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"The type of flowering
chrysanthemums sold in the fall are often called hardy mums, but all types
are not reliably hardy in Kentucky."
Bob Anderson
UK Extension Horticulture Specialist
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By Gidget High, Ag. Comm. Intern
LEXINGTON, KY (Sept. 18, 2002) - Pink, white,
lavender, maroon and bronze are all different colors of fall mums. These flowers
actually are chrysanthemums, but most growers just call them garden mums. They
are traditional during autumn months, since they naturally flower at this time
of the year. Trials at the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture's
horticulture research farm evaluate many varieties of chrysanthemums for fall
flowering.
"The type of flowering chrysanthemums sold in the fall are often called
hardy mums, but all types are not reliably hardy in Kentucky," said Bob
Anderson, UK Extension horticulture specialist.
Many people use garden mums to decorate for fall and most greenhouses and garden
stores have mums for sale. The production of garden mums for fall sales began
months ago. Growers received cuttings of patented varieties in late May, June,
or early July.
"Just over a million garden mums were grown in pots or planted in rows in a
farm field this year in Kentucky," Anderson said. "The plants have
been watered and fertilized all summer to produce the large plants that are now
available."
Plants are covered with flowers that will last four to six weeks. Mums need a
garden location where they will receive at least six hours of full sunlight each
day. During the warm and dry fall weather, they should be regularly watered.
They like cool nighttime temperatures and their colors are brightest and last
longest under cool conditions.
As days shorten, chrysanthemums begin to flower. This means the plant has an
internal control to tell it when Fall is on the way. The plants react to the
decreased day length in late July and sets flower buds that will open in
September before the killing frosts of October. Growers observed this phenomenon
more than 75 years ago and now chrysanthemum growers can get mums to flower
anytime of the year in greenhouses
Most garden mums are garden perennials in northern states, but great variations
in winter temperatures in Kentucky can kill garden mums in certain years.
"A few old fashioned varieties seem to be hardy in the state every year,
but no one has made an effort to propagate and sell these older, nameless,
traditional varieties," Anderson said.
Writer: Gidget
High 859-257-4736, ext. 267
Source: Bob Anderson
859-257-4721
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