{"id":337,"date":"2010-11-29T09:29:33","date_gmt":"2010-11-29T14:29:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mymontys.com\/wordpress\/?p=337"},"modified":"2010-11-29T09:29:33","modified_gmt":"2010-11-29T14:29:33","slug":"ask-montys-for-112810-sunflowers-horseradish-and-starting-a-greenhouse-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wordpress.mymontys.com\/?p=337","title":{"rendered":"Ask Monty’s for 11\/28\/10: Sunflowers, Horseradish, and Starting a Greenhouse Business"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ask Monty\u2019s:\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve planted some skyscraper sunflowers over the past couple of summers, but it never fails that a wind or storm will come up and creates havoc with them, causing them to bend or snap in half.\u00a0 They get about 12 feet high and are pretty neat, but are there other sunflowers that may not be as tall and a little more durable that you could suggest?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jackson
\nChelsea, Oklahoma<\/p>\n

Jackson<\/strong>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are quite a few varieties on the market that will serve your purpose.\u00a0 Furry \u201cTeddy Bear\u201d and dwarf \u201cSunspot\u201d sunflowers come to mind immediately.\u00a0 They grow to only about three feet tall and are actually perfect for containers.\u00a0 But if you don\u2019t want to give up THAT much height, \u201cVelvet Queen\u201d and \u201cItalian White\u201d grow about six feet tall and do well planted against a sunny spot of the house \u2013 which will help protect them too.\u00a0 \u201cAutumn Beauty and \u201cRing of Fire\u201d grow to about four to five feet in height.\u00a0 If you\u2019re looking for something a little more permanent, there is a perennial variety called \u201cFlore Pleno\u201d or Capenoch Star\u201d you may want to check out.\u00a0 The only downside is that they have smaller flowers than your annuals, but they\u2019re terrific for cutting in fall arrangements.<\/p>\n

Ask Monty\u2019s:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIs it hard to transplant horseradish?\u00a0 A friend wants to give me some since it\u2019s sort of taking over her garden, but neither of us knows how to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

RanPaul
\nWheeling, West Virginia<\/p>\n

RanPaul:<\/strong><\/p>\n

You simply dig the plants up in either the spring before they really get going or in the early fall after you\u2019ve harvested some.\u00a0 Make sure you dig down at least twice as deep as your piece of horseradish root is long to provide loose soil for the long taproot that it has. \u00a0Water your new plants well and regularly to make sure they get settled in properly. \u00a0\u00a0Overall, they are very easy to transplant and have little trouble adjusting as long as they are in a nice sunny location.<\/p>\n

Ask Monty\u2019s:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI am a pipefitter\/welder by trade. I am tired after working 30 years. My grandfather used to grow carnations when I was a kid and they were beautiful. I want to do the same for a hobby, but also eventually work to maybe to make it into a business. I would like to get started. Is it possible with a greenhouse type setting or even indoors? I have some knowledge of indoor growing with lights, soil and nutrients and have had some success. Can a person start a very small business and be successful at it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Abe
\nDevers, Texas<\/p>\n

Abe:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Growing carnations to meet the American demand is big business \u2013 and done both in natural and greenhouse environments, so absolutely you can grow carnations in an indoor or greenhouse setting. When it comes to pursuing a business endeavor, large or small scale, I would recommend a greenhouse environment with natural light and grow lights for use only as needed.\u00a0 And, most importantly it will allow you to control the environment in which they are growing in.<\/p>\n

Carnations need full sun to light shade and must have at least 4-5 hours of full sun each day for good flowering success. They like light, fertile, well-drained soil which is slightly alkaline (pH 6.75).\u00a0 Clay soil is an absolute no-no. Be mindful of not over watering carnations and good air circulation is needed around the stems at all times to avoid disease.<\/p>\n

Yuai Nursery in Salinas, California, is the largest grower of carnations in the U.S., where South America is the leading producer in the world. There are smaller producers around the country, but they are not exclusive to carnations only for business survival purposes.<\/p>\n

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Ask Monty\u2019s: \u201cI\u2019ve planted some skyscraper sunflowers over the past couple of summers, but it never fails that a wind or storm will come up and creates havoc with them, causing them to bend or snap in half.\u00a0 They get about 12 feet high and are pretty neat, but are there other sunflowers that may […]<\/p>\n

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