Getting herbaceous perennials off to a good start

Herbaceous perennial starting material comes in all shapes and sizes – from large , #1 bare root divisions to 128-cell plugs, to fully overwintered containers and plugs. For growers who choose to overwinter or purchase vernalized perennials from industry suppliers, the following tips can help achieve saleable success this season.

by Beth Scheckelhoff - scheckelhoff.11@osu.edu

Don’t judge a book by its cover
Let’s face it, perennials can look pretty rough this time of year. Sometimes it is difficult to tell if they are even alive and well. Many species lose their foliage and die back to the crown during the winter months (Figure 1). They can remain dormant with little to no visible growth until exposed to appropriate temperature and light levels that stimulate growth, as seen with this Sedum (Figure 2).

Figure 1. Over-wintering of hardy perennials in the greenhouse.

Growers should screen their existing overwintered stock and any incoming starting material for obvious signs of insects, disease, or other pests. Thoroughly inspect crowns and root systems for signs and symptoms of diseases that can take hold during cool, damp conditions.

Figure 2. Sedum buds begin to develop as temperatures warm in the spring.

In some cases, overwintered perennials may have damage from moles, voles or other rodents who feast upon the roots and crowns (Figure 3). Losses can vary from minimal to severe, depending upon the pest pressure and efforts to eliminate them from production areas. Future efforts to exclude rodents could include installing chicken wire around the perimeter of growing areas and setting out bait stations.

Figure 3. Rodents such as voles (field mice) and moles can feast on perennial crowns and root systems. There is often a hole or series of depressions in the media along with damage to the plant.

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