Ceanothus (americanus)
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David J. Horvath Nursery Manager Illinois Department of Natural Resources - Mason State Nursery 17855 N. CR 2400E Topeka, Illinois 61567 309-535-2185 309-535-3286 (fax) dhorvath@dnrmail.state.il.us gillyflowernursery.com |
| Family Scientific Name: | Rhamnaceae | ||
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| Family Common Name: | Buckthorn family | ||
| Scientific Name: | Ceanothus americanus L. | ||
| Common Synonym: | Ceanothus intermedius Pursh | ||
| Common Name: | New Jersey Tea | ||
| Species Code: | CEAAME | ||
| Ecotype: | Central Illinois, 650 feet msl elevation | ||
| General Distribution: | C. americanus is found from Quebec to Florida west to Minnesota and south to Texas. | ||
| Propagation Goal: | plants | ||
| Propagation Method: | seed | ||
| ProductType: | Bareroot (field grown) | ||
| Stock Type: | 1+0 container plugs | ||
| Time To Grow: | 7 Months | ||
| Target Specifications: | Height: n/a.<br> Caliper: n/a.<br> Root System: firm root plug for the greenhouse crop. | ||
| Propagule Collection: | Source of Propagules: Seed is collected by hand from nursery stock. The plant flowers from approx. June 19 to July 1. Seed is harvested about August 18. | ||
| Propagule Processing: | After drying, seed is cleaned first by running it dry through the Dybvig. Because of its hard seed coat, it is then run through the Grinder. Always put a test lot through first to ensure seed is not getting damaged. Next, run the seed back through the Dybvig, dry, then through the Huller Scarifier. Take this seed and run it over the Clipper with a top screen of 6 and a bottom screen of 1/21. Once again, run the seed through the Dybvig, then over the Clipper again with a top screen of 6 and a bottom screen of 1/21. Set the Clipper fan on low. Finally, run the seed through the Jessee Aspirator with both vents wide open. | ||
| Pre-Planting Treatments: |
8 ounces of seed is saved to sow one bench in either 64 flats of the Multipot #6, or 24 flats of the Multipot #3 or #4. Seed is damp stratified by mixing it with equal amounts of vermiculite and lightly dampening in a plastic bag or container. Store this seed for 3-4 months in a cold room of 34-36 degrees F. |
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| Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops: |
Propagation Environment: Fully controlled greenhouse Container Type and Volume: Multipot #3, #4, or #6 are used. Cell volumes are 6 cubic inches, 9 cu. in. and 6 cu. in. respectively. Growing Media: Sterile, Pro-Mix PGX. Add vermiculite and perlite at a 10:1 ratio. Mix in 5 ounces of Osmocote, slow release fertilizer, 17-6-10, per cubic foot of soil. Ensure flats are tapped down to prevent settling. Field grown seed is drilled in 3 or 4 foot wide, raised beds, consisting of a sandy loam. Total Time to Harvest: 7-11 months, depending on weather and plant/root development. Sowing Date: Three crops are started in the greenhouse with the first in late December and the last no later than the end of March. Field grown crops are sown in the fall. Sowing/Planting Technique: Sow the seeds by hand by broadcasting. Try to sprinkle 3-5 seeds per cell. Seed purity rates vary from year to year. Thus, it is easier to thin than to transplant. Cover the seeds to one times their depth with the same growing media. Use a dibble board or roller to gently press seed and cover soil in the cell. |
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| Establishment Phase: |
Set the greenhouse temperatures to be 70-80 degrees during the day, and 65-75 degrees at night. 75% germination is reached in about one week. Plants must be watered by hand during germination. Set the hose on gentle shower to prevent seeds from splashing out. |
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| Active Growth Phase: | Once germination is successful, the greenhouse temperature may be turned down gradually depending on outside temperatures. Plants are irrigated in the morning by soaking for 20 to 30 minutes. This allows the foliage to dry out during the day. Once true leaves appear, not cotyledons, the plants may be fertilized. Start with 50 ppm of Rapid Grow or Peter's Liquid Fertilizer once a week. This rate is increased to 200 ppm gradually, and, again, decreased to 50 ppm before moving the plants outside to the shadehouse. It is important to rinse fertilizer residue off the foliage by running the irrigation for 30 seconds. Plants should be thinned to 2 plants per cell. This should be accomplished before the roots are too extensive. Weed the flats when they are being thinned. When foliage reaches 8 to 10 inches, the plants need to be pruned back to 3 or 4 inches. This is accomplished by turning the flats on their sides and cutting with scissors or sheers. Make sure the clippings are all removed from the flats to prevent disease spread. | ||
| Length of Active Growth Phase: | 8 months | ||
| Hardening Phase: | The first greenhouse crop will be moved to a hoop house in late January to February. To acclimate the plants, the irrigation rate is reduced to 50 ppm before moving and greenhouse temperatures are decreased to 55-60 degrees day. The second and third crops are moved directly to the shadehouse in April and May. Again, greenhouse controls and fertilization rates are adjusted in preparation for the move. Plants that reach 8-10 inches in the shadehouse will require pruning also.<br> Harvest Date: Flats may be unplugged in October or November as long as most of the tops have died down. | ||
| Length of Hardening Phase: | 1 month | ||
| Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: |
Harvest Date: Flats may be unplugged in October or November as long as most of the tops have died down. Storage Conditions: Plugs that are not shipped during this fall's planting season may be stored for spring planting in cold rooms above freezing, preferably 40-50 degrees. Try to remove most of the dead foliage asyou can before bagging the root plugs for storage. Store them in plastic bags to ensure the roots do not dry out. Storage Duration: Approximately 4 to 6 months. Plugs may be shipped at any time as long as the receiver has cold storage. |
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| Length of Storage: | 4 to 6 months | ||
Citation:
Blessman, Gary; Flood, Roberta Mountz; Horvath, David J.. 2001. Propagation protocol for production of Bareroot (field grown) Ceanothus americanus L. plants 1+0 container plugs; Illinois Department of Natural Resources - Mason State Nursery Topeka, Illinois. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/04/16). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.
