Ecke rewrites Poinsettia Manual
The Paul Ecke Ranch, Encinitas, Calif., has recently announced the completion of The Ecke Poinsettia Manual, published by Ball Publishing. Paul Ecke III, Ecke CEO said, “Growers around the country continue to look to the [Ecke] Ranch for support in every aspect of poinsettia growing — from genetics to the details on ‘how to grow’. It was time to revise our manual, updating the full gamut of information —from history to new production techniques to pest management — I am proud to put our name on this book.”
In 1971 the first Poinsettia Manual was published, written by Paul Ecke Jr. and O.A. Matkin. In 1976 it was updated and the second edition of the Poinsettia Manual was printed. The third Poinsettia Manual was updated by David Hartley and printed in 1990, a publication that went on to win numerous industry awards. Since this last publication, so many things have changed, and Ecke Ranch believed that it was time to update and rewrite the industry’s main cultural resource for poinsettia growers. This was an effort led by Paul Ecke III, Andy Higgins and Jack Williams of the Ecke Ranch and Jim Faust of Clemson University. Andy Higgins, executive vice president of the Ecke Ranch adds, “We all agree that growing poinsettias is a mixture of both art and science; you really have to understand what the plant is doing to make good cultural choices. The previous manuals did an outstanding job of covering this balance of art and science, and we kept much of that foundation intact in this edition.” Higgins continues, “We overlaid it with new techniques and science, new philosophies in production and marketing, and of course, with all new cultivars. It is amazing how the impact of Freedom, Winter Rose and Prestige have changed how we all look at this crop!”
The Ecke Poinsettia Manual gives growers the information they have been asking for,” said Jack Williams, technical adviser at the Ecke Ranch. “Today’s success is based on poinsettias being programmable, dependable and as free of problems as possible! Growers need to produce the right products for their markets and deliver plants that stand up to the rigors of shipping and handling at retail. This book provides guidance in areas of scheduling, managing height, nutrition, preventing disorders and other key factors in production from start to finish. I think growers will appreciate how this book meets their needs.”
For more information in the new manual visit www.ecke.com.
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