Hydrangeas A to Z workshops scheduled for summer

A series of workshops focused on producing excellent hydrangeas will take place this summer in Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina. The workshops will be conducted by the extension services of Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina and are sponsored by OHP, Bailey Nurseries, and Harrell's. 

The workshops will occur July 21 in McMinnville, Tenn., Aug. 2 in Virginia Beach, Va., and Aug. 4 in Smithfield, N.C. The cost is $35 before May 31 and $50 from June 1 to July 15 for the Tennessee workshop, $50 from June 1 to July 28 for the Virginia and N.C. workshops. Registration closes after those deadlines. The events will run from approximately 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To register, go to tiny.utk.edu/producinghydrangeas.

The events have been co-organized by North Carolina State University, University of Tennessee, and Virginia Cooperative Extension and will feature the following speakers:

Matthew Chappell, University of Georgia

Amy Fulcher, University of Tennessee

Anthony LeBude, North Carolina State University

Jim Owen, Virginia Tech

Alan Windham, University of Tennesee

There will be a Q&A session with extension specialists and industry representatives focusing on fertilizer, plant production, and insect and disease management.

Topics:

Potting Substrate and Fertilizers, Blueing Flowers

Controlling Growth and Enhancing Flowering with Pruning and PGRs

Propagation and Breeding Hydrangas, New Releases

Disease Management

The afternoon session includes hands-on demonstrations with hydrangea crops grown for this workshop. Attendees will examine the effect of lime and aluminum on pH and flower color, plant growth regulators, pruning techniques, container substrates: bark sources and amendments and testing physical properties, and fertilizer and irrigation rates on plant growth and quality. The event will also have a hands-on disease ID session and Q&A with speakers and industry representatives.