Garden Mum Refresher 2025: Managing Nutrients, Size Tracking, and PGRs

This post was contributed to by OMAFA’s Greenhouse Floriculture Production Specialists past and present: Kathryn Russell, Abigail Wiesner, and Dr. Chevonne Dayboll.

As we feel temperatures rising, summer is on its way – and so are garden mums! Although generally an easy crop, there are several tweaks you can make to help save headaches AND money. This post has updated information to help you optimize your nutrient management and growth regulation/tracking in garden mum production.

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“How-to” Video of the Week: Checking the Quality of Predatory Mite Sachets

The “walk-out” technique to assess predatory mite sachets. Details on how to do this (and why!) are in the video. Photo by R. Buitenhuis.

In this week’s “how-to” video, we’ll continue exploring how to assess the quality of the biocontrol agents you receive.

This video focuses on a staple of thrips control – predatory mite sachets. These can be a bit trickier to assess than loose product, but it’s important to use the right technique to avoid underestimating the quality of sachets (something even I’ve been guilty of).

Keep reading to find the link to the video and additional resources.

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Garden Mums 2024 – Tips, Tricks, and Production Bits

This post was contributed to by Abigail Wiesner, Drs. Sarah Jandricic, and Chevonne Dayboll.

As we feel temperatures rising, summer is on its way – and so are garden mums! This post has updated information to help you optimize your irrigation, fertilizer, pest management programs and more in garden mum production.

Continue reading “Garden Mums 2024 – Tips, Tricks, and Production Bits”

“How-to” Video of the Week: Releasing Biocontrol Agents Successfully

The Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, in collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), has produced a number of videos demonstrating important greenhouse IPM practices.

These videos are based on current information and best practices, and are in an easy-to-follow format. Better yet, they are all under 10 minutes long!

Each week, we’ll be releasing a new video. All videos in the series are applicable to both greenhouse floriculture and vegetable pest management.

Keep reading to find the link to the video and further reading for successful IPM!

Continue reading ““How-to” Video of the Week: Releasing Biocontrol Agents Successfully”