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H4500 - CENTAUREA CYANUS, BACHELOR'S BUTTON, CORN FLOWER
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'Jubilee Gem'
bright blue, sturdy
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TECHNICAL INFORMATION |
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| Life Cycle: | |
Annual
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| Familiy, Origin: | |
Asteraceae, Mediterranean
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| Sitelocation: | |
Full sun - partial shade
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| Garden Height: | |
40 cm
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15,75 inch
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| Natural flowertime: | |
June - September
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| Crop Time: | |
Plug crop: 6-8 weeks
Flowering pots: 10-13 weeks
Cut flower production: 10-15 weeks
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| Sell Period: | |
from April
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| Seed Form: | |
Raw Seed
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| Seed Count: | |
278 K/g
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| Sowing Time: | |
Cut flower production indoor forcing: October-June, sown in intervals; Cut flower production outdoor forcing: April-June (frost free), sown in intervals.
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| Sowing Method: | |
1-2 seeds per plug, directly sown in field is possible
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| Germination: | |
5-8 days at 18-21 °C, in media with low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.5-6.2. Cover seed with vermiculite, sand or substrate after sowing. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet. When cotyledons expand, the seed need short day for the vegetative growth. In field sown as thin as possible. The sowings need to be covered by fleece or foil to avoid drying out.
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| Plug Culture: | |
From Stage II* reduce the soil moisture, but the plug should not dry out and reduce the temperature to 17-18 °C. Do not let soluble salt level rise above 0,75 EC. Start fertilization at 50-75 ppm nitrogen in a well balanced formula. During Stage III and Stage IV fertilization levels can be increased to 150-200 ppm.
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| Growing On: | |
3-4 weeks after sowing transplant 1 plant into a pot (8-9 cm) and 2-3 plants into a bigger pot (10-15 cm) or container (3-5 l). Plant cut flowers in 10-15 x 15 cm space. Approximately 26 plants/m².
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| Media: | |
Use a well-drained, growing substrate with 15-30 % clay, 0-20 % sand, 1,5-2 kg/m³ complete balanced fertilizer, iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.5-6.2. Field: humus, loamy sandy to sandy loamy soils with a good drainage. Standard fertilization: 40-60 g/m² slow release fertilizer.
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| Photoperiod / Light: | |
Long day plants. The long day support the flower initiation while the short day support the vegetative growth. In the early weeks of vegetative growth cultivate in short day (10-12 h) to the plants have develop a good leaf rosette. After that cultivate in long day (14-16 h) for flower initiation. The long day for the flower initiation has to be start 4-6 weeks before flowering time or selling.
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| Temperature: | |
Grow at 10-16 °C or outdoors. C. cyanus does tolerate temperatures below 10 °C, but the growth is very slow . C. cyanus does not tolerate frost.
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| Fertilization: | |
Moderate-high fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 150-200 ppm nitrogen, using a complete balanced fertilizer. Avoid high ammonium and high nitrogen levels. Prevent magnesium deficiency by applying magnesium sulphate (0,025 %) 1-2 times and in case of iron deficiency apply iron-chelate for 1-2 times. Field: If necessary according to analysis, fertilize the crop weekly with 150-200 ppm nitrogen, using a potassium balanced fertilizer (N: K2O-ratio: 1:1,5).
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| Cut Flowers: | |
Cut flower stems can be harvested, when the first head flowers are open. Remove the bottom leafs. Vase life: 5-8 days. Cold storage is possible only with dry plant parts. Older flowers pale out in pigmentation.
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| Cultural Hints: | |
Dry, light and airy cultivation. Avoid wet foliage and wet flowers especially in the night, because this is a cause rotting and infection with Botrytis.
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Hint
The cultural recommendations are based on results from trials conducted under Central European conditions. Different conditions in other parts of the world may lead to deviations in results achieved.
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