Tips for Ensuring Healthy Mum Production
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June 25, 2021
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Producing healthy mums can sometimes prove challenging for growers. Because many mums are produced outdoors during the summer months, these crops are highly susceptible to harsh weather conditions as well as both insect and disease pressure.
Take Preventive Action Against Diseases
Step 1: Start strong with proper planning
Proper preparation can help limit the chances of production complications and ensure strong plant quality. Begin by working to mitigate conditions favorable to disease development such as:
- High temperatures
- Direct sunlight
- Over-saturated soil
Step 2: Practice proper agronomics and operational cleanliness
Diseases can be spread by workers or inoculum build up from previously infected plants, so be sure to prioritize sanitation throughout the crop production cycle. Additional tips that can help ensure a healthy crop include:
- Starting with a healthy root system
- Choosing a production site that is a level field with good drainage
- Irrigating early in the day to avoid plants being wet overnight
- Elevating plants off the ground when saturated
Step 3: Take a Programmatic Approach
Preventive action is an essential step in protecting mums during production. Action should take place either when the environmental conditions are conducive for disease development or when growers first notice symptoms of disease. Product application frequency should be based on the activity of the product, environmental conditions at the time, pest lifecycle and pressure level. Another critical step in crop protection is to consistently rotate applications between products with different modes of action.
Syngenta has an extensive portfolio of fungicides growers can use in rotation for broad-spectrum disease control and resistance management. Effective options for rotation include:
In addition to a portfolio of fungicides, we have developed an agronomic program for mums available to download. By following an agronomic program, you can better position products to control key insects and diseases during mum production. This program features a built-in resistance management strategy that incorporates different modes of action for both disease and insect control to help keep crops healthy.
Early signs of fusarium on garden mums
Prevent Costly Insect Damage
At any stage during production, growers should look out for the following insects that can cause harmful damage to their mums:
Aphids:
These insects can mulitply quickly and are often found feeding in groups on new growth, stems and buds, resulting in curled, distorted and discolored leaves. Aphids also spread Chrysanthemum Virus B.
Thrips:
With a high reproductive rate and short life cycle, thrips can be difficult to control. These insects cause leaf stippling and distortion as well as discolored and rolled terminals. Like aphids, thrips can spread viruses such as Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus and Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus. Although thrips pose a higher threat after mums have bloomed, they can still damage foliage during earlier production stages.
Worms:
Loopers, armyworms and other lepidopteran pests can damage mums if not found in time. Growers should look for moth activity in production areas and be ready to apply appropriate controls to stop worms before they feed on terminals.
To help prevent insect damage, Syngenta recommends the following insecticides:
To learn more about the tools available to help grow healthy, attractive mums, visit GreenCastOnline.com/Solutions.
All photos are either property of Syngenta or are used with permission.
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