Articles


Wholesale perennial production

General Perennial Production

Key Factors to Success with Perennials (120k .pdf)
Addressing and understanding some key components of a perennial program can help any grower be more successful when growing perennials, regardless of their production system and level of expertise. Written by Allen R. Pyle. A version of this article appeared in the August 1999 issue of GMPro.

Successfully Facing Five Common Perennial Production Problems (120k .pdf)
Whether you are new to perennials or an experienced grower, you likely will encounter at least a few of these perennial production problems. Written by Allen R. Pyle. A version of this article appeared in the August 1998 issue of GMPro.

Forcing Perennials

Faster Flowering of Perennials (468k .pdf)
Extensive handouts from Allen R. Pyle's talk at the International Plug & Cutting Conference, 2002. Includes detailed perennial forcing and finishing schedules.

Considerations for Finishing Perennials from Plugs (148k .pdf)
With perennial plugs, growers can take advantage of several planting and finishing strategies to produce perennials for multiple sales windows. Includes perennial forcing and finishing schedules. Written by Allen R. Pyle. A two-part version of this article appeared in the December 1997 and January 1998 issues of GMPro.

Handling Perennials (160k .pdf)
Handouts from Allen R. Pyle's talk at a Southwest Michigan perennial growers workshop. Includes perennial forcing and finishing schedules.

Raker Perennial Culture Guides

Detailed guides to perennial culture and scheduling for commercial growers, provided by Raker.
General perennial culture (95 k .pdf)
Artificial lighting strategies for perennials (100 k .pdf)
Vernalization requirements for Raker perennials (130 k .xls)
Agastache 'Honey Bee' series (98 k .pdf)
Aquilegia 'Cameo' series (139 k .pdf)
Aquilegia 'Origami' series (128 k .pdf)
Delphinium 'Pacific Giant' series (97 k .pdf)
Delphinium 'Summer' series (87 k .pdf)
Lobelia speciosa 'Fan' series (89 k .pdf)
Veronica spicata 'Blue Carpet' (88 k .pdf)


Vegetative Propagation

Evaluating Unrooted Perennial Suppliers (60k .pdf)
This article discusses some of the key considerations for evaluating vegetative cutting suppliers. Written by Allen R. Pyle. A version of this article appeared in the December 2002 issue of GMPro.


Seed Propagation

Germination of Perennial Seed (224k .pdf)
Handouts from Allen R. Pyle's talk at the 2003 Perennial Production Conference, focusing on tips and tricks for improving perennial germination, including information on enhanced perennial seed.

Perennial Germination Requirements (88k .pdf)
Newly updated table of temperature and other requirements for successful germination of perennials. Expanded from the handout from Allen R. Pyle's talk at the 2003 Perennial Production Conference.

Table of Results of Germination of Enhanced Perennial Seed (112k .pdf)
Handout from Allen R. Pyle's demonstration at the 2003 Perennial Production Conference. Details specific germination results from a trial of enhanced perennial seed from multiple suppliers.

Keys to Success for Germinating Perennial Seed by Allen R. Pyle (128k .pdf)
Perennials can be much more challenging to produce from seed than annuals. Attention to detail (ATD) throughout production is critical for consistent success growing perennials from seed. Written by Allen R. Pyle. A version of this article appeared in the December 1998 issue of GMPro.

Seed Perennials (216k .pdf)
Handouts from the International Plug & Cutting Conference, 2002.

Producing Perennial Cut Flower Plugs (252k .pdf)
Handouts from Allen R. Pyle's ASCFG Conference talk, 2002.


Perennial Varieties

2005 What's New In Perennials? (80 k .pdf)
Handouts from Allen R. Pyle's talk for Wayne County Master Gardeners, May 2005

Raker 2005 Perennial Additions (1.8 meg .pdf)
Descriptive and cultural information for the perennials added to the 2005 Raker Perennial Program, with photos of most items.

2004 New Perennials & New Uses for Old Favorites (96 k .pdf)
Handouts from Allen R. Pyle's talk for Wayne County Master Gardeners, 2004.

2002 New Perennials & New Uses for Old Favorites (176 k .pdf)
Handouts from Allen R. Pyle's talk for Wayne County Master Gardeners, 2002.