GROWING GUIDE

Ball Garden Mums A-Z Quick Reference 9/25lll Mid9/26 lMediumLate9/30l MoundedMediumVery Late10/6llDuplexMoundedMediumVery Late10/6llPurpleDuplexEuropeanMediumMid9/24Prism n Pie OrangeOrangeDecorativeEuropeanMediumVery Late10/9Radiant RedRedDecorativeEuropeanMedium/TallMid9/25Red HotsRedDecorativeMoundedMediumMid9/19 Red RoverRedDecorativeEuropeanMediumVery Late10/6Red RyderRedDecorativeEuropeanMediumLate9/28New Roaring inkColorFloweringFormGrowth HabitVigorTimingFlowerDatePetit OrangeOrangeDuplexEuropeanMediumMidPink FrenzyPinkDecorativeMoundedMedium/TallPlumberry PurplePurpleDecorativeMoundedPop Eye OrangeOrangeDuplexPop Eye PinkPinkPoppin ”12”lllllllllllllllll llllll lllllllllllllll l1/2HangingSpringBushel Baskets Flowering lll 7 Wkl7 Wk llll8 Wklllll8 Wklllll7 Wkllllll8 Wklllllll7 Wkllllll7 Wklllllll lllllll lllll l llllllll7 Wklllllllllllll l7 Wkllll llllll 8 Wk lll9/29llllllllll8 WklllllMid9/25lllllllll7 WkNOMediumLate9/30lllllllll7 WkNOEuropeanMedium/ShortMid9/20llllllll7 Wk lllDecorativeEuropeanMediumMid9/21 ll llllll 7 Wk lllllPurpleDecorativeEuropeanMediumMid9/20 l llllll 7 Wk lllllRedDecorativeEuropeanShortMid9/19lll llllll 7 Wk lllllStellar YellowYellowDecorativeEuropeanMediumMid9/22lll llllll 7 Wk lllllSundance YellowYellowDecorativeEuropeanMediumLate9/30l l llllllll8 WkllllllSunny Day YellowYellowDecorativeEuropeanMediumVery Late10/16lll lllllllll7 WkllllllSunrise YellowYellowDecorativeMoundedMediumVery Early9/7l lllllll 7 Wk lllSunset lll7 Wk llllllSweet Honey YellowYellowDecorativeEuropeanMediumLate9/28lllll8 7 lll7 WkNONew Tribeca Dark PinkPinkDecorativeMoundedMediumMid9/23lllllllll7 WkNONew Tribeca ll7 WkNONew Tribeca l7 WkNOTrickster Golden BronzeBronzeDecorativeMoundedMediumMid9/23llllll8 WkNOTwilight BronzeBronzeDecorativeEuropeanMediumVery Late10/10llllll7 Wk llVenus PurplePurpleDecorativeEuropeanMediumLate10/4lllll7 WklllllllPinkDuplexMoundedMediumMid9/24llll7 WkNOWicked PurplePurpleDecorativeMoundedMediumLate9/30llll7 WklllllWild Child PinkPinkDecorativeMoundedMediumMid9/23llll7 WklllllYellow TangYellowDecorativeEuropeanMediumVery Late10/9l llll7 Wk llllZinger YellowYellowDecorativeMoundedMediumMid9/24llllll8 WkllllZuma OrangeOrangeDecorativeEuropeanMediumMid9/22llllll8 WkllllSkye PinkStarburst WhiteStellar PinkStellar PurpleStellar RedTemptation PinkNew Tribeca Amber OrangeWhispered Lavender PinkOrder & find growing info at ballseed.com/webtrack or 800 879-BALLll l llllllll l llllllllll llllllll6”7 Wkl1/2 HangingBushel Baskets4”llllBlack ClothlNew Sizzling Fire Yellow8l - suggested H - highly recommendedllllllllllll9

Keys to ProducingQuality Garden MumsUpon ArrivalPlanting & MediaSpacingBall Garden Mum cuttings are available as both unrootedand rooted liners. All cuttings should be stuck or plantedas soon as possible.Planting is the most critical period in the production of aquality Garden Mum crop. Plant liners directly into finalcontainer whenever possible. A lighter, well-drained mediais preferred. A heavier media may delay rooting, reducingthe quality of the finished crop. Avoid mixes that are toolight and may dry out too rapidly.Refer to the chart on page 12 for specific spacingrequirements. A key to excellent quality is to space theplants once they start touching. Spacing plants too tightlypromotes weak, stretched, poor-quality plants that aremore likely to experience disease problems.Have containers filled and moist prior to planting. Mediastarting pH in a soilless mix should be 5.8 to 6.4; a soilbased mix should be 6.0 to 6.5. Thoroughly water linersprior to planting, with 300 to 400 ppm N from 20-10-20,to ensure that the liner is well fed, encouraging rapidestablishment.Irrigation & FertilizationRooted cuttings trays should be placed in the greenhousewith a minimum temperature of 60 to 62 F (16 to 17 C).Do not let the plants wilt, and try to hold for no morethan 2 to 3 days. Unrooted cuttings – please refer to“Propagation of Garden Mums,” page 16.Water immediately after planting with fertilizer, such as20-10-20 at 300 to 400 ppm N, to charge the soil – sowhen roots emerge, strong growth will occur. It may benecessary to mist or syringe the newly planted cuttingsfor the first few days to prevent wilting.If outdoor temperatures are cool, 50 to 59 F (10 to 15 C),it is recommended that plants be started in a greenhousewith night temperatures maintained between 60 to 69 F(16 to 21 C), with 65 F (18 C) being ideal. This allowsbetter take-off and initial growth, which is especiallyimportant when growing early-flowering varieties. Lownight temperatures at planting can promote prematureflower initiation.Garden Mums should be grown in full sun; shaded areascan produce taller, weaker plants.PinchingModern varieties do not require pinching in naturalseason Fall crops. Pinching is suggested for black cloth,but many growers produce black cloth crops withoutpinching.A drip irrigation system is often the best choice whengrowing Garden Mums. It keeps the foliage dry to preventspotting of the leaves, and also reduces the chance ofdeveloping foliar disease problems. When irrigating, applyenough water to thoroughly wet the soil mass, allowingwater to drip from the container. Never let the plant wiltduring the early stages of production, as wilting can limitgrowth and reduce the overall plant size.Mums are heavy feeders and require large amounts ofnutrients during early weeks of the plant development.The majority of nutrients in the plant at flowering are inthe plant at visible bud. Therefore, feeding early is criticalfor strong growth. A program of regular soil testing isthe best guide to determine the optimum fertilizationregimen. High fertilization rates and low soil EC levelsindicate that plants are taking up the nutrition. High EClevels indicate plants are not taking up the fertilizer – sofertilizer rates will need to be reduced.Fertilizing immediately after planting is very important: Feed NH4 P (20-10-20, 20-20-20) during the earlycrop development (weeks 1-4). A rate of 250 to350 ppm N will usually work well. After loading the plant early, you will want to avoid toomuch NH4 P, or stretched plants and soft growthwill result. Use NO3 and reduced P (17-5-17, 15-4-15,14‑0‑14, etc.) to tone the crop and reduce stretch. Once plants are at visible bud, slow the fertilizeruptake and monitor the EC to prevent salt damage tothe roots.10Order & find growing info at ballseed.com/webtrack or 800 879-BALLSlow-release fertilizers, such as Osmocote, in combinationwith liquid feeds may also be used. Avoid excessapplications of slow-release fertilizers, since they canrelease rapidly under high temperatures and cause the ECto spike, which damages roots. Mums can benefit from amagnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) supplement.Once plantsmature, fertilizer levels should be reduced to maintenancelevels.11

Premature Budding & Crown Bud FormationNight temperatures above 68 F (20 C) will delay flowerinitiation. As night temperatures exceed 75 F (24 C),flowering is inhibited. Several days or more of coolnights, less than 60 F (16 C), in late Spring and earlySummer may trigger premature bud formation. This is notdesirable and may cause the plants to finish too small.If small buds are visible in the early stages of production,plants will most often still develop normally. Early buddingcan be minimized by limiting stress, applying adequatefertilizer amounts (fertility levels should be high) and notallowing plants to wilt. Early applications of 500 ppmFlorel 1 week after planting can help minimize prematurebud set by helping to promote vegetative growth; this willnot abort the existing buds.Success with Florel Use low-alkalinity ( 60 ppm) water or increase Florelrate.long to tone the plant and reduce stretch. A secondapplication can be made 2 weeks later. Remember thatB-Nine application after visible bud will delay flowering.Weekly applications of B-Nine up to the time of breakingcolor will delay the flowering by 1 week. Once flower coloris evident, B-Nine delay is minimal, but application willenhance foliage. In greenhouse-forced Summer crops,an application of B-Nine at 5,000 ppm can be applied14 to 21 days after pinching to control the more vigorousvarieties.Bonzi drenches of 1 to 4 ppm can provide very effectivegrowth control, but be sure to apply the correct volumeto avoid stunting. Early-crop applications require fewerppm than when applied later in the crop to get thesame level of control. Bonzi can also be sprayed withrates ranging from 30 to 50 ppm. Florel can be used topromote branching, prevent premature budding and delayflowering. Best applied early in the crop cycle at a rate of300 to 500 ppm. Effectiveness varies by variety. Reduce spray solution to pH 4 before adding Florel. Don’t pour Florel into the tank – use a funnel or putFlorel in a bag and empty into the tank.Approximate Container SizePlants perPot (ppp)Final Spacing (on center)The average daily temperature dictates the rate ofdevelopment of a crop. High night temperatures maycause heat delay, with some varieties being moresensitive than others. Heat delay can affect the bloomdate by up to 3 weeks.Night temperatures in the July 20 to August 5 period arethe most critical for natural-season mums.Suggestions to avoid heat delay for black cloth crops: Start cooling very early in the morning. Cool at night with a pad and fan system that pulls airunder the black cloth. When covering directly on or slightly above the plants,use black/white (Panda) film so the white side reflectsthe sunlight – reducing the plant temperature. Close the black cloth late in the day at 8:00 p.m. toavoid heat buildup and leave the cloth closed until8:00 a.m. For enhanced cooling, a computerized black clothsystem may be programmed to open after the sunhas set and close before the sun comes up in themorning. Sprench to cover the plants.Cell pack1Pack to pack Spray early or late day, as slow drying time maximizesuptake and response.4-in. (10-cm) pot14 to 6 in. (10 to 15 cm)4.5-in. (11-cm) pot15 to 7 in. (13 to 18 cm)Root Rot5-in. (13-cm) pot1 to 35 to 8 in. (13 to 20 cm)6-in. (15-cm) pot1 to 36 to 12 in. (15 to 30 cm)6.5-in. (17-cm) pot1 to 36.5 to 12 in. (17 to 30 cm)8-in. (20-cm) pot1 to 316 to 20 in. (41 to 51 cm)The loss of roots early in the crop will significantly limitnutrient loading and plant size later in the crop cycle.Saturated soil, extreme wet-dry cycles and high salt levelswill damage the roots and make them more susceptible todisease infection.10-in. (25-cm) pot1 to 318 to 24 in. (46 to 61 cm)12-in. (30-cm) pot3 to 422 to 26 in. (56 to 66 cm)14-in. (36-cm) pot4 to 526 to 30 in. (66 to 76 cm)1/2 bu. basket4 to 528 to 34 in. (71 to 86 cm)1 gallon1 to 39 to 16 in. (23 to 41 cm)2 gallon1 to 318 to 24 in. (46 to 61 cm)3 gallon2 to 320 to 30 in. (51 to 76 cm)5-in. (13-cm) pan1 to 36 to 8 in. (15 to 20 cm)8 x 5-in. (20 x 13-cm) mum pan1 to 316 to 20 in. (41 to 51 cm)Height Control & Growth Regulators12-in. (30-cm) color bowl3 to 514 to 20 in. (36 to 51 cm)NOTE: We recommend an initial small-scale trial with allgrowth regulators.14-in. (36-cm) color bowl3 to 528 to 30 in. (71 to 76 cm)6-in. (15-cm) hanging basket1 to 314 to 16 in. (36 to 41 cm)10-in. (25-cm) hanging basket1 to 318 to 24 in. (46 to 61 cm)12-in. (30-cm) hanging basket2 to 426 to 28 in. (66 to 71 cm)Tracking Your CropMums are an easy crop to track, and it is important todetermine if the crop is on schedule. To do so, simplygraph a straight line between initial plant height anddesired height at finish. Every week, measure 5 plants inthe primary block to see if they are on track. Feed if theyare below the line, or use Fascination. If they are abovethe line, use a PGR to slow them down.Height (inches)Finish HeightReduce FeedB-Nine or BonziFeed,or applyFascinationWeekB-Nine foliar spray applications control height and alsoproduce darker, greener leaves and strong stems. Apply2,500 to 5,000 ppm when breaks are 1 to 2 in. (3 to 5 cm)12Spacing Requirements for Garden MumsHeat DelayOrder & find growing info at ballseed.com/webtrack or 800 879-BALL Cover before sunrise instead of in the evening.Natural-Season Flowering Average Natural-Flower DateVery EarlyBefore Sept. 9EarlySept. 10 to 18MidSept. 19 to 26LateSept. 27 to Oct. 4Very LateOct. 5 To produce a uniform crop, these flowering classesshould be planted over a 2 to 3-week period. Plant theVery Early and Early varieties the first week of the plantingperiod, then over the following weeks plant the Midvarieties, followed by the Late and Very Late varieties.If all varieties were to be planted in the same week, thenthe crop time may be too long for the Mid and especiallylater varieties, which could then outgrow their spacing andproduce poor-quality plants.It is important to keep good records from year to year.This helps to adjust production schedules to produceconsistent plant sizes, all flowering at the desired time.One cutting per pot is generally used for up to 9-in.(23‑cm) pots, and 3 plants per pot for 12-in. (30-cm) pots.The traditional Fall planting dates for natural-seasoncrops planted from rooted cuttings: 4-in. (10-cm) pots in mid-July. 6-in. (15-cm) pots in early July. 8-in. (20-cm) or larger pots between the first andfourth weeks of June.If pinching, pinch once the plant is established.Preventative treatment for Pythium and other rootdiseases is recommended every 4 weeks. Failure tocontrol root rot can result in stunted plants.Refer to the Spacing Requirements chart for spacingrequired by pot size.Pests & DiseasesA “fast-crop” program can enable growers to producea quality crop, even when starting later than a normalnatural-season program.An IPM (Integrated Pest Management) program is thebest defense against the various insects and related peststhat can attack a mum crop. Constant monitoring andweekly scouting will enable the grower to detect pestsbefore they become a problem, and take appropriateaction to control them. Growers should also scout forfoliar diseases, including Bacterial leaf spot and Botrytis.Chrysanthemum white rust (CWR) is a serious disease,and preventative treatments should be applied. Reviewthe CWR control document available on BallSeed.com.Natural-Season Fall MumsChrysanthemums are short-day plants and will naturallyinitiate flowering in mid-July. Ball Garden Mums areclassified into Very Early, Early, Mid, Late and Very Lateflowering varieties. Refer to the A-Z Quick Reference Guide todetermine the approximate flowering date for each variety.Fast-Crop Fall MumsThe key to a fast crop is to not inhibit the growth bystressing the plant in any way. Do not pinch. Flowering willgenerally occur 4 to 7 days later than a June-planted crop.A 4-in. (10-cm) crop with 1 cutting per pot can be plantedfrom the last week of July until August 12 for floweringfrom late September to mid-October.A 6 to 6.5-in. (15 to 17-cm) crop with 1 cutting per pot canbe planted mid-July to late July.Larger containers, such as 8-in. (20-cm) pans or 2-gal.pots, can be planted July 10 to 20, but use 2 cuttings percontainer.13

Black Cloth2022 Black Cloth Programs Selection GridColorBronze6-Week ResponseVigorPot SizeAutumn Envy BronzeShort6-10”Katelli BronzeShort4-8”HB*lOrangeThese outdoor-produced black cloth Garden Mumsare being forced to flower for August sales at AdamHenning Greenhouses in DeMotte, IN.Controlled Flowering of Summer-Fall Garden MumsYellow The number of weeks of shade time needed dependsupon the response time of the mum. Growing Garden Mums using black cloth to shortenthe daylength is not difficult, and it enables the growerto flower Garden Mums over a longer season andhave the crop ready when desired.Katelli YellowMedium6-12”4-8”ll– Black cloth, or 4 to 6 ml of reflective plastic, canbe used to shade the crop. Place shade cloth2 feet above plants to avoid heat delay.– Continue to pull black cloth until the buds are wellformed and show color.– The number of weeks to achieve desired plantsize depends upon pot size (2 to 4 weeks for 6”;4 weeks for 8” – see below chart).– To reduce heat build-up over 78 F (26 C), whichcan delay flowering, use reflective shade clothand pull shade from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.– Plants can be pinched about 7 days after plantingonce they have approximately 1 in. (3 cm) of newgrowth.– Many growers use a no-pinch option toproduce their crops.PlantMedium/Tall– If it has a 7-week response, plants will flower7 weeks after shading and will be ready for sale. After transplanting, plants should be grown underlong days with night temps of 65 to 68 F (18 to 20 C)to encourage vigorous vegetative growth beforebeginning shade.Schedule With Pinch, Medium VigorGoldmine YellowGreenRedFive Alarm RedMedium4-12”7-Week ResponseVigorPot SizeHB*Autumn GlowBronzeMedium4-12”lButternut GoldenBronzeMedium/Tall6-12”Copper CoinBronzeMedium4-8”llHarvest BronzeShort4-8”Hot Spot BronzeMedium4-10”Paradiso BronzeMedium/Short4-8”Twilight BronzeMedium4-6”Long DaysAmphion LavenderPurpleMedium4-12”lShort DaysVigorPot SizeHB*lBlazing OrangeMedium4-12”Avalon OrangeMedium/Short4-10”Carousel GlimmerOrangeMedium4-10”Morgana OrangeMedium4-12”Kickin’ SpicyOrangeMedium/Tall6-12”Pop Eye OrangeMedium4-8”Mumosa OrangeMedium6-12”Zuma OrangeMedium6-10”Perfectly OrangeShort4-6”lllMedium4-12”4-12”Sunset OrangeMedium4-12”Cracklin GoldenYellowMedium/Short4-6”Avalon GoldenYellowMedium/Short4-10”lSkyfall LemonYellowShort4-12”lMedium4-10”lSkyfall YellowShort4-12”lSkyfall RedShort4-12”lSkyfall PurpleShort4-12”llDestiny YellowMedium4-10”Avalon SunnyYellowGold Riot Ye

GROWING GUIDE . Natural Season Garden Mums . Kizzmet Golden Yellow Decorative Medium9/13 Honeyblush Yellow Decorative9/23 Sundance Yellow Medium 9/30 Yellow Tang 10/9 Skyfall Lemon Yellow Decorative Sho