We made it— 300 episodes of This Is Woman’s Work ! And we’re marking this milestone by giving you something that could seriously change the game in your business or career: the skill of pitching yourself effectively. Whether you’re dreaming of being a podcast guest, landing a speaking gig, signing a client, or just asking for what you want with confidence—you’re already pitching yourself, every day. But are you doing it well? In this milestone episode, Nicole breaks down exactly how to pitch yourself to be a podcast guest … and actually hear “yes.” With hundreds of pitches landing in her inbox each month, she shares what makes a guest stand out (or get deleted), the biggest mistakes people make, and why podcast guesting is still one of the most powerful ways to grow your reach, authority, and influence. In This Episode, We Cover: ✅ Why we all need to pitch ourselves—and how to do it without feeling gross ✅ The step-by-step process for landing guest spots on podcasts (and more) ✅ A breakdown of the 3 podcast levels: Practice, Peer, and A-List—and how to approach each ✅ The must-haves of a successful podcast pitch (including real examples) ✅ How to craft a pitch that gets read, gets remembered, and gets results Whether you’re new to pitching or want to level up your game, this episode gives you the exact strategy Nicole and her team use to land guest spots on dozens of podcasts every year. Because your voice deserves to be heard. And the world needs what only you can bring. 🎁 Get the FREE Podcast Pitch Checklist + Additional Information on your Practice Group, Peer Group, and A-List Group Strategies: https://nicolekalil.com/podcast 📥 Download The Podcast Pitch Checklist Here Related Podcast Episodes: Shameless and Strategic: How to Brag About Yourself with Tiffany Houser | 298 How To Write & Publish A Book with Michelle Savage | 279 How To Land Your TED Talk and Skyrocket Your Personal Brand with Ashley Stahl | 250 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music…
Forcing perennials out of winter dormancy and into bloom for spring and summer sales isn’t a new concept for most growers, but growth in the perennial market has inspired a lot of folks to add perennials to their mix and there’s been plenty of research done to update protocols for breaking dormancy. Because of this, Tech On Demand host Bill Calkins wanted to have a quick discussion with perennial plant guru Chris Fifo (from Darwin Perennials) to make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to waking perennials up this spring. In this concise tech tip-style conversation Bill and Chris discuss the “traditional method” of forcing perennials and the “new-school way,” which results in better uniformity and reduced losses. Then Chris explains tactics any grower can use to force long-day perennials using an extension cord and a string of lightbulbs, as well as offering suggestions for reducing the risk of disease when perennials are being forced to wake up in early spring. The bottom line: It’s not as difficult as it sounds—warming them up and basic night interruption will work wonders on your perennial crop this spring. WATCH THE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/rsq3hRTX0l0 Resources: GROWERTALKS WEBINAR: 3 1/2 Steps to Overwintering Perennials MICHIGAN STATE GUIDE: Long-Day Perennials…
For this installment, Lorentina McKoy, the North American sales and product rep for Suntory Flowers, joins host Bill Calkins to talk about Princettia—the unique poinsettia assortment from Suntory that looks different than traditional holiday poinsettias because it’s bred to be different . This opens up some unique uses and retail specs and also requires some production nuances. Because breeding on Princettia is quite active, a whole new range of colors and patterns has come to market in the past couple years, as well as a new sub-series with a more vigorous habit. In this episode, Lorentina offers tips and trick to produce Princettias to their full potential, some ways she’s seen them marketed and sold around the world, why the fact they’re a true “family” of genetics is important and much more. Although this episode is focused on one crop, Lorentina and Bill actually get into many different topics—from an early-Spring outlook and consumer trends to retail garden center tips and strategies to sell premium products. You’ll want to listen all the way to the end because this episode closes with some other top picks in the Suntory range of new varieties for 2026. RESOURCES: 12-page Princettia Brochure—with culture notes: suntoryflowers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Princettia-Brochure-2023-digital-1.pdf The 2026 Suntory Flowers Catalog - Suntory Flowers Princettia Section—direct link: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/232823221/40/ “Just for Retailers” Page: Princettia Poinsettia - Suntory Flowers Princettia Consumer Information: New Ways to Display Princettia Poinsettias this Holiday Season - Suntory Flowers…
One of the greenhouse pests growers have been dealing with more and more recently is broad mite. This specific mite pest is extremely challenging to diagnose and treat and can wreak havoc on a very wide range of crops across multiple seasons. Host Bill Calkins is joined by well-respected professor and extension specialist in horticultural entomology at Kansas State University, Dr. Raymond Cloyd, to discuss this pest—from susceptible crops and theories why broad mites are on the rise to symptoms and identification. Dr. Cloyd then shared a bit about the pest itself and strategies to minimize the risk of losing crops due to broad mites and methods for control. Once broad mites were covered, Bill asked Dr. Cloyd about Lewis mites (based on challenges with this pest on poinsettia crops in 2024), and the episode closed with the importance of sanitation, diligent scouting and IPM protocols during spring production. You’ll want to listen all the way to the end of this episode and share it with your entire production staff. RESOURCES: Broad Mite and Cyclamen Mite Management in Greenhouses and Nurseries: https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF2938.pdf Dr. Raymond Cloyd Contact Information: https://entomology.k-state.edu/about/people/faculty/Cloyd-Raymond-A.html Extension & Research Program (Publications, Articles, Reports, Etc.): https://entomology.k-state.edu/about/people/extension/Cloyd-Ext-Research/ A bit about Dr. Raymond Cloyd: Raymond has an extension (70%) and research (30%) appointment in the Department of Entomology at Kansas State University (Manhattan, KS). Raymond received his MS and PhD from the Department of Entomology at Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN), and was employed as a professor at the University of Illinois (Urbana, IL) in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences for six years prior to his employment at Kansas State University. His research and extension program involves plant protection/pest management in greenhouses, nurseries, landscapes, turfgrass, conservatories, interiorscapes, Christmas trees, vegetables, fruits, cannabis, hemp and pollinators. Raymond is the extension specialist in horticultural entomology for the state of Kansas with a major clientele that includes homeowners, master gardeners, and professional and commercial operators. Raymond has published over 100 scientific refereed publications, over 900 trade journals, and over 60 extension publications on topics related to pest management/plant protection. In addition, he has authored or co-authored numerous books including Greenhouse Pest Management , Pests and Diseases of Herbaceous Perennials , IPM for Gardeners , Plant Protection: Managing Greenhouse Insect and Mite Pests , Compendium of Rose Diseases and Pests, Compendium of Bedding Plant Diseases and Pests , and Western Flower Thrips: Insect Pest of Greenhouse Production Systems . Raymond has also written book chapters, manuals, PICT or picture-pocket guides, and extension-related publications. Raymond is a frequent speaker at state, national, and international conferences and seminars; and has received numerous awards and honors during his over 25-year academic career. Raymond’s professional specialty areas are plant protection, biological control, plant-insect interactions, insect ecology, pesticides, integrating pesticides with biological control agents and sanitation.…
Host Bill Calkins welcomed GrowerTalks’ editor in chief Chris Beytes and editor Jennifer Zurko to the podcast to share thoughts on the event—the plants, the trends, the fish tacos—and the overall impact spring trials has on the professional horticulture industry. When Chris, Jen and Bill return from Spring Trials each year, folks in the industry always ask for overall thoughts, hot new varieties expected to be big sellers and what they consider to be industry breakthroughs. It was Bill’s bright idea to record a podcast answering some of these questions and of course, his partners in crime for the annual trek westward agreed to it. Here are the questions the three tackled in this episode: If the 2025 California Spring Trials were a person, how would you describe their 2025 vibe? Name a few new introductions from CAST 2025 that stand out in your mind—and why. Do you go to CAST looking for something specific or just to see what’s new and report back via the magazine, videos and social media? If you could have ONE new introduction shipped to your house for free, what would it be? What are some new intros that you feel are Instagram-ready? What new variety should launch on Shark Tank? Name some 2025 CAST varieties that got major promotion at the event that you think will live up to the hype? Were there any new intros that made you think, “what the heck is that” OR that surprised you? What’s a new product you haven’t seen yet that you WISH would be introduced (i.e. if you were launching your own product, what would it be?) What’s ONE reason why a grower who’s never been to Spring Trials should go at least once? CHECK OUT BALL PUBLISHING’S INDUSTRY-LEADING COVERAGE OF THE 2025 CALIFORNIA SPRING TRIALS: Daily Newsletters YouTube Playlist (26 Videos) Facebook Instagram (@growertalksgreenprofit) LinkedIn…
Just in time for warmer, spring temps and the insect pests that seem to come along, Tech On Demand host Bill Calkins caught up with Broch Martindale, the national nursery and strategic account manager at Corteva. The discussion centers on pest management in greenhouses and nurseries but because Broch is a phenomenal educator and “coach” there are plenty of best management practices and training strategies mixed in. Broch and Bill start with a conversation about XXpire, an insecticide with two active ingredients that provides control for 39 pests—while minimizing phytotoxicity risk and risk to beneficials and pollinators. Then the topic shifts to IPM and the steps greenhouse teams can take to create a holistic plan that leads to results. Broch then dives into the importance of resistance management, a topic that is becoming more critical each year and one that he has plenty of expertise in and experience to share. You’ll want to listen all the way to the end of this episode and share it with your entire production staff. WATCH THE VIDEO! https://youtu.be/1qwbpAyXe5k RESOURCES: XXpire Insecticide Insecticide Resistance Action Committee IRAC Mode of Action Structures Poster (English) IRAC Mode of Action Structures Poster (Spanish)…
Recently retired Ball Technical Services Manager Dr. Will Healy joins host Bill Calkins to talk finished vegetative petunia production as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials AND this one is the final installment of our finished petunia miniseries—joining “common” seed-raised petunias and the Wave family of petunias in a dynamic trio of content. From transplanting best practices and nutrition strategies to irrigation management and container selection, there are plenty of tips and tricks for your entire team. Will spends extra time on nutrition in this video, because fertilizer choice and application is so critical for vegetative petunias, as well as viral pathogens to watch out for and ideally prevent. Resources: GrowerTalks Insecticide, Miticide & Fungicide Guide: https://www.growertalks.com/pdf/2025_IMF_Guide.pdf GrowerTalks Insecticide, Miticide & Fungicide Guide (Spanish): https://growertalks.com/pdf/2025_IMF_Guide_Spanish.pdf GrowerTalks Biosolutions Guide: https://www.growertalks.com/pdf/BioSolutions_Guide_0624.pdf…
Retired Ball technical manager Dr. Will Healy joins host Bill Calkins to share protocols for finishing Wave petunias as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials. From media selection and nutrition to water, light and temperature, finishing crops requires careful attention to avoid losses and send high quality product out the door on time. In this discussion, Will continues our finished crop miniseries on petunias by sharing nuances for finishing Waves, especially looking at the differences in culture between Wave and common seed-raised petunias. Some of these intricacies include crop times, nutrition, photoperiod research specific to Wave and more. As Will and Bill continue to say, PanAmerican Seed (the breeding company behind Wave) has done so much research into Wave and has developed tools to practically ensure success with this amazing collection of series and varieties. Some of these tools are listed below. FINISHED CROP VIDEOS—FULL PLAYLIST Resources: PanAmerican Seed—All Wave Information: https://www.panamseed.com/Products/Brands/Wave/ Wave Smart Scheduling Tool: https://www.panamseed.com/Products/Brands/Wave/SmartSchedule/…
Retired Ball technical manager Dr. Will Healy joins host Bill Calkins to share protocols for finishing more common types of seed-raised (multiflora and grandiflora) petunias as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials. From media selection and nutrition to water, light and temperature, finishing crops requires careful attention to avoid losses and send high quality product out the door on time. In this discussion, Will focuses on turning crops quickly by transplanting induced plugs, keeping night temps above 65F and photoperiods longer than 10 hours. FINISHED CROP PRODUCTION VIDEO—FULL PLAYLIST…
Members of the Marketing Committee of That Flower Feeling join GUEST HOST Joan Mazat (Business Manager—Cut Flowers at Ball Seed Company) to share why this movement is so important to the cut flower industry. Join a dynamic group for an equally dynamic discussion about how and why industry leaders are actively working to motivate more consumers to view fresh flowers as a central part of their everyday routines, thereby raising overall floral integration and consumption. Guests: Karen Oie—Director of Sales, Smithers-Oasis North America Lisa Nason—Director of Marketing, Kennicott Brothers Carmen Marquez—Marketing Director, Ball SB That Flower Feeling is an industry-wide cooperative effort to encourage consumers to purchase more flowers regularly. The philosophy is simple: As long as people are bringing home flowers regularly, it’s considered a success. The initiative aims to make the experience of having fresh flowers a part of daily life, challenging the notion that flowers should be reserved for special occasions. Resources: Learn more about That Flower Feeling at https://thatflowerfeeling.org/ Ball Seed Cut Flowers: https://www.ballseed.com/cutflowers/…
This Tech On Demand podcast episode is all about spring pest control, integrated pest management and implementing biocontrol strategies that work. Host Bill Calkins is joined by Heidi Doering, the National Ornamental Team Lead and Technical IPM Consultant for the Midwest Region with Koppert. Koppert is a global market leader specializing in biological crop protection and Heidi has not only been with Koppert for almost 10 years but has a broad range of horticultural experience from greenhouse production to product management and sales, which means she has a unique perspective and breadth of knowledge to find unique IPM solutions for growers wherever they’re at on the continuum of chemical, biological and hybrid approaches. In this episode Bill and Heidi discuss what she’s seeing and hearing as spring production ramps up across North America, her role as a “greenhouse CSI” when walking into a facility and meeting with owners and growers, common spring pests and potential prevention and management strategies, education and planning as they relate to biological IPM, the importance of relationships and her thoughts on Thrips parvispinus , the pepper thrips hitchhiking their way North on tropical plants. Be sure to listen all the way to the end of this fantastic discussion! RESOURCES: Koppert U.S. Koppert Consultants & Locations Koppert Crop Protection Products 2024 GrowerTalks Biosolutions Guide…
REDUCING THE RISK FROM A 2025 INSIDE GROWER MAGAZINE WEB-EXCLUSIVE ARTICLE WRITTEN BY TRACI DOOLEY NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: An increase in the frequency of severe weather events, reduced market capacity, higher labor, material, and equipment costs, and unusually high jury awards are all causing insurance premiums to rise across industries. For horticultural businesses, as the cost and frequency of your risk increases, your insurance must account for them to help keep your livelihood protected. Understanding these changes will help you make informed strategic decisions, including how best to mitigate your total risk to help offset several of these costs in the coming year. Here are five key trends that will affect your agribusiness risks and coverage in 2025, along with practical steps you can take to reduce risks and manage your policy expenses. Read the web-exclusive article at Inside-Grower.com: https://www.inside-grower.com/Article/?articleid=27227…
Whether you’re finishing Zinnia Elegans, Marylandica or Angustifolia crops, Dr. Will Healy has the “rules of the road” to avoid or manage stretch (… if you turn your back on the crop, it’s going to stretch!) and mitigate disease risk. Zinnias are a true classic when it comes to home gardens and breeding has brought this crop a long way, with new varieties, colors and flower forms still wowing customers generation after generation. But sending high quality out the door to landscape customers and garden centers requires close attention throughout production. WATCH THE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/vYpzo65kFCU RESOURCES: (VIDEO) At Risk Crops—Zinnia: https://youtu.be/XzX2dXs9584?si=fJnwFhfr9nNIrkwb GrowerTalks ’ Grower Guides: https://www.growertalks.com/GrowerGuides/…
There’s a lot of “Sweet William” going on in this video … Tech On Demand host Bill “Sweet William” Calkins is joined once again by Dr. Will “Sweet William” Healy to discuss tips and tricks for finishing amazing dianthus crops at a time of year that can be challenging. From receiving plugs in cold weather and starting dianthus under long days to soil considerations and phosphorous deficiency risks, Will has plenty of advice to share so you and your team can be successful. WATCH THE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/7RcXvyFTdMo…
Impatiens walleriana might be the most-recognized garden plant—certainly the favorite for shade gardens and landscapes. Ball’s recently retired technical guru Dr. Will Healy joins us once again to share tips and tricks for finishing key seed annuals. When you’re producing impatiens, there are plenty of best practices to follow to avoid issues like stretch, tip abortion and guttation. Will has tons of experience to share to help keep you and your production team on track with impatiens! WATCH THE VIDEO! https://youtu.be/iLWlxDOKJyw RESOURCES: VIDEO: Impatiens 2.0: https://youtu.be/ZYlEcrqWO5Q?si=eoa5u01KZfJrCmk7 VIDEO: At-Risk Crops—Impatiens: https://youtu.be/3o7CyRb-jUE?si=_s_dj8vRCiUkqff_ GrowerTalks ’ Grower Guides: https://www.growertalks.com/GrowerGuides/…
EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY FOR GROWTH FROM THE FEBRUARY 2025 ISSUE OF GREEN PROFIT MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY AVIVA LeSHAW NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: Shoppers today want more than a good deal on plants. They’re looking for an experience—something seamless and personal. Research from the Square Future of Retail Report: 2024 Edition shows that a full 100% of retail businesses prefer automation for tasks like tracking inventory or ordering out-of-stock products, highlighting the growing demand for efficient, technology-driven solutions. For garden retailers, meeting these demands is essential. Read the digital edition of Green Profit Magazine —February 2025: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gp_25_02/index.aspx…
Every garden center—big and small—offers tomato plants for home gardens. Your key differentiators are varieties, container sizes and quality. Be the top wholesale supplier in your market by following Dr. Will Healy’s tomato production advice! In this Ball Tech On Demand crop-specific episode, he takes you through all the key factors necessary to finish high-quality tomato plants and send them to retail ready to sell. Tips for avoiding stretch and building root mass are covered in detail, as well as plenty more strategies Will has helped growers put into practice over many decades. WATCH THE VIDEO! https://youtu.be/Zc4-LGfMTA0 RESOURCES: VIDEO: At-Risk Crops—Tomato: https://youtu.be/aCBmuleuVXU?si=JV1wA7tF4ua6NRLb GrowerTalks ’ Grower Guides: https://www.growertalks.com/GrowerGuides/…
THE ROOT OF LONG-TERM ENGAGEMENT FROM THE JANUARY 2025 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY HARRISON DOWNING NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: Just as early root health is the foundation of explosive plant growth in its influence on a plant’s ability to develop properly and produce high yields, so is the importance of a thorough onboarding program for new hires in a company. Read the digital edition of GrowerTalks Magazine —January 2025: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_25_01/index.aspx…
Ball Seed Cut Flower Business Manager Joan Mazat takes over the golden TOD microphone to join Ball Cut Flower Guru Dave Dowling for a wonderful discussion about cut flowers. Dave shares stories from his beginnings growing flowers, owning a cut flower farm in Maryland for more than 20 years and subsequent career in the world of cut flower supply and product management. He also shares about his long-term involvement with the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG) and how proud he is of the ASCFG Dave Dowling Scholarship that supports the future of the domestic cut flower industry by awarding scholarships to undergraduate or graduate students pursuing a career in horticulture—focusing on cut flower research and production. Learn more about ASCFG’s Dave Dowling Scholarship: https://www.ascfg.org/outreach/dowling-scholarship/ Find new varieties, best-sellers and many cut flower resources form Ball Seed: https://www.ballseed.com/cutflowers/…
COMMON SENSE FOR UNKNOWN PAYROLL PRESSURES FROM THE JANUARY 2025 ISSUE OF GREEN PROFIT MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY BILL McCURRY NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: With the country headed in a potentially different economic direction, old truths prevail. All payroll factors are local to your area’s economy, your business realities, and your employees’ financial situations. Let’s look at ways to lessen employee stress, without pay raises that incur employer payroll taxes and employee income taxes. Read the digital edition of GREEN PROFIT Magazine —January 2025: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gp_25_01/index.aspx…
RIGHT PLANT, RIGHT TIME, RIGHT SOURCE FROM THE JANUARY 2025 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY BILL CALKINS NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: … the team-based approach Ball Seed and its perennials partners employ to help customers solve challenges and optimize assortments. In this case, the grower worked with their sales rep, who in turn worked with supplier technical experts and R&D managers to find the best solution. This type of success extends across the entire Ball Seed perennial supply partner network and shines a spotlight on the importance of feedback loops and close communication. Read the digital edition of GROWERTALKS Magazine —January 2025: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_25_01/index.aspx…
Ball Technical Services specialist Josh Henry joins host Bill Calkins to talk finished vegetative Angelonia production as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials. From transplanting best practices and nutrition strategies to irrigation management and container selection, there are plenty of nuances to be aware of—especially avoiding boron deficiency—and Josh is here to help. Resources: WATCH THE VIDEO! Finishing Vegetative Angelonia—Promote Branching & Avoid Boron Deficiency: https://youtu.be/qaQ06b3kO7k (ARTICLE) Branching Out with PGRs: https://www.growertalks.com/Article/?articleid=26878 (RESEARCH) Going Viral: https://e-gro.org/pdf/2023-12-39.pdf (GROWER GUIDE) Plant Growth Regulator Guide for Annuals 2025-2026: https://www.growertalks.com/pdf/PGR_GUIDE_2025-26_Annuals.pdf…
Ball Technical Services specialist Josh Henry joins host Bill Calkins to share best management practices for propagating vegetative angelonia from unrooted cuttings as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials. From receiving, prioritizing and handling through all stages up until transplant, Josh is going to help you reduce risk and produce top-quality liners. Research on optimum light levels and tips for holding cuttings (if that is necessary) are key points in this discussion. Resources: WATCH THE VIDEO! Vegetative Angelonia Propagation—Temperature, Light and More!: https://youtu.be/BbQ9G6z4LaY?si=JJsijOu_ZpRqy6Cz (DOCUMENT) BMPs for URC Hydration: https://www.ballseed.com/PDF/TechOnDemand-URC-Hydration.pdf (ARTICLE) Avoiding Diseases in Propagation: https://www.growertalks.com/Article/?articleid=24435 (RESEARCH) Effects of Increasing Light Quantity on Greenhouse Crops: https://e-gro.org/pdf/203.pdf…
TAKING CONTROL EARLY FROM THE JANUARY 2025 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY TROY BUECHEL NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: Building roots on young plants can be challenging. With poor weather conditions in winter and early spring, variable sun appearances, inconsistent rooting or germination, unknown plant genetics, etc., it’s difficult to build great roots. Although these issues are outside of a grower’s control, this article will cover some variables that can be controlled to help build great roots on young plants. Read the digital edition of GROWERTALKS Magazine —January 2025: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_25_01/index.aspx…
In this comprehensive episode covering a key cut flower, Ball Seed’s cut flower business manager Joan Mazat and Sakata Seed America’s product technical manager Bob Croft discuss the Champion II series of campanula—with a uniform, shorter flowering window compared to older series, saving time and providing a quicker cycle for growers. Bob shares tips and tricks for based on years of campanula production experience taking viewers from germination to transplant and on to finishing and post-harvest care. Campanula crops certainly have some nuances to be aware of, and Bob provides plenty of critical information for managing all factors of plant growth (light, water, nutrition, temperature and gas exchange), as well as strategies for controlling pests and diseases. RESOURCES: WATCH THE VIDEO! https://youtu.be/UaJZZgj3KfE Campanula Champion II from Sakata: https://sakataornamentals.com/plantname/champion-2/ Ball CutFlowers: https://www.ballseed.com/cutflowers/ Tools from Ball CutFlowers (presentations & literature, market trends, videos, podcasts, Dave’s newsletter, industry resources): https://www.ballseed.com/cutflowers/Resources/…
MAXIMIZING PLANT POTENTIAL: SUBSTRATE INNOVATION EXPLAINED FROM THE WINTER 2024 ISSUE OF INSIDE GROWER MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY JOSE CHEN LOPEZ NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: Choosing the right substrate for a particular application can be a challenge. Choosing the right beneficial microorganisms for a specific plant, mode of action and ensuring compatibility with other beneficial microorganisms can be excruciating. When choosing and adding beneficial microorganisms to the substrate, growers must ensure that they’re viable, that the carrier is compatible, that the application rate is uniform and homogenous within the whole volume of the substrate, and that they’re from a reputable company. Read the digital edition of INSIDE GROWER Magazine —Winter 2024: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/ig_24_11/index.aspx…
Syngenta Flowers’ Dr. Alicain Carlson joins host Bill Calkins to discuss some key components of successful cut flower mum programs. Dr. Carlson starts by discussing some of the reason cut mums are so popular before highlighting some key varieties in the Syngenta Flowers portfolio. Then she jumps right into cultural and technical tips and tricks for sending high-quality flowers to market. From the start, you’ll need to follow some best practices when receiving and handling young plants—planting immediately, protecting the crop in hoop houses when planting them in summer, using support netting to reduce losses and more. Once they are in production, lighting and temperature are critical, and understanding the impact of photoperiod is necessary for optimum flower timing. Alicain covers all of this, as well as strategies for pinching and bud removal to enhance branching and create different forms (single bloom vs. a spray of flowers). Then she wraps up with when to harvest and tactics for postharvest care. RESOURCES: WATCH THE VIDEO! https://youtu.be/sSURz16OGng SYNGENTA FLOWERS CUT FLOWER ASSORTMENT & CULTURE GUIDES: https://www.syngentaflowers-us.com/cutflowers CHRYSANTHEMUM AGRONOMIC PROGRAM: https://www.greencastonline.com/programs/pdf/mumagronomic.pdf ALL ABOUT SUNFINITY (VIDEO): https://youtu.be/FkNh4yDCTU8 GROWING CUT FLOWER DAHLIAS (VIDEO): https://youtu.be/ddd680snZM8…
Retired Ball technical services manager Dr. Will Healy joins host Bill Calkins to discuss the ins and outs of finished African marigold production as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials. Will says African marigolds and French marigolds are like oranges and grapefruits when it comes to production protocols—meaning they’re similar (like the two citrus fruits) but very different in many ways. He takes you from plug transplant to shipping, with a particular focus on iron toxicity related to phosphorous deficiencies, tips for minimizing stretch to avoid the need for too many PGRs, nutrition to keep them growing strong and how to avoid Botrytis in the flower heads. Will has worked with many growers dealing with leaf spots and his advice on phosphorous is based on hundreds of crops and decades of experience. Will also spends plenty of time on fall production of African marigolds for Day of the Dead sales, which is certainly a growing market and newer sales opportunity for many of you. WATCH THE VIDEO! https://youtu.be/nfA66OczRQM…
Retired Ball technical services manager Dr. Will Healy joins host Bill Calkins to help growers finish French marigolds for quick turns as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials. If elementary school kids can grow French marigolds in Dixie cups, they must not be too difficult … But finishing professional-quality crops requires attention to detail—especially pH, nutrition, moisture management and lighting. Will is here to explain all the nuances so you can avoid stretch and turn them quickly to maximize profits. WATCH THE VIDEO! https://youtu.be/dePbEKylbYo…
Ball Technical Services specialist Chris Ferguson joins host Bill Calkins to talk finished lantana production as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials. From transplanting best practices and nutrition strategies to irrigation management and container selection, there are plenty of nuances to be aware of and Chris is here to help. Resources: Watch the VIDEO! https://youtu.be/Gqoz00MIr7M GrowerTalks Insecticide, Miticide & Fungicide Guide: https://www.growertalks.com/pdf/2025_IMF_Guide.pdf GrowerTalks Insecticide, Miticide & Fungicide Guide (Spanish): https://growertalks.com/pdf/2025_IMF_Guide_Spanish.pdf GrowerTalks Biosolutions Guide: https://www.growertalks.com/pdf/BioSolutions_Guide_0624.pdf…
Ball Technical Services specialist Chris Ferguson joins host Bill Calkins to share best management practices for propagating lantana from unrooted cuttings as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials. From receiving, prioritizing and handling through all stages up until transplant, Chris is going to help you reduce risk and produce top-quality liners. WATCH THE VIDEO! https://youtu.be/Tff-o5FfZ9U…
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