Liner Production and Designations Commercial Plant Production

An Overview of Nursery Crop Production

Liners Small “starter” plants produced using various methods of plant propagation. Potted Bare-root Age and size vary Sold by caliper, height, container size and sometimes age.

Liner Production-Direct Stick SWC into Small Containers

Liner Production-SWC stuck in Sand

Liner Production-SWC stuck in Sand

Liner Production-Arrowwood Viburnum SWC Stuck in Sand

Liner Production-Seedlings

Liner Production-Grafting

Cornus Liners

Other Liner Examples Potted shrub liners

Lining-Out: Shrub Liners to Field Spacing

Lining-Out: Liner to Large Container

Small Plant Culture After liners are removed from propagation they may be transplanted to small plant culture for one to several years. Objectives: Protection Provide optimal conditions for rapid, vigorous growth Can occur in the field or in containers. Many nurseries skip small plant culture.

Field Spacing for Rows or Beds 6 – 12 inches between rows. 4 – 10 inches between plants in a row.

Small Plant Culture in Containers 4 inch container #1 container

Bottom Line Small Plant Culture Small liners go in Bigger liners come out

Transplanting The process of moving a plant from one production area to another production area. Transplanted from propagation to small plant culture. Transplanted from small plant culture to the production field. At some point in the production process plants are transplanted to their “final spacing” and will stay at that spacing until harvested. Tops and roots pruned.

Liner Designations The American Standard for Nursery Stock provides guidelines for liner designations. Provide for a common understanding of the liner products available to the industry.

Liner Types Based on Propagation Method C = cutting U = un-rooted cutting G = grafted L = layered S = seedling M = micro-propagated or tissue culture D = division

Micro-propagated Ash Trees

Small Plant Culture R = root pruned P = pot or container grown T = transplanted to a row in the field B = transplanted to a bed O = not transplanted

Nursery Bed vs. Field Rows

Nursery Beds Beds Bed forming implement

Liner Designations, An Example C1 Describes the liner type and time spent in propagation B2 Describes the post-propagation culture and time spent in culture

Transplanted/ 2 years in a bed Designation Age Propagation History Cultural History C1B2 3 Cutting for 1 year Transplanted/ 2 years in a bed C1T2 Transplanted/ 2 years in a row S2T1T1 4 Seedling for 2 years 1 yr. in a row 1 additional yr. in a row M1T1 2 Micro-propagation for 1 year 1 year in a row

The End