The Nursery Plant Process: How Quality Plants Actually Get Made
Whether you are growing a single cutting or seed to a plant ready to be set out in the garden‚ the time from planting to maturity can take anywhere from six months to three years‚ depending on the species‚ and each stage of its development can spell success or failure․ Knowing how your plant was produced will help you select a well-grown plant over one produced to meet a deadline for sale․ Here’s what really happens behind the scenes‚ and what to look for when you’re shopping․
How Plants Actually Get Started
Most nursery plants are propagated from seeds‚ stem cuttings‚ and divisions of roots․ Division of roots is a common way to propagate perennials such as hostas or daylilies by taking a mass of roots from an existing plant and dividing it into parts․ Faster than growing from seed‚ it is a genetic clone of the parent plant‚ so you know exactly what you’re getting in terms of what color blooms and growth habit will be․
Other plants‚ such as hydrangeas‚ viburnums and other shrubs and woody ornamentals‚ can be then propagated by taking the softwood cuttings in late spring or may be early summer‚ dipping them in rooting hormone‚ and placing them under controlled humidity․ In four to eight weeks‚ they will root․ Some tree species are often grafted onto existing rootstock in order to produce trees with the best possible combination of characteristics‚ such as fruit trees and many ornamentals․
Seed propagation takes longer than other methods‚ but is the only way to propagate some species or maintain the genetic diversity of stock in a nursery․ Wildflowers and native grasses are often propagated in this manner․ Seed germination may occur in a few weeks or in a few months‚ depending on the plant․
The Growing-On Phase
Once the plant has rooted‚ the so-called ““growing-on”” phase begins‚ during which time many nurseries are tempted to cut corners․ A young plant must be moved into larger containers as the root system grows and expands to fill the container․ Skip this step altogether‚ and they become root-bound plants that struggle to establish once transplanted․
Most plants at TN Nursery have been growing in the field or in containers for one to three seasons before they are sold‚ depending on the species․ For example‚ a dwarf shrub will be ready for sale in a year․ A shade tree used in landscaping may take three or more years to form a trunk caliper and root system to withstand transplant shock․
This also means throughout the growing season the soil is being tested․ During the growing season‚ levels of nitrogen‚ phosphorus‚ and potassium will rise and fall․ A serious grower of plants should modify their fertilizer regime according to the actual results of soil tests․ Pest management is also part of this․ Integrated pest management (where helpful insects are used to control harmful ones‚ and spot treated) is preferable‚ as you don’t want to bring home any chemical residues on your new azalea․
Why Regional Growing Is So Important
And this is where most of the generalized advice falls apart because a nursery in Ohio and a nursery in Middle Tennessee are both very different growing environments even though they may be selling the same plant․ Tennessee stretches between USDA Hardiness Zones 6b and 7b and while hot and humid summers are a given‚ winter temperatures can swing between mild and hard freeze within a week‚ which stresses plants that are unaccustomed to such variation․
Lets take a greenhouse plant grown in another state and shipped to Tennessee․ That plant has had no time to get used to Tennessee’s clay soils and our summer humidity․ A plant grown right here in Middle Tennessee‚ however‚ is already adapted to this area and the conditions it will grow in at your home․ This is not merely a marketing point but also part of the plant’s physiology; root systems and cell structure develop according to the conditions under which a plant germinated and grew in its first few growing seasons‚ and continue after transplantation․
As a group we have over 60 years of experience growing in this area and know what will work․ We choose plants that work well in the area rather than simply in national catalogs․ We promote native and near-native plants that do well here: Eastern Redbud‚ Oakleaf Hydrangea‚ native ferns and other perennials that do well in our clay soil and tolerate our rainfall․
What Happens Before a Plant Ships
Before leaving the commercial nursery‚ roots should be checked for pests‚ root density by tipping the container partially out‚ and dampness to check for root rot‚ a fungal disease․ This can be more of a problem in the wetter springtime climate of the southeastern United States than in the drier climates of the western or northern states․
Structural pruning is used for shrubs and trees at this stage to encourage a balanced branching growth habit rather than branches that will grow in an uneven way․ Though it may seem small‚ it can affect how the plant will grow in the coming years․
Shipping and handling are also important․ Bare-root (without soil) plants as sold for some perennials and for grape vines need to be kept cool and just moist․ They need to be planted quickly‚ usually within a few days of shipping․ Container-grown plants provide some leeway‚ but should not be left in a hot car trunk or direct sunlight for hours before planting․ We sell our Grape Vine stock as dormant bare-root plants through the colder months as this gives the roots the best chance to establish before the vine starts to break dormancy in the spring․
What You as a Buyer Can Check
If you don’t have horticulture training‚ you can determine the health of your plant by looking at its leaves․ A healthy plant will have colored leaves without yellow or spots․ Tip the pot ever so slightly to see the roots․ They should be white or tan‚ filling the pot but not tightly wrapping around the perimeter‚ which indicates the plant was in that pot too long․
Ask when the plant was potted up to its current container size․ A nursery that can answer that question specifically is more likely keeping careful track of its stock․
Choosing the Best Plants for Your Space
With more than 200 plant varieties available online and in our Middle Tennessee garden center‚ we’re here to help you find the plants with the track record for success in Zones 6 and 7․ Each plant description includes care instructions and realistic expectations for how big the plant will get and when it will flower․ Buying a plant you’re hoping will last for years shouldn’t be a gamble․
If you are unsure what will grow best in your conditions (an area under tree cover‚ a clay-heavy slope‚ or a sunny flower border) call us at 931-692-4252 and we can discuss your conditions and recommend plants that were raised to grow well in them!
