For many Alabama wholesalers, keeping snapdragons available for customers year-round means shipping the popular flower in from California, Florida or South America, but a greenhouse-like technology could encourage the state's growers to begin to cash-in on the crop.

Auburn University researchers recently reported that by using shelters, known as high tunnels, they discovered that top-quality snapdragons could be produced year-round in Alabama. The Floriculture Crops Report, 2007 showed Alabama produced $94.1 million in floriculture crops, including cut flowers, in 2005.

High tunnels are arched, plastic-covered structures that provide a level of crop protection somewhere between open field conditions and greenhouses, which have been used on horticultural crops to help producers extend the traditional growing and selling seasons.

"Snapdragons are extremely popular in floral arrangements year-round, and most Alabama florists have to ship them in from California," Raymond Kessler, the AU Department of Horticulture's floriculture specialist says in a release. "Local sources of fresh-cut, top quality snaps obviously would be extremely attractive as an alternative."

Randy Stephens, president of Hall Wholesale Floral Co. in Opelika, Ala., agrees and says that even though a few years ago he was able to purchase snapdragons from a local grower, that option is no longer available.

"I sell a lot of snaps here," Stephens says, who also gets his supply from California or South America. "I'd like to see more of them growing back around here."

Glenn Freeman, manager of Carlstedt Co., a wholesaler in Birmingham, says he buys snapdragons from a local grower during the summer and sees the benefits of year-round availability.

"I can get snapdragons just as pretty, if not prettier, right here, rather that some place far out," Freeman explains.

Maximino Santillan, president of Brand Flowers, Inc. in Carpinteria, Calif., a grower which has raised snapdragons for about 20 years, warns that the flowers can be temperamental, and humidity control in high tunnels can be a problem with snaps.

According to the researchers, unlike greenhouses, high tunnels don't have electric heating or fan systems, so you have to manually roll up the sides for ventilation.

"You could end up with mildew, if you don't control the humidity, and that can be devastating to the crop," Santillan says, adding that if the temperature gets into the lower 30s, "The crop doesn't do much. It doesn't die, but it doesn't grow."

--Kori Kamradt
kkamradt@safnow.org

 

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