EVERGREEN CHRYSANTHEMUM ASSOCIATION
Seattle, Washington
ECAMumClub.org
April Plant Sale Edition
Nancy Halleen, Secretary
MEETING OF THE ECA –THURSDAY April 12, 2012 at 7 PM at the Seattle Police Athletic Association Office (SPAA) site at 11030 East Marginal Way South, Tukwila. This meeting is important as we prepare final details for our Annual Plant sale on Saturday, April 14.
ANNUAL PLANT SALE – APRIL 14 (At Furney’s Nursery in Des Moines – 21215 Pacific Hwy South).
Remember to bring your plants in to Furney’s and help with set up on Friday, April 13 starting at 1 P.M. The Saturday, April 14 public plant sale will be held from 9 A.M. to-1 P.M.
We will discuss who will be attending the set up and staffing of the sale at our April 12 meeting. Bob Ewing has a list of members who have signed up but we can always use additional volunteers. Please bring plants to the April 12 meeting for sale to members.
Please circulate the Plant Sale Flyers taken home from the March meeting – we need a wide information spread. Becky Cox has contacted newspapers in the area and will mail out plant sale post cards that people filled out at our last 2 public events.
ECA CLUB MEMBER PASSING: Roy Kannitzer
Roy joined the Evergreen Club in 1963 and spent the next 48 years growing mums as his favorite hobby. His love for them brought him to every meeting and event the Club had. He wasn’t a large grower, but always brought a few to enter in our shows. Roy had a way about him that put new members at ease because of his smile and genuine personality. He always helped with the work involved in setting up our plant sales and shows and enjoyed talking to the people who came. Needless to say, Roy’s big smile and friendly mannerism will be missed.
His collection of pots and other mum supplies are free for the asking. His son, Bruce, will inventory what he has and let us know. RIP Roy!
Club Library/Publications Notices Notes
Missing Books
Chris Brookes notes that we have a limited collection of excellent reference books and the goal is for Members to take books out for one month only. Thereby we can give as many growers as possible a chance to read and learn from the experiences and knowledge of other growers. However, we are missing a large book called: Chrysanthemum Guide. Since there is only one copy the return of this book is especially important. Please be sure to bring borrowed books back to the April meeting.
Two new books have been purchased last month from the American National Chrysanthemum Society. These publications are of primary interest to those planning to enter the National Show in Portland.
Show Judges Handbook (3 copies)
Handbook on Chrysanthemum Classification (2 copies)
YEARBOOKS
According to Mark Ross, the 2012 ECA Yearbooks will be available for distribution to members attending the May meeting. (He is till trying to determine a final list based on membership payments.) A big thanks to Mark who once again took on the Yearbook duty which required lots of time and effort. It’s a big job and is greatly appreciated.
PLANT CULTURE and SUPPLIES –April and May are the months where most of our cultivars are stopped. An updated ECA cultivar listing will be sent to Steve Backstrom for posting to the club website prior to the April 12th meeting with stopping dates and a method for estimating a stop date when dates are not available. A limited number of hard copies of this listing will also be available at the meeting.
Cultural recommendations are attached for April and will be discussed at the April meeting. Contact Mark Ross, for soilless and supplies needed.
If you prefer to receive future monthly notices by email only rather than US mail, please send an email to Nancy which will also save the Club some money on postage and copying.
APRIL TO DO LIST (edited from DRS 3-21-05)
1. Potting on mums into 4” or 6” pots
· Soilless growers who are using the club recommended M&R mix. This mix is ph balanced at 6.5 and contains a good mix of fertilizers that carry the plant for 3-4 weeks. It requires no additives at this time, but some growers like to add a little Alfalfa meal and some additional pumice for increased aeration.
· Soil or compost mixes: See McGlashen mix in the McGlashen Hand Book. You’ll need to mix your own soil, consisting of compost, or garden loam plus slacked Lime or Dolomite to keep soil sweet plus Steamed Bone to promote root growth. Also, ashes and a little Rose and garden fertilizer (i.e. 4-10-8 or 5-10-10) Pumice or grit may be added to loosen the soil mix.
· Wash previously used pots in a mild Clorox bath (bleach), then rinse in clear water.
· Clay pots are recommended for 4 or 6 inch potting as they breathe and dry out faster during cool April days.
· Pot on when a significant ring of roots forms around the bottom edge of the pot (semi root bound). Do not compact the potting mix. Tie plants to small stakes.
2. Move mum pots outdoors as weather warms. Choose a sunny location.
· Bury pots to rim if using clay. Protect from frost, wind, dogs, cats and Children.
3. Review stopping dates. Most ECA cultivars are stopped Between April 15 and May 30.
· Pinch date lists for most club cultivars should be available at the April meeting. Contact your Coach for other cultivars not on the list.
4 OTHER CARE:
· Control Aphids. Spray for Aphids every 2 or 3 weeks, with liquid Diazinon, or other insecticides. Water only as needed, do not over water.
Fertilize weekly starting the 3rd or 4th week after potting. Standard Miracle Grow is recommended. Water soluble 10-50-10 Peter’s upper blossom booster is also a good substitute.
(Please note the change in recommendation for starter fertilizer. In 2009, Don Stark indicated that water-soluble 10-50-10, Peters Super Blossom Booster plant food, is available at local garden stores or McLendons Hardware in 1.5-pound bags. The application directions indicate 1 tsp per gallon of water for indoor use. Use this fertilizer as a supplement through the 6” pot stage. Don noted that Peters 20-10-20 will be available for use through the summer growth season.)
· Continue culling process in April to get to your final growing group. The 6” potting should be used for this reduction. Don’t always keep the first plants to reach 6” potting stage. Keep the best cultivars. Share surplus plants with other club members. Throw away damaged or diseased plants.
