University of Florida Poinsettia Field Day Set for Next Week
The University of Florida’s 2013 Poinsettia Field Day will take place on Dec. 10.
These trials are a part of the North American Poinsettia Variety Trials held in cooperation with Vineland Research Station, Ontario, North Carolina State University and Homewood Nursery, Raleigh, N.C.
This trialing program started in 1993 and is sponsored by the poinsettia breeder organizations Beekenkamp, Dümmen, Ecke, Selecta/ Ball, and Syngenta.
This year 139 varieties will be on display, and the emphasis is always on the newer varieties and novelties with the most potential.
University of Florida professor and GPN’s consulting editor Dr. Jim Barrett will discuss many different varieties with information on scheduling and PGR requirements.
This year there also is an extensive evaluation of using the Syngenta Bioline program for whitefly control.
According to Dr. Barrett, part this year’s research is focused on evaluations of naturally late varieties, on scheduling and PGRs for the new white variety Glace, and on Augeo chemical pinching.
The hours for Field day are 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Discussions of the varieties will be at 10:30 am and at 1:00 pm.
More information can be found at http://hort.ufl.edu/poinsettia_industry.shtml
Master Gardeners and the public are invited for the Poinsettia Show and Sale (http://www.gatorpoinsettia.com) on Dec. 5 and 6. December 10 is our field day for the professional industry. There are no plants for sale at the industry field day on Dec. 10.
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