by Dan Markham Along with the first dappling of autumn color in the foliage, and the honking of south-bound Canada geese, the appearance of chrysanthemums in home gardens and retail outlets herald the change of seasons. In Brockport, along Fourth Section Road (Rt. 31A) west of Wegmans Plaza, there is a lone survivor of a local horticultural tradition - field grown mums. Aaron Stroup is the second-generation mum grower in his family. His father, Tom, who is also pastor of the nearby Brockport Free Methodist Church, began using the open field to grow mums about fifteen years ago at the suggestion of family friend and neighbor Bob Ellis. Mike Proud, of Spencerport, is a sales associate in the Garden Center at Wal-Mart in Brockport. He is also a friend of Stroup's and helps out when it comes time to dig up the mums. Proud knows potted plants. About Stroup's field grown mums he says, "Pick up one of these plants. It smells like fall!" Last spring, Stroup set out about 3,000 two-to-three inch rooted cuttings which, over the summer, have grown to about 12-inches of magnificently budded, partially blooming mounds of color and fragrance. (The fragrance derives from pyrethrin, a chemical compound found in the flowers used as an insecticide and in treatment of some skin disorders.) Stroup expects, if past years' experience holds, to be completely sold out in the next few weekends. Stroup's field-grown mums are dug and potted only on the day of sale, giving local gardeners the best chance that the plants will adapt to local conditions and survive the winter. Not all garden mums are hardy in our area and not all mums labeled "hardy" can really survive our winters, especially if they've been grown in greenhouse conditions. The best chance of getting a chrysanthemum to thrive year after year is to get a local field grown plant. Brian Eshenaur, horticultural specialist for Monroe County Cooperative Extensions, points out that store bought mums are almost always forced in a controlled environment, grown in a peat-based soil mix, and marketed as annuals. He also says that for the most part, consumers buy autumn mums as annuals and, well-tended, a potted mum provides several weeks of enjoyment indoors or out. But many serious gardeners and home landscapers, looking to protect their investment, prefer to treat chrysanthemums as perennials and therefore choose plants for their stability and reliability as colorful contributors to the autumn garden. In his field, Stroup grows several varieties and colors: early, mid and late season, and a 'season extender" - the latest blooming of them all - often coming into bloom late in October. Stroup selects 8-10 different colors including multiple shades of purple, gold, and red. The darkest red and rust-colored varieties tend to be the later bloomers. White, one of the most popular colors, always blooms first, followed by the bright yellows. Especially striking this year is one multi-colored spidery type in white and yellow. The chrysanthemum was first cultivated in China about the 15th Century B.C. The Chinese valued the mum for its medicinal and culinary uses. They used the roots, which they boiled for a headache remedy, and the young sprouts and flower petals for salads. The Japanese brought chrysanthemums into wide cultivation and have guided the popularity of the mum around the world by their superb breeding and cultivation techniques. The official seal of the Japanese royal family contains a chrysanthemum, and modern Japanese celebrate a National Chrysanthemum Day, also known as the Festival of Happiness. After is introduction to the West, around 1750, gardeners in Europe started hybridizing the Asian chrysanthemum, bringing into existence the large, showy, colorful flowering plants we know today. Officially there are 13 classes of chrysanthemums grown. The classifications are based on flower shape. Anemone, Spoon, Quill, Spider and Pompon are some of the shaped-based types. The Pompon is widely known because of its popularity and frequent use as a corsage at college and university homecoming celebrations. The type of mum most often sold this time of year is classified as "decorative," sometimes mistakenly labeled "garden." Some chrysanthemum lovers take great pains in their cultivation techniques, carefully disbudding branches leaving a single bloom to develop. Some startling displays can be trained this way with magnificent large blossoms as a result. Japanese gardeners are fond of training chrysanthemum plants into a cascade display reminiscent of some bonsai. Chrysanthemum cultivation techniques for the home gardener are quite simple. Brian Eshenaur says, "Plant them out by the last week of September in order for them to set roots enough to survive." An ordinary, well-worked light garden soil is best, in a well-drained sunny location. Mums do not like soggy, wet soil and do best with 5-6 hours daily of direct sunlight. Avoid locations with artificial light from street or porch lights. Chrysanthemums are phototropic, like poinsettias; darkness is required to stimulate blooming. Artificial light falling on mums can cause trouble setting buds. Brian Eshenaur points out that chrysanthemums, possibly because of their pyrethrin compounds, are relatively pest free. Aside from thrips and slugs, mums have few natural enemies aside from deer who find an occasional meal of chrysanthemums very tasty. Information on the care and cultivation of chrysanthemums and answers to other gardening questions are available locally from Cornell Cooperative Extension's "Helpline," 9 a.m. to 12, Monday-Friday. The phone number is 473-5335. The National Chrysanthemum Society, founded in 1890 in Buffalo, has lots of information available on its Web site: www.mums.org Note: Aaron Stroup sells his field grown mums on weekends, Saturday from 9 a.m. and Sunday's beginning at 1 p.m. |
Aaron Stroup and Mike (standing) and Melanie Proud, of Spencerport, pot chrysanthemums for sale. Early, mid and late season varieties in vibrant color line the display rack at the Brockport growing site. About 3,000 root cuttings were set out last spring for this fall's sale.