New Guinea Impatiens Roller Coaster Series

Roller Coaster varieties are a new and unique series of New Guinea Impatiens. They not only boast a large flower with double the petals, but each petal has a ruffled margin, like the tracks of a roller coaster, giving a much more three-dimensional effect in the garden.

Begonia I’Conia Bacio Series

Bacio means “Little Kiss,” and these were named because they are a miniature version of the best-selling Portofinos. Like the Portofino, they have the rich, decadent foliage color and are tolerant of full sun or full shade in most climates. They have brightly colored flowers that will really pop against the dark leaves, and the flowers are smaller but more plentiful than most begonias, giving a full flush of color all summer long. Being naturally smaller plants, they’re the perfect pick for quart containers or even baskets if you don’t want the plants to get overly large in the season.

Coleus Main Street Beale Street

This is the first coleus to win the All-America Selections award. Beale Street was proven to be the only true red coleus on the market that stood in full sun conditions without fading, flecking or scorching throughout North America, and resisted flowering months later than comparison varieties.

Geranium Big EEZE Watermelon

An interspecific geranium series engineered with all the benefits of zonal and ivy geraniums but keeping the classic look of a zonal geranium that consumers want, with ultra large flowers, stronger habits and superior summer performance. Watermelon is the newest addition with a screaming pink color perfect for summer.

Petunia DuraBloom Series

This is the first interspecific series of petunias that have had the traditional floriferous types crossed with a new wild species with a very robust root system that is heat and drought tolerant. The results are strong plants which are both “tough and pretty.” Daylength neutral and summer tolerance provides 12 months of flower power.

Coleus Le Freak

A new stand-alone variety suitable for mass garden plantings or to add a fun and feathery texture to combination plantings. Le Freak has long narrow foliage with a trendy color combination of variegation that blends well with any color palette. Le Freak is sun or shade tolerant for easy gardener success.

Phlox Woodlander Series

A new interspecific evergreen groundcover phlox with extended flower power. The blooms are larger than traditional subulate types for added retail appeal and last much longer on the bench and in the garden. Woodlander phlox are adaptable to both sun and partial shade for better consumer success.

Begonia benariensis BIG® White Green Leaf

Our most exciting BIG addition: Extremely well branched with short internodes so it’s covered with blooms. Outstanding garden performance lives up to the BIG Begonia name. Earlier to set blooms then perfect mounded habit later in the season. Extremely heat tolerant.

Begonia Groovy™ Series

The Groovy™ series is a new compact boliviensis begonia series from seed. Their mounded, semi-trailing habit makes shipping easy! Superior germination rate, outstanding plug performance and uniformity across the series makes growing easy. Bigger flowers and shorter internodes for more color at retail. Thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Begonia Nonstop

The most trusted series in tuberous begonias now has two new bicolors! Begonia Nonstop Fire has distinct orange edges with a bright yellow center and Sunset has a warm yellow center that radiates orange tones out to the edge of each petal. A great option for Mother’s Day!

Begonia Nonstop Mocca

Begonia Nonstop Mocca Deep Red brings a unique color to the industry. The flower is the deepest red on the market with rich bronze foliage. Exceptional seed quality will make it an industry standard. Wow your customers with this unforgettable variety.

Celosia Brainiac

If you’re familiar with Benary’s Amigo series, you will love their new Brainiac Series. Early flowering, heat tolerant, and compact, the Brainiac series is outstanding for packs and 4”. They also have better germination, and availability than the Amigos with the same great outdoor performance! What a fun, memorable product!

Petunia Success HD

Growers love Petunia SUCCESS! HD for their high-density production! Now Benary is expanding this genetically compact series with a new Light Pink! A perfect color for spring hanging baskets, it also blends with other colors for outstanding mixed containers, all with the proven garden performance of the SUCCESS! name.

Rudbeckia Amarillo Gold

Rudbeckia Amarillo Gold is a compact, more uniform version of Prairie Sun. Our breeders were able to keep the large, eye-catching flowers the same size while “shrinking” the height of the plant. The result is a stunning, well branched plant with rugged garden performance that is easy to ship!

Salvia Farina

The new Salvia Farina Lavender Bicolor makes seven distinct colors in the series! The Salvia Farina Series is well branched and early flowering which means your benches will be filled with more flowers all season. The Salvia Farina Series is also the most uniform in height between colors for extremely consistent containers.

Bidens Taka Tuka

Named for the gold coins from Pippi Longstocking’s Taka Tuka land, Bidens Taka Tuka Series is always fun and exciting. New Taka Tuka Yellow Red Star is no exception. This brilliant new bicolor has an outstanding habit that is great in baskets or combos.

Lantana Evita

Suntory Flowers

Pericallis ‘Senetti Violet’

A vibrant new color joins the Senetti line: ‘Senetti Violet’ has deep violet-blue flowers with white radiating from the center eye for dramatic effect. Plants are more compact than top-selling Senetti varieties Magenta Bicolor and Blue Bicolor. Habit is similar to ‘Senetti Ruby Red.’ Excellent in gallon pots. Perfect for early spring sales, Senetti delivers cool colors for the cool season!

Catharanthus ‘Soiree Kawaii Blueberry Kiss’ and ‘Soiree Kawaii Coral Reef’

Pucker up for the new Soiree Kawaii color, Blueberry Kiss! Denim blue flowers with dark purple eyes offer a great new hue for summer landscapes and combination plantings. Also new for 2021 is ‘Soiree Kawaii Coral Reef,’ an improvement to Coral that is more compact, to match the series.

Petunia ‘Surfinia Purple Heart’ and ‘Surfinia Heartbeat Improved’

‘Surfinia Heartbeat’ now has a companion, ‘Surfinia Purple Heart.’ Each white flower features a pattern of five purple hearts. Perfect for patriotic promotions! Also new is Heartbeat Improved, which offers better overall performance.

Scaevola ‘Surdiva Purple’

Purple joins Suntory’s amazingly compact and colorful Surdiva scaevola series! Plants are covered with amethyst-colored fan-shaped flowers. Great to mix in combinations with other heat-loving summer annuals. Purple joins Surdiva Blue Violet, Fashion Pink, Sky Blue and White Improved.

Bracteantha ‘Granvia Gold’

Offered in 2020 on a trial basis, Granvia Gold is a supersized strawflower — a vigorous plant with large golden blooms. This plant is perfect for large patio pots, stunning in beds, with an outstanding summer performance, even in the South. Granvia Gold is suitable for spring, summer and fall sales. Minimum recommended pot size is gallon.

Intergeneric hybrid ‘Grandaisy White Improved’

Suntory is perfecting its Grandaisy series. The new White Improved solves problems with the previous white: Northern growers were seeing foliage bleaching in cooler temperatures. Plants also have a fuller habit and time better with the rest of the series. Grandaisy produces showstopping plants with large blooms in a unique color range.

Rose ‘Brindabella Pink Princess’

Brindabella Roses offer the best of both worlds — modern disease-resistance and performance, but old-fashioned flowers and fragrance! Flowers are fully petaled, like a hybrid tea. New Pink Princess produces gorgeous frosting pink blooms and is a sport of Purple Prince.

Senetti Suntory Mixers: Neon Nites and Bicolor Blitz

Suntory Flowers will offer Senetti combo kits at the cuttings farms next season. Top sellers blend beautifully together in large planters. Bicolor Blitz pairs Senetti Magenta Bicolor with Blue Bicolor. Neon Nites pairs Magenta with Deep Blue. Cool colors for the cool season!

Engineering, plant biology and physics researchers at North Carolina State University are looking at ways greenhouses could become energy neutral by using see-through solar panels to harvest energy. In a recent study, "Achieving Net Zero Energy Greenhouses by Integrating Semitransparent Organic Solar Cells," researchers looked at the benefits of using semitransparent organic cells to mitigate energy consumption.

Brendan O’Connor, corresponding author of the study and an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at NCSU, says the research aimed to see if the energy demand of a greenhouse could be met by placing semitransparent solar cells on its roof.

O’Connor credits the effort to a “serendipitous discussion” between himself and colleagues. “We were in a meeting discussing energy in general and someone said, ‘Look, these organic solar cells have an absorption spectrum that could potentially compliment chlorophyll absorption.’’’

This led to ongoing experiments to assess plant growth under solar cells, the synthesis of new materials to tune absorption spectrums, and the impact of different solar-cell material on plant growth. According to O’Connor, plants only use some wavelengths of light for photosynthesis and the idea of the study was to create a greenhouse that makes energy from the unused light while simultaneously allowing most of the photosynthetic band of light to pass through.

For the study, O’Connor and his colleagues used a model to determine how much energy greenhouses in Arizona, North Carolina and Wisconsin could produce with semitransparent organic solar cells on their roofs, and if the amount was enough for the greenhouses to operate effectively.

While the data has not been published nor publicized yet, O’Connor says, “it looks very promising” and that he and the research team are excited about it.

“I think greenhouses are going to continually get more sophisticated with technology, and I think that our solar cells in general are going to be part of that solution,” he says. “As they get more sophisticated and are able to be more energy independent, then it's only going to help productivity and help economics and hopefully continue to improve implementation widespread for a range of plants.”

Since the model is funded by the National Science Foundation under the intersection of food, energy and water systems, it focuses on tomato growth.

“We’re trying to do this for common food crops,” O’Connor says, “and the goal of that grant is to look at food production, energy consumption, water usage and how those things intersect and how they can be improved for future agricultural purposes. Since we're looking at agriculture and food production specifically, we want to look at crops for food instead of [studying] flowers and ornamentals, and since tomatoes are a very common greenhouse crop, it was sort of an obvious choice for us.”

While tomatoes serve as a starting point, O’Connor says the researchers are also looking at other potential crops like lettuce and cucumbers, and high-value crops like herbs.

Since the study is still at research level, however, things like price and ease of installation are still being worked out. But O’Connor says the panels used for the models work as insulators because they reflect infrared light, which can help reduce greenhouse overheating and trap warmth in the winter, “which may make financial sense to growers.” As for setup, he foresees a manageable one. “We envision it to be a really simple installation that would not require any sort of new greenhouse structure and no additional supports. In theory, it could hopefully be kind of plug and play: unroll and plug it in. And while it won’t be that simple, we’ll try to make it as close to that as we can so it’s that type of strategy.”

Overall, O’Connor and his team aim to make a major contribution to science and crop production with their study. “We really hope that it gets widely adopted and it's a win-win for not only greenhouses, but the solar cells as well,” he says. “We hope that there's a wide adoption. In organic solar cells, there's several startups and there's some products, but they're really limited almost to the point of just demonstration and smaller things. They're not widely sold. So, we hope that this really improves the market for organic solar cells. Also, if we can improve the energy balance, maybe we can lower the environmental footprint of greenhouses, which becomes more economically viable and a greener way to do agriculture.”

Photo: LOVE_LIFE | Istock

Season extension in greenhouse growing involves cultivating greenhouse plants beyond their normal growing season, which allows growers to offer several diverse products throughout the year. In areas of North America that have extreme temperature swings and colder climates overall, greenhouses are prime candidates for becoming season-extending businesses.

Pros and cons

According to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, climate change alone has already extended the growing season of most crops by a whopping two weeks. Greenhouse growers can benefit from this longer season and can augment the advantage by growing marketable products year-round, especially in winter, when some crops are scant. Cultivating greenhouse season-extending plants offers several benefits, according to the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (North Carolina A&T), including:

• Insuring a year-round income
• Higher yields overall
• The ability to provide a continuous supply of freshly grown products to regular customers
Retention of the customer base and a chance to gain new customers in the off season
• Higher quality plants due to perpetual technique refinements
• Uninterrupted work schedules for employees

Photo: dzphotogallery | Istock

However, North Carolina A&T warns that there are also drawbacks to running a season extending operation, including:

• Increased management needed
• A relentless work schedule
• Higher production costs
• Higher utility bills
• Increased plastic-disposal demands

Perpetual produce

Salt Lake City’s Millcreek Gardens recommends familiar staples such as carrots, beets, broccoli, potatoes, radishes and turnips as good winter greenhouse (especially unheated) options because they do well at cooler temperatures, as do onions and garlic. More unusual winter veggies that grow well in winter greenhouses include leeks, parsnips, Chinese cabbage, bok choy and rutabagas, which make for exotic product offerings for customers in the off season.

Several varieties of leafy green vegetables do well in winter greenhouses as well, according to Millcreek, and provide a nice twist to winter salads, including endive, radicchio, kale and swiss chard. Cabbage, spinach and arugula are also good options for winter growing. Customers will be happy to have cool weather hardy broccoli, celery and peas available through the winter months. An asparagus bed will take two years to yield a harvest, but thereafter provides a high-end product for customers.

Recommendations for winter greenhouse growing, Millcreek says, includes:

• Space plants properly to maximize growth
• If using containers for the plants, space them apart enough so the leaves don’t touch
• If using raised garden beds, thin out the weak plants as growth progresses so that hardier plants thrive
• Perform frequent scouting for disease and remove sick plants immediately
• Scout frequently for pests, and interplant naturally repellant marigolds, or use ladybug and praying-mantis cases for year-round pest control
• Even on cold days, outside sunshine can cause the greenhouse temperature to spike enough to stress some plants; opening doors for a short period can help, as can using fans

Energy for lighting and heating a greenhouse year-round can be pricey, expenses that can be mitigated by use of modern technologies. Ground air heat transfer (Ground to Air Heat Transfer (GAHT) systems — also known as earth pipes or climate batteries — capture excess summertime heat that accumulates in the greenhouse and stores it in underground pipes for later use. The ground under the greenhouse is surrounded with insulation to prevent the warmth from escaping. GAHT systems can be built by growers, but consultation with a professional is advised as even small errors can lead to malfunction. Strategic use of fans and heaters can also maintain the proper temperature in the winter.

In contrast to winter growing in frigid climates, season extending can be applied to greenhouses in hot climates. Growers can be lured into a false sense of security by relying on warm temperatures to encourage plant proliferation. But in areas where summer temperatures regularly soar into the 90s and higher, even the most seasonal greenhouse plants can be destroyed by overheating.

Investing in an energy-efficient greenhouse can provide healthier summer crops and a wide variety of products, according to greenhouse giant Ceres. The company says that energy efficiency allows for the growth of heat-loving crops such as tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers alongside winter crops such as kale and chard. Getting plants started early, Ceres says, in the late summer/early fall when days are longer, allows seedlings to get plenty of light. By the time colder months come around, the plants have taken root, are more mature and provide a year-round harvest.

It is important for greenhouse growers to assess their profit margins and solvency before investing in season-extending plants: Higher costs of labor and materials must be weighed. But for many, season extension makes their greenhouse viable 24/7, provides their communities with fresh produce year-round, and cements their reputation as a creative, diverse source for their customers.

The gardening season has come and, as every year before this one, gardeners will spend a significant amount of time battling weeds. While greenhouse growers may grow their plants inside a controlled environment, they do not have the luxury of avoiding weeds and the problems they create. From outside to inside the greenhouse, weeds can cause headaches that may become persistent if not controlled. However, weeds can be managed with a little diligence and persistence.

The problem with weeds

Weeds are commonly defined as a “plant out of place.” However, weeds aren’t problematic in greenhouse crop production simply because they are out of place. There are several problems they create for containerized-greenhouse-crop production. Weeds left to go to seed, whether outside or inside the greenhouse, can produce seeds that can contaminate the growing area and, worst of all, containers with plants growing in them (Fig. 1). Containerized plants with weeds growing in them have a reduced or no marketability — or increase costs to make them marketable. Weeds serve as a refuge for insects, supporting populations of pests that can infest crops and transmit viruses. Weeds can also serve as host plants and carry diseases that may infect crops.

Prevention

The most efficient way to manage weeds is to keep them from establishing around and inside greenhouse facilities. There are no pre-emergent herbicides labeled for use in a greenhouse, so weeds need to be prevented from establishing in the greenhouse.

There are several ways to keep weeds from entering the facility. First, keep the perimeter outside of the facility clean: Regular mowing can help keep weeds from developing and, most importantly, producing seed which can be carried inside. In addition to managing vegetation through mowing, an even cleaner perimeter can be maintained by using rock mulch.

Like the perimeter of the greenhouse, also keep the interior clean. Cement floors are the easiest surface to keep free of weeds. Bare soil should always be avoided inside the greenhouse, just like outside of the facility. Crushed gravel and weed-barrier landscape fabric can be used to cover any bare ground that would allow weeds to establish. In addition to minimizing bare ground, free and standing water should be reduced by modifying irrigation practices as cultural practices allows — this will inhibit weed growth and development on floors.

Another source of weeds can be growing substrate. Before reusing any old substrate that has been stored outside or using any field soil coming in from outdoors, be sure to pasteurize it to make sure that weed seed therein isn’t viable. The most common practice is to steam substrate for 30 minutes.

Control

Although preventing weeds should be a priority, it is common to have to control them after they are established. Once this happens in and around facilities, additional steps are needed to prevent them from spreading further

One of the first steps to take is to reduce or eliminate weeds surrounding the greenhouse. Large areas can be mowed; however, to avoid a mass-migration of insects from outside to the inside the facility as weeds die, kill insect pests in weeds first before killing the weeds themselves. This will reduce pest populations to prevent pests from heading into the greenhouse.

Weeds serve as a refuge for insects, supporting pests that can infest crops and transmit viruses. Weeds can also serve as host plants and carry diseases.

In addition to mowing, herbicides can be used to manage weeds outside the facility. When herbicides are used around the exterior greenhouse perimeter, be sure to avoid any adverse impacts on plants inside the structure. Drift after herbicide application can damage plants inside the greenhouse, so be sure to keep all vents and other air inlets closed when the exterior areas are treated with herbicide. Additionally, avoiding herbicides that easily volatilize will help minimize the risk of drift and phytotoxicity to crops inside the facility.

Take-home message

The list of tasks to keep up with in any greenhouse is long, but attention is best focused on growing marketable plants instead of growing weeds. From the outside to the inside, a variety of cultural, mechanical and chemical approaches can be used to manage weeds in production. Take a proactive approach to minimizing weeds and the negative impacts weeds can have on production. This will focus attention to the plants in the greenhouse that matter most.

The author (ccurrey@iastate.edu) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University