Plant criteria Flashcards
In what two circumstances might uniformity be your criterion for plant selection?
Veg growing and bedding displays
How would you achieve PLANT uniformity?
Choose F1 hybrids
Describe what is mean by provenance and how it is currently used in plant selection
Provenance relates to the geographical origin of specific plants (within their overall range, e.g. birch trees can grow anywhere from Northern Scandinavia down to southern Europe). Seed collected from plants which are adapted to local conditions will ensure that new plantings are also suited to the local growing conditions (e.g. not wildflower seed bought in from Eastern Europe because it’s cheaper).
describe how provenance may in future be used for ‘climate proof plantings’
Choosing seed from plants which have adapted to the climatic conditions predicted for an area, rather than those from the specific site at the present.
What are two criteria for the award of an AGM?
Excellence in ordinary use/p & d resistance/ stable form and colour/ widely available…
a) How would knowing the average winter temperature of a site affect your selection of suitable plants?
Estimate ‘zone’ in global terms; consult hardiness ratings, then plant appropriately to avoid losses
where would you find information about plant hardiness?
RHS hardiness ratings from website, catalogues or plant sales websites
How is plant hardiness rated?
According to the RHS 9 bands (7 with subcategories) by plant, e.g. Half hardy (H3) is defined as withstanding -5 to 1⁰C, or overwintering in an unheated glasshouse to provide some frost protection.
Hardy (H4) is defined as withstanding -10 to -5⁰C, surviving outdoors in an average winter.
According to the rest of the world, by geographical zone in which a plant could survive. The British Isles are in zones H4 (hardy in mild areas, withstands -5 to -10⁰C minimum) and H5 (hardy in favourable areas, withstands 0 to -5⁰C).
You don’t need this detail!
Suggest three ways to improve the chances of borderline-hardy plants surviving on a cold site
choose a favourable microclimate e.g. south facing sheltered spot/ take them under cover in winter/ use fleece and mulch
Name one site-specific pathogen (other than onion white rot) and one site-specific pest.
Honey fungus, muntjac/badgers/rabbits
State four tasks which should be completed as part of a site assessment
sketch site and note details e.g. where indicator plants show damp area
soil texture analysis
photos for reference/plant identification
check aspect with compass/phone
State four characteristics of alpine plants which allow them to survive in their natural environment
low-growing to reduce exposure
grey/silver leaves to reflect UV
small leaves to reduce water loss
low water requirement
which of the following is NOT a nursery stock size
Exceptionally large
bulbs corms and tubers are sold according to grade, based on
Circumference
The advantages of container-grown plants include
Ability to plant year-round and convenience
What are advantages of specifying bare root plants?
greater biosecurity, reduced use of plastics, cheaper
A plant which has been grown in the open ground, which is then lifted and its roots and soil wrapped for sale is called
Root-balled
What is a standard tree in nursery terms?
tree, clear stem of 1.8m, branching above
What does undercut mean?
roots pruned in situ to sever tap root and to encourage good root development
lifted while dormant without any soil on roots means
bare root
What does 1+0 mean?
one year seedling, lifted for sale
What does 1u2 mean?
grown from seed (year 1) then undercut and grown on for two years before sale
What does 2+2 mean?
grown from seed and left in situ for another year, then undercut and grown on for two years
What does LD mean?
low density planting (bushy)
Give three reasons why you need a standard reference system for plants (nursery stock
You get what you were expecting in terms of size
Comparison for tendering
Choose right size for the site/situation
What are the two main reference systems used by growers/landscapers?
BS 3936 (trees) and National Plant specification
How are shrubs described?
pot size, height (e.g. 60/90, 90/120) number of breaks or shoots
How are herbaceous plants described?(
Pot size/number of buds
Name3 green manures
Medicago sativa, Trifolium incarnatum, Trifolium pratense
Name2 succulents
Aloe Vera
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
What is Totipotency?
ability of a single cell to divide and produce the complete range of cell types a plant requires
What is a good plant for colonization?
Forsythia suspension (it will layer in and root)
What is a seed that requires stratification?
Fraxinus excelsior
What supports the cinnabor moth caterpillar?
Senecio jacobaea
What is a good source for bumble bees?
Osmanthus delavayi
What is a good nesting habitat for nesting songbirds?
Hedera helix
What are the best hedge plants?
Carpinus betulus
Fagus sylvatica
How is ammonia converted to nitrates?
Stage 1: Ammonia is converted to nitrites by the bacteria Nitrosomonas spp.
Stage 2: Nitrites are toxic to plants in small quantities, but they are normally converted to nitrates by Nitrobacter spp before they reach harmful levels
