Course: SLF 160 Plant Propagation

Unit 5 Lab Assignment

Propagation Schedules, Budgets, and Grafting Lab (35 points)
This unit's three-part lab will be due during Unit 6. Actual plant propagation demonstrations will be announced by your instructor according to schedules within your term.

Part 1 - Seeds and Schedules (10 points)

For this part of the lab, prepare a growing schedule for three different vegetable crops grown from seed from a supplier of your choice.  Imagine your goal will be to grow 100 plants of each of the three varieties in 3” pots.

For each species, supply this information in a document:
- Identify the name and type of plant.
- Identify the source of the seed for each plant.
- Provide web links to information.
- Specific a production schedule based on your local conditions. When should the seeds be started? What can be done to gain better control to ensure a deliverable product?
Part 2 - Develop a Budget (10 points)

For this part of the lab, develop a cost estimate for expenses required to grow perennial plants from link stock obtained from a supplier of your choice. Imagine your goal will be to deliver 100-gallon pot plants of either a variety of hosta or daylily grown from liners.

For each species, supply this information in a document:

- Identify the name and type of plant.
- Identify the source of the plant.
- Provide web links to information.
- Tally wholesale cost estimates for plant materials, soil mixes, pots, fertilizers, etc.
- Provide time estimates for labor to bring plants to market: planting, watering, etc.
- Calculate total costs and cost per plant.
Part 3 - Grafting (15 points)

For this part of the lab, select, demonstrate, and photograph three different grafting techniques covered so far in the course. Use available branch materials clipped off wood plants of your choice.

For each graft, supply this information in a document:

1. Identify the type of graft shown.
2. Identify the plant materials used for each demonstration.
3. Deliver enough images of each graft to show the process clearly performed step by step.
4. Provide a brief summary of the successes and failures of the effort. What tools did  you use? What would you change if you did it again?