Showing posts with label Behind the Scenes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Behind the Scenes. Show all posts

Monday, April 12, 2010

White Daffodils


Spring Daffodils

Early spring flowers are in their final stages, and after Easter flower rush week, we are moving forward into mid spring second round plantings of many annuals, vegetables and herbs. The third wave of lettuce has been seeded, and the first two sets have sold out. We are waiting for the plants to get big enough to put out for sale. Basil, cilantro, parsley and other herbs have been seeded, as well as squash varieties of vegetables, eggplant and many more. Tomatoes and pepper seedlings were transplanted from seed trays to peat pots. With over 20 varieties of tomatoes and 20 varieties of peppers, this took more than a week of continuous planting.
Also on the list of plantings were patio pots of double impatiens and New Guinea impatiens. The impatiens bags planted three weeks ago are coming along nicely and filling out all their little niches. The never ending planting of petunias goes on and on. Tops on the list last week was the start of the wave petunia plantings. This will probably take up to two weeks to complete.
To keep up with our planting team, someone has to make up the soil mixes, fill pots and flats, tag each pot, then move them into their growing houses. Many hands go into accomplishing all these tasks to get the plants to retail, and everyone pitches in. Whatever needs to be done at any given moment to keep the flow going, someone will pitch in to keep the ball rolling.
On sunny days, which we've had a lot of recently, watering becomes a top priority. All those plants being planted won't amount to much if not watered when they need it. Sometimes planters have to stop to help water to keep up. Some plants will not need to be watered as often as others, but on sunny warm days almost everything will need a drink at least once a day, and seeds won't germinate without being kept moist.
Finally, most of our nursery stock came in last week, including lilacs, forsythia, and viburnum, all of which are blooming now in the neighborhood. Also, creeping phlox is looking like lovely carpets out in the yards and ours are ready as well. Roses have been put out for sale this past week, and everyone is anxious to get their hands on the newest varieties such as yellow Monkey Business and Ch Ching.

By: The Production Staff

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Rose Progress


Roses Four Weeks Later


Roses Mid February


As you can clearly see from the above two photos, the warm sunny weather the past few weeks has moved the roses from barely breaking dormancy to full fledged foliage growth. As we walk past the greenhouses each day, we don't see the dramatic change as much as when we look back on that first photo published four weeks ago. Before long we will be moving them out of the greenhouses into the field to give them more room to grow and allow them to harden off (get used to the outdoor temperatures) before setting them out for sale.
This past week has seen a continued effort to get everything planted up so all the annuals and vegetables and herbs have time to reach sale maturity. Cosmos, beets, and zinnia seeds were sown, while begonias both wax and dragonwing were transplanted into their final pots. Also transplanted this past week were impatiens, dahlias, verbena, and pentas. Belden baskets of impatiens were planted up in a myriad of colors. Belden baskets are hanging baskets with holes all around the sides of the basket where plants are planted in each of those holes as well as in the top of the basket. This creates a very full look both on top and all around the basket.
Cuttings were taken of some of the more unusual colored coleus plants to root them and double or even triple the number of these that will be available for sale in May. Our greenhouses are filling up fast with all these annuals and vegetables. Of course our planting would not be complete without transplanting more of literally thousands of petunias! We never seem to be finished planting these popular annuals.
Finally, all the pansies have been brought out of their winter greenhouses into the retail area. They bring so much color and spring feel to your garden, and even though we had a surprise light snow Thursday night, it didn't affect those little beauties one bit. We are also enjoying all the daffodils around our greenhouses that are now in full bloom after the crocuses just completed their bloom cycle.

By: The Production Staff
A.J. Rahn Greenhouses

Monday, March 22, 2010

Coleus Planting


Coleus Planting

This past week we continued our frantic pace of planting and seeding for spring. Tomatoes, herbs, and lettuces were seeded, as well as marigolds. Hanging impatiens pouches were planted in ten different solid colors, and a color mix . Impatiens baskets were also planted and hung in various houses to continue their growing cycle. Begonias, coleus, dahlias and snapdragons topped the list of other seedlings transplanted by our hard working crew. Special mention this week to our crew who place all these many trays and hanging baskets in their special growing houses. It's a back breaking, knee bending, up and down ladders kind of job, and we couldn't keep up the planting pace without their hard work!
Another warm, sunny, dry week once again kept the watering crew in their boots for most of every day. The plants are growing by leaps and bounds with all this gorgeous weather! A final disbudding of the Easter Mums was completed this past week. This process involves taking all the side flower buds off each stem of the mum plant, leaving the center bud. By doing this, the center bud develops into quite a large showy flower, creating a beautiful full plant for decorating your table.
The first of the early spring blooming perennials were brought out for sale. Many of these were planted last summer and fall as bare root, or seedlings or bulbs, and kept in greenhouses throughout the winter at just about 32F. Iberis, Bleeding Heart, Arabis, Polemonium and Forget Me Nots are all out and blooming now. Pansies and Violas are literally flying out the door, so we're also kept busy stocking the tables to keep up with the demand.

By: The Production Crew
A.J. Rahn's Greenhouses

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Geranium Planting

Planting Geraniums

This week started the march to Easter among the many tasks at hand. Potted bulb plants that were planted in early December (tulips, daffodils, hyacinths) were brought out of cold storage to begin forcing them for Easter week bloom. Azaleas as well were put in a warmer greenhouse to force for Easter.
Hanging baskets of cherry tomatoes were planted, and herb seeds planted a week ago are now beginning to sprout.
Debudding Geraniums that are just starting their growth spurt was done so the plants have a chance to put more effort into foliage and root growth for a stronger, healthier plant. There will be ample time for blooms to set later. Pictured above are a few of the thousands of Geraniums being planted in 4 1/2" pots. Scented Geraniums were also being planted for an extra bonus in your garden or window boxes, providing lovely scents to accompany the beautiful blooms. Citronella scented Geraniums even provide mosquito deterrence around your deck or patio!
Since most of the week was relatively warm and sunny, watering and fertilizing became top priority for a major part of each day.

By: The Production Staff
A.J. Rahn Greenhouses

Saturday, March 6, 2010

New Guinea Impatiens


New Guinea Impatiens

This past week was once again a planting frenzy, as we transplanted a whole greenhouse full of New Guinea Impatiens.
Herbs of about 30 varieties were seeded or transplanted for spring.
Hanging baskets of Geraniums, Petunias, and Boston fern were planted, priced, then hung in greenhouses to complete growing for spring sales.
New cuttings of Plumbago, Ivy, and other vining filler plants were taken and placed in a rooting medium to develop a root system before being transplanted about 4 weeks later into 4" pots.
The first tomato seedlings were transplanted into 4 1/2' pots for early container planting or planting in a protected area before May 15th, for those who just can't wait to get started!
Soils are made up many times a day in different mixes to achieve optimum plant health. It may come as a surprise to many to realize different plants have different soil needs.
Two more greenhouses were cleaned and sterilized for the asparagus, rhubarb, strawberries and all the herbs and other vegetables being planted this week.
The roses planted two weeks ago are budding out nicely, and with sun and a little warmer weather, they will be bursting out!

By: The Production Staff at A.J. Rahn Greenhouses

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Behind the Scenes Feb. 26, 2010


Newly Potted Roses

This week we are starting a new section on our blog to give you a peek at what goes on behind the scenes, sometimes months before the plant ever appears for sale. Hopefully, this will bring everyone to a deeper appreciation of what goes into getting seeds ,cuttings, bare root plants, and plugs to quality finished plant, and how long it may take to get them there.
Some of the tasks accomplished this past week included; seeding of some spring vegetables, including eggplant; planting million bell hanging baskets with plants that were started weeks ago; taking ivy and vinca vine cuttings to be rooted and grown for selling in spring; and completing the planting of over 400 varieties of perennials.
Greenhouses that have been closed over the past few months are being cleaned and sterilized in preparation for all the annuals being planted for spring. Speaking of planting, you wouldn't believe all the pots we use on a daily basis, not to mention soil and fertilizer!
This week concluded with final planting of approximately 2100 bare root roses from Jackson & Perkins and Weeks, including four of the newest varieties: Pumpkin Patch, Sedona, Ch-Ching, and Monkey Business. This represents only four of 125 varieties we will have available. We will also have tree standard roses in 2' & 3' sizes, as well as a double ball topiary standard.

By: The Production Staff
Planters and Growers at A.J. Rahn Greenhouses