most effective defense
Fertility: Garden mums are heavy feeders
against both pathogens. Follow a comprehensive
requiring continuous nutrition. Begin fertilizing product rotation to manage crop health throughout
2 with a complete N–P–K fertilizer containing 200–
the season. See our Protecting Garden Mums
300 ppm of nitrogen at the first irrigation and use
Against Soilborne Diseases tech sheet for more
continuous liquid feed throughout production.
information and example preventive programs.
Later in the crop cycle, fertilizer rates can be
reduced once the plant body has been built
and/or if irrigations occur multiple times per day.
Always apply enough fertilizer solution to allow 4 Managing Cool Nights: Mums can initiate
full saturation of the soil and up to 10% of the flowering under long days when cool nights
solution drains out of the pot to prevent soluble are present, making early-season temperature
management critical. Two strategies can help
salt build-up.
prevent premature budding and phosphorus
After a significant rain event (1/2–1-inch), apply deficiency from inactive roots:
200–300 ppm N feed to recharge the soil solution.
• Use larger propagation cells. A 32 to 50-
Controlled release fertilizers (CRF) can be used cell tray gives liners more room to branch
as a top dress application or incorporated into and develop, allowing them to stay indoors
the substrate before planting. Northern growers under controlled temperatures longer before
should use a 3–4 or 5–6-month product while transplanting.
southern growers should use a 5–6 or 8–9-month
• Start and transplant later. Delaying transplant
product. When using CRFs be sure to use a
until mid-to-late June — when nights
water-soluble fertilizer for the initial irrigation after
consistently stay above 62°F — reduces
transplanting.
premature bud set. Though it shortens crop
time, it results in larger, healthier finished plants.
GRIFFIN GAZETTE 2 026 | 5
