From that planting, he harvested the grass sprigs and handplanted them on 18 greens at the Lost Key Plantation golf course at Perdido Key near Pensacola. With more than 1,400 courses in the Sunshine State alone, the turf could be in high demand. However, because the grass is sterile and doesn't produce seed, Dudeck said it must be propagated vegetatively, which means grown as sprigs or sod, in order to produce enough grass to meet the nation's demand. The grass is fast growing with the potential to produce a new crop in three to four months. We've found that a planting rate of one to 40, where one acre of shredded FloraDwarf will provide enough sprigs to plant 40 acres, is adequate.
Scientists hope to ensure that consumers who buy the grass get authentic material.
Dave Barnes at Greg Norman Turf in Avon Park, and Homer Greene at South Florida Grassing in Hobe Sound. Grasses grown on these farms are certified as authentic and true to type and are available to consumers through an agreement with the Florida Turfgrass Association and the Southern Seed Certification Association, a cooperative venture between UF, Auburn University and the Florida Foundation Seed Producers Inc. of Greenwood. Some additional turfgrass has also been sent from UF to sod growers in Texas. As FloraDwarf makes its way to more growers across the country, Pate says he's pleased to join forces with UF and to be allowed to get involved from the beginning. Something I've always enjoyed is the agronomic end of the golf industry.