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TECHNICAL INFORMATION |
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| Life Cycle: | |
Perennial
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| Familiy, Origin: | |
Lamiaceae, North America
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| Sitelocation: | |
Full sun - partial shade
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| Garden Height: | |
90 cm
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35,43 inch
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| Natural flowertime: | |
July - September
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| Crop Time: | |
Plug crop: 5 weeks; Green pots: 8-10 weeks; Flowering pots: 10-12 months, including vernalization; Cut flower production: 3-4 years
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| Sell Period: | |
4-9
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| Seed Form: | |
Raw Seed
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| Seed Count: | |
2000 K/g
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| Sowing Time: | |
March-May for green pots and cut flower production; June-August for flowering in pots the following year
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| Sowing Method: | |
1-3 seeds per plug, can be sown directly into final pots
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| Germination: | |
5-8 days at 21-22 °C, in media with very low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.5-7.0. Requires light for germination. Cover seed lightly with vermiculite after sowing. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet. Avoid direct sunlight by shading seeds after sowing.
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| Plug Culture: | |
From Stage II* reduce the soil moisture, the plug should not dry out and reduce the temperature to 16-18 °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 up to 150-200 ppm.
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| Growing On: | |
3-4 weeks after sowing transplant 1 plant into a pack or pot (8-15 cm) and 2-3 into a container (5-10 l). For flowering pot production ensure good pot size, to encourage root growth, thus improving plant quality. Plant cut flowers (frost free) in 30x40 cm space and use nets to keep the stems upright.
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| Media: | |
Use a well-drained, growing substrate with 15-30 % clay, 0-20 % parts (e.g. bark, perlite, sand), 1,5-3 kg/m³ complete balanced fertilizer, 0-3 kg/m³ slow release fertilizer (3-9 months), iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.5-7.0. Field: loamy sandy to sandy loamy soils, with a good drainage. Standard fertilization: 80-100 g/m² of a slow release fertilizer.
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| Photoperiod / Light: | |
Long day plant. For flower initiation and development long are required. In winter and early spring supplemental lighting (at least 10 Watt per m²) and long day (at least 14 h) is recommended for pot and cut flower production. Flowering can be 1-2 weeks earlier with foil cover or in poly tunnel outdoors.
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| Temperature: | |
Grow at 12-18 °C during day time and at 10-13 °C during night or outdoors. In winter indoors frost free at 3-5 °C or outdoors. In spring the plants start to grow for 10 weeks at 15-18 °C and long day. Cold temperatures at 8-13 °C will increase the cultivation time. A chilling period for flower initiation is required. Cultivation at warm temperatures will require high light levels.
At low light levels cold temperatures are required for a good plant and stem quality.
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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. Don't fertilize after mid September. In spring fertilize with 100-150 ppm nitrogen of a potassium balanced fertilizer (N: K2O-ratio: 1:1,5). 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: If necessary according to analysis, improve the soil with 80-100 g/m² of a slow release fertilizer per year, applied in several portions.
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| Cut Flowers: | |
Cut flower stems can be harvested, when the flowers are fully open. Remove the bottom leaves. Vase life: 5-8 days. Cold storage is not possible. 100 % crop will be achieved in the second year. Over the year harvest 20-30 stems per plant.
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| Cultural Hints: | |
Do not cultivate the plants for pot plant and cut flower production too wet or too dry. Drought stress is a cause that the flowers dry in, while short time over watering results in rotting of the roots. Treat the plants with fungicide against Botrytis after transplantation and before wintering.
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