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TECHNICAL INFORMATION |
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| Life Cycle: | |
Annual
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| Familiy, Origin: | |
Fabaceae, California
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| Sitelocation: | |
Full sun
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| Garden Height: | |
200 cm
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78,74 inch
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| Crop Time: | |
Plug crop: 4 weeks; Cut flower production: 3-5 months
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| Sell Period: | |
from January; field: from April-May
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| Seed Form: | |
Raw Seed
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| Seed Count: | |
12 K/g
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| Sowing Time: | |
Indoor forcing: sowing is possible all season; Outdoor forcing: April-July for cut flower production
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| Sowing Method: | |
3-4 seeds per plug, sowing directly in final pots /field is recommended, sowing in intervals
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| Germination: | |
7-10 days at 22 °C, in media with very low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.8-6.5. Requires light for germination. Soak seeds in warm water (22 °C) for 24 h before sowing. Do not cover seeds. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet. Avoid the substrate/soil to dry out.
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| Plug Culture: | |
From Stage II* reduce the soil moisture, the plug should not dry out. 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 up to 150-200 ppm.
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| Growing On: | |
3-4 weeks after sowing transplant 3-4 plants into a pot (7-8 cm) or pack. Plant cut flowers (frost free) in 30x30 cm (double row) or in 10x10 cm (single row) space. Optimal plant height for transplanting: 8-10 cm.
Strain wires alongside the plants to allow the shoots to climb.
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| Media: | |
Use a well-drained, growing substrate with 15-30 % clay, 0-20 % parts (e.g. wood fibres, perlite), 1,5 kg/m³ complete balanced fertilizer, 0-3 kg/m³ slow release fertilizer (3-9 months), iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.8-6.5. Field: humus loamy soils, with a good drainage. Lathyrus have low demands to the soil, but are sensitive to wetness in soils. Standard fertilization: 40-60 g/m² of a slow release fertilizer.
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| Photoperiod / Light: | |
Optional long day plant. Keep light levels high. High light levels improve the stem quality and increase the quantity of the flowers. In winter and early spring additional assimilation light and long day (14 h) is recommend for cut flower production. During flowering time protect the flowers by shading against very high light intensity in summer.
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| Temperature: | |
Grow at 8-15 °C in summer and at 8-12 °C in winter or outdoors. In winter and spring warm temperatures combined with low light intensity supports shorter flower stem length and small size foliage. Avoid varying temperatures, because this is a cause for the buds to drop off. Protect young plants outdoors against frost. Lathyrus oderatus does not tolerate frost.
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| Fertilization: | |
High fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 150-200 ppm nitrogen (at 3 kg/m³ slow release fertilizer in substrate), using a complete balanced fertilizer. Avoid high ammonium levels.
Prevent magnesium deficiency by applying magnesium sulphate (0,05 %) 1-2 times and in case of iron deficiency apply iron-chelate for 1-2 times. Field: Fertilize additional with 80-100 ppm nitrogen weekly. Use a complete balanced fertilizer. Prevent magnesium deficiency by applying magnesium sulphate (0,05 %) 1-2 times and in case of iron deficiency apply iron-chelate for 1-2 times.
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| Cut Flowers: | |
Cut flower stems can be harvested, when 1 of the lower flower of each stem is just open. Put the stems in water immediately. Vase life: 7-10 days. Cold storage is not recommended.
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| Cultural Hints: | |
L. oderatus are poisonous. Cultivate the cut flowers in bright and spacious greenhouse, because light deficiency need to be avoided. Do not cultivate the plants for cut flower production too wet or too dry. L. oderatus has a relative high water demand in summer. Pinching the top once after transplanting increase the quantity of the flowers.
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