EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was authored by Eric Larson.
We all need a closer look at the mums that come to our gardens each fall.
Some technology can help preserve our history if done productively.
One of my readers sent me an email years ago asking if he could plant some of the mums in his flower beds around the house.
He had enjoyed the mums still in the pot and said, “I want them to survive next year in beds I already have.”
When I first read this question in December, he sent it to me in November.
“Little late,” was my response, “but I have some ideas.
“It depends also on the type of Chrysanthemum you want to grow.”
In Barberton, they celebrated the 34th Mum Festival Sept 28 and 29.
You would have enjoyed the thousands of chrysanthemums arranged into beautiful works of art throughout Lake Ana Park in Barberton.
Can you imagine more than one million blooms from 17,000 plants? This amazing floral display was the backdrop for the entire festival.
This Festival was to recognize how The Yoder Brothers preserved this plant for us today. Forty years ago, no one was sure that mums would survive this disease.
Chrysanthemums could have gone the way of the stately American Elms.
There are different types of chrysanthemums. Some are tropical like most florist mums.
Our garden mums need ground in the fall to grow. These same mums are heavy feeders and need to have rich loamy soil to grow.
We can prevent them from developing any disease if we plant them in loose soil in a sunny spot. This provides the best chance for them to do well.
My friend in Wooster planted a hedge of Chrysanthemums along a sidewalk leading to the front door.
They had rich, loose soil in a sunny spot. Because of the excellent positioning of these mums, they have bloomed faithfully for many years.
A business located in Summit County saved these plants. Forty years ago, a serious soil-borne disease spread like wildfire, and no one knew how to stop this disease.
During the 30s and 40s, Verticillium Wilt, a virus, grew from stock preserved in Canada.
In the 1950s – 1960s a unique solution to this problem developed. It was discovered that if you can raise the Chrysanthemum out and away from the soil, you may be able to preserve the plant.
Tissue culture is the name given to this procedure developed by The Yoder Brothers of Barberton.
The procedure developed cuts live stems, growing them in a special jelly-like compound with various chemicals.
In 2000, I was a member of the last class on Tissue Culture taught on the OARDC campus or ATI. My special plant project was on Chrysanthemums.
I cut tiny joints from the main stem of Chrysanthemums. Most of the joints I cut survived. Yoder raised Chrysanthemums in chemical jelly out of the soil avoiding any soil-borne disease as I did many years after the original procedure.
This procedure saved the Chrysanthemums. Tissue culture allowed the mum to grow without the need for soil.
In 2008, The Yoder Brothers Company sold the business to Syngenta and divided it into three different businesses according to Greenhouse Grower magazine.
Aris is the new company in Barberton today. For many years mums have been the star product for The Yoder Brothers.
The big thing with putting any plant in the ground is having soil temperatures high enough that the root hairs will develop and become established.
If you don’t allow them to have a chance to get established and the soil temperatures fall to a point, where they can’t grow then the mums will have a more difficult time getting established.
So, August not November is the best time to plant mums. Some people over-winter mums in cold frames or cool cellars during the winter.
Zone 5 is the farthest north where you can hope to grow mums outside.
As with any other perennial, you need to divide or cut back at the end of the season, if you have had a strong growing season.
Because these are now perennials, divide the older clumps each year in the spring. Roots will have a better chance of getting established in a spring division.
If you have any problems in your garden do not hesitate to send me an e-mail at ericlarson546@yahoo.com. Soon you can leave your comments about my columns at my website www.ohiohealthyfoodcooperative.org.
Thank you for participating in our column.