Some Like It Hot Gardeners look for products to brighten their late summer and fall gardens or fill holes from plants lost to less than favorable spring and early summer conditions. Fill your post spring shoulder greenhouse with high quality annuals that thrive in the heat of the summer and provide the color and quality your customers are looking for! The “Some Like It Hot” program features a range of annuals that can be used effectively for late season production. Varieties in “Some Like It Hot” can withstand the warm temperatures and high light levels that late summer can bring. The varieties have been chosen based on their excellent performance in field trials in the toughest of conditions. Each provides a full season of garden performance including late summer and fall. For growers not familiar with production of summer annuals there are some key factors to consider. Some aspects of production will need to be adjusted to reflect the impact the warmer temperatures and higher light levels will have on the plants. Here are those factors: Plant Selection: Choose plants that thrive in warmer temperatures with minimal moisture requirements. Heat and high light levels will reduce flower size and fade blooms so choose plants with large, vibrant blossoms for maximum impact. Here are some of our popular species that like it hot: Argyranthemum Sunlight Brachyscome Bracteantha Coleus Crossandra Double Impatiens Helichrysum Osteospermum Crescendos Oxalis Pentas Petunia Portulaca Sanvitalia Torenia Verbena Keys to success: Crop Scheduling: Total production time will be shorter due to warmer temperatures. Container Size and Growing Media: Select larger container sizes that hold more water and a growing media with good moisture holding capacity. Increased plant vigor combined with warmer temperatures and high light levels allow media to dry much faster. Irrigation Schedules: Plants will grow faster and will use water and fertilizer much more aggressively at warmer temperatures; adjust irrigations schedules accordingly. Fertility: Avoid fertilizers high in ammonium based nitrates or rotate with Calcium/Magnesium fertilizers such as 15-5-15. Too much ammonium nitrogen will encourage growth that is too soft and lush. Monitor EC levels closely; crops such as Double Impatiens may require frequent leaching to avoid damaging salts from building up. Pinch Schedule/Florel Application: Pinching will help maintain size and habit. Some vigorous crops, such as Coleus, will benefit from multiple pinches for improved plant habit. A Florel application made at the time of first pinch or about two weeks after transplant will encourage strong branching and reduce early flowering before plants have sized up. Fast cropping in 4” and 5” containers with no pinch is also an option. Light levels: In extreme heat, particularly in the greenhouse, shading may be required to help control temperature. Provide adequate airflow and ventilation to minimize plant stress. Plant Growth Regulators: Growth regulator needs will be higher. B-Nine sprays, Cycocel spays or drenches, and Bonzi drenches are effective means of controlling growth. Avoid higher rates and late applications that will delay flowering. Plant Spacing: Allow adequate space around each plant to minimize stress and maximize transpiration which will reduce heat stress and encourage active growth without stretch. Root Zone Temperature Management: As the root zone temperatures elevate above 90F, root systems shut down and inhibit movement of water to stems and leaves resulting in burn. Manage root zone temperatures by mulching the soil or using trailing plants to cover the soil and the sides of the pots. For more details on each of the crops in “Some Like It Hot” go to www.Ecke.com.. Click on Tech Help under the Flower Fields icon and choose Crop Information. Please email questions to rsiemonsma@eckeranch.com or call Rebecca Siemonsma at 760-944-4060. You can also post questions on our live bulletin board at www.EckeRanchTechHelp.com.