814-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 5, 2000
Dr. John Dole talks about his work with growing cut
flowers in the greenhouse and how growers can benefit
from the research.
Ed and his son Justin Weaver from Weavers Orchard
in Morgantown come to the Convention primarily for ed
ucation. The seminars keep them updated on what’s
happening in the industry from new products to chemi
cal uses. The Weavers grow about 100 acres of mostly
tree fruit with some small fruit and vegetables. They
also own a farm market where they sell about half of
their produce. '
Miriam Cooper of Cooper’s Mill said their homemade
apple butter is still made in a copper kettle over a wood
buring fire.
The Hellers from Bainbridge, N.Y., have been coming to the Convention ever
since it started. “We’ve been here through the renovations and all.” Parents
Joshua and Wilma and their son and daughter-in-law, Seth and Debbie, are veg
etable and small fruit growers. They come to the convention to learn about new
chemicals and vegetable varieties. “We learn as much from the other growers
who attend as we do from the exhibitors,” said Wilma.
Members, Growers, Exhibitors
'Plant For The New Millennium '
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming Staff
HERSHEY (Dauphin Co.)
Many farm families are capital
izing on cut flowers’ appeal to
consumers.
Some families sowed a few
extra seeds and sold the blooms
at roadside stands. The flowers
sold so well, that the fpllowing
year, the families planted many
more. Now some of these farm
families have erected a green
house around a section of field.
But the demand for some
varieties didn’t appeal to the
masses the following year.
“One think I’ve learned. You
can’t trust your own opinion.
Some flowers that I think will
sell well don’t, and others
that I don’t expect to sell well
do,’’ said John Dole, Oklahoma
State University.
Dole led one of several ses
sions on cut flowers at the Mid-
Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable
Convention conducted in Her
shey last week.
Dole runs trials every year on
greenhouse cuts. He and his
staff experiment with new varie
ties and new methods of grow
ing compared with the tried and
proven.
Because many field-cut
growers are getting into green
houses, Dole showed slides to
demonstrate how simply-erected
greenhouses can evolve over the
years to become better and more
efficient.
Dole recommends planting in
six to eight inch raised beds,
using treated wood sides or con
crete. While a grower can start
out with ground walkways, con
crete can be added later to keep
walkways cleaner.
Another method that works
well is to use bulb crates. These
can easily be moved and even
put in the cooler if needed when
blooming. Cuts can also be
grown in pots. Because labor
costs are higher, pots work
better used as fill ins for addi
tional product.
Keep in mind that crops can
be damaged by personnel walk
ing up and down walkways to
care for the plants.
Drip irrigation works best for growers often learn the hard
watering. way,” Dole said. “If you wait
“Do not allow plants to wilt, until the plants need the netting
They may come back but with a *° keep them growing straight,
kink they won’t be straight,” **’s too late,” , ,
Dole said of the stems. While some growers plant the
“Netting must go on immedi
ately, something that first-time
Ralph and Edna Styer from Muncy come each year to
keep up with the new things. They own five acres of
pick-your-own blueberries. The Styers have been
coming to the Convention for about 20 years and now
consider it their yearly vacation.
A Lancaster County Amish family grows herbs to
make jellies and vinegars. Here Patricia McAlevey rep
resenting Lower Valley Gardens, Christiana, offers sam
ples to visitors at the convention.
flowers they like and are accus
(Tum to Pag* BIS)