January 2000

.....I am always delighted when our customers take such a profound interest in resolving problems we ourselves face as growers of these wonderful flowers.  Our affection for their simple loveliness, cheerful colors, and many intriguing varieties is overshadowed by the threat of disease.  Yet this does not deter us from growing them year after year, and working hard to get the environment just right, as we watch for signs to heed to preserve them throughout the season. 

I saw some interesting observations on the mildew problem and other topics as I read your letter, and so I wanted to add my 2 cents worth to the discussion, if I may. 

Classic (white) angustifolia:  know that we have them, just not in the quantities I’d feel comfortable about, advertising widely through our web site or catalog.  We try to buy or grow enough stock that we may positively respond to any discriminating customer who asks if perhaps we have such and such or know where to get it.  If you’d like some of these, know they are $2.50/pack for from 50-70 seeds.  Just write it in on your catalog order form should you place an order with us.  This is true of anything you cannot find elsewhere.  We have very many sources and know the best ones from our experience.

Bluepoint formula mix (Benary’s Giant):  We actually have these ready to add to our Supreme Variety mix.  Again, we don’t advertise to sell them separately unless a customer specifically requests it.  We were successful in finding these in an array of colors from a couple of good vendors:  Stokes 2000 Growers Guide and from Johnny’s Selected Seeds 2000 Commercial Catalog.  Let us know if you’d like us to send you some.  Again, the price per pack is $2.50, and you may write them in on the catalog order form.

Immunox by Spectracide:  because I am not a biologist, I cannot evaluate the statements made on the instructions that came with the product, but I think it is a good idea to put a stronger caution statement with my advice to my customers.  Thanks for the suggestion!  Oh!  I can tell you we used only 3 applications of it this past summer when the humidity soared early and stayed long.  We never saw a powdery white spot!  And my husband says to tell you he usually dilutes it by half of what the instructions recommend.  It worked for us.  Have never tried Bayleton and hope we don’t have to.

Purchase seed from southern seed companies:  I cannot see the scientific logic behind this statement.  If we want to buy a used car up north, we often advise people to go south where the rust isn’t so pervasive and as much of a problem.  We believe the cars will last longer because they aren’t polluted when we buy them.  Why would flower cultivation be any different?  I would be more afraid to buy seed from a southern grower.  (p.s. Most of our seed not grown at the farm comes from Stokes in Buffalo, NY and Johnny’s or in Albion, Maine. Another favorite is Pinetree Seed in New Glouster, Maine.) 

The small varieties are less prone to diseases:  NOT TRUE.  We see very different evidence. Think about it. These little guys hug the ground.  Where does the dampness lay but near the ground, less disturbed by air currents in the fields.  Our taller varieties have much less problem than our shorter ones.  And note it’s the Profusion and Pinwheel mixes (we call these “minis”) that were bred and most successful at resisting fungal  disease. 

Stagger planting times:  I am not at all sure this is a relevant approach.  What if the microorganisms are in the soil?  What then?  We will plant all at once then pull any that appear to exhibit the potential for problems. 

Final point to consider – plant east-west instead of north-south rows:  For Michigan, this is excellent advice, as the prevailing winds are west to east most of the summer here.  We noticed to our chagrin that the east-west rows had very little problem with fungal disease as opposed to our north-south rows.  Even the Profusion and Pinwheel mixes had some problems with rust in the north-south rows.  Not so our east-west rows.  Aside from the prevailing winds, I do not have a scientific explanation.  I just know we will plant all rows east-west each season and will advise others to determine the direction of their prevailing winds and plant rows to “line up with them” as opposed to lining up against them. 

I agree with every other bit of advice given by your experts on avoiding diseases in zinnias! [this advice appears on our planting/watering tips page]

I’ll close by saying I am in many ways just a novice when it comes to predicting or knowing much about Mother Nature.  One of our more interesting problems is how to grow more beautiful zinnias through natural selection, while still taking advantage of the new varieties made possible by the hybrids. I sense we have not even begun to understand all the possibilities through this process.  And success is slower this way; so we have to be more patient. As evidence of the Mystery, I leave you with a picture in your mind of a zinnia one of our customers grew in South Africa.  She wrote just this week, saying, “I have to say that there was one rather surprising flower, part rose, part apricot, and part lemon.  And on the same plant, the same base stem in fact, a flower which was just lemon.”  That one would have been a sight to see!  I told her I hoped I’d get one like it someday in our gardens! 

Kindest regards,

Sharon Baller