May 2010, Volume 20 Number 5

On the Cover:

Varieties From the Winners Circle

MSU Research: Tough Performers in the Trial Garden

Pots & Containers: Multiple PGR Drenches

Basil Diseases

Six Methods of Irrigation

Technically Speaking: Conduct Your Own Greenhouse Trials

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features

variety information

12 Winners Circle

Every grower wants to produce extraordinary plants. Trialed for strength, color and versatility, these honored beauties should fi nd their way into your lineup.

Compiled by Jasmina Radjevic

research

18 MSU Plant Trials Report

There were some great performers in the 2009 trial gardens at Michigan State University. They had the best of both worlds: toughness and beauty!

By Art Cameron

crop cultivation

23 Multiple Topfl or Drenches for Baskets

Hanging baskets are a huge selling opportunity for garden centers today, but controlling the vigorous varieties that make them so vibrant can be a challenge.

By Jim Barrett and Carolyn Bartuska

grower 101

26 Six Ways to Automate Irrigation

There are many ways to automate the watering process in commercial greenhouses. Here’s a look at how professional growers do it.

By John Howe

culture connection

34 Perennial Solutions: Campanula persicifolia ‘Takion Blue’

This bellfl ower, a seed-propagated F1 hybrid, is a garden stunner with long, narrow leaves and upward-facing blue-violet fl owers.

By Paul Pilon

36 Crop Culture Report: Alcea Spotlight Series

Classic staples in the garden, hollyhocks have been around for thousands of years. Jelitto improves on their old-fashioned beauty with these tall, strong and colorful varieties.

By Allen Bush

37 New Varieties

Bacopa, coreopsis, ajuga, begonia.

38 Variety Spotlight

Primula, calibrachoa.

columns

this month in diseases

10 Basil

By A.R. Chase and Margery Daughtrey

technically speaking

42 Do It Yourself

Many articles often recommend that growers do their own smaller-scale tests for the specifi ed procedures. Here are a few tips for conducting your own experiments.

By Erik Runkle, Michigan State University

in every issue

6 Editor’s Report 7 News on the Grow

7 Seeley Conference Announces Keynotes 7 Fafard Introduces New Mixes 8 Conard-Pyle Changes Knock Out Distribution

8 Calendar

33 Product Focus: Tags & Labels 40 Product Showcase 41 Ad Index/Classifi eds

On the Cover:

Baptisia australis, blue false indigo,

is the 2010 Perennial Plant of the Year. Find more information on this award winner, plus many others, on page 12.

(Photo: Steven Still)

4 GPN May 2010

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