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TECHNICAL INFORMATION |
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| Life Cycle: | |
Annual
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| Familiy, Origin: | |
Asteraceae, North America
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| Sitelocation: | |
Full sun
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| Garden Height: | |
48 cm
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18,9 inch
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| Flower Size: | |
13,5 cm
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5,31 inch
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| Crop Time: | |
Plug crop: 5-6 weeks; Flowering pots: spring: 15 weeks, summer: 12-13 weeks
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| Sell Period: | |
April-June
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| Seed Form: | |
Coated Seed
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| Seed Count: | |
1401 K/g
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| Sowing Time: | |
January for flowering in pots from April onwards; April: for flowering in pots from June onwards
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| Sowing Method: | |
2-3 seeds per plug, can be sown directly into final pot
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| Germination: | |
Stage I and II: 14-21 days at 20-22 °C; Stage III and IV: 10-14 days at 18-20 °C, in media with very low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.8-6.2. Requires light for germination. Before sowing treat substrate with fungicide. 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, but the plug should not dry out. Do not let soluble salt level rise above 0,75 EC. The roots are sensitive to high salt levels in substrate. 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 ppm.
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| Growing On: | |
3-4 weeks after sowing transplant 1 plant per plug tray (3x3 cm) or per pot (6-8 cm) and 5-6 weeks later transplant 1- 3 plants into a bigger pot (10-17 cm) or into a container (3-5 l). Plant cut flowers (frost free) in 25-30 x 30-35 cm space.
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| Media: | |
Use a well-drained, growing substrate with 20-30 % clay, 1-1,5 kg/m³ complete balanced fertilizer, 0-2 kg/m³ slow release fertilizer (3-6 months), iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.8-6.2. Field: loamy sandy to sandy humus soils with good drainage and good nutrition levels. Standard fertilization: 80-100 g/m² of a slow release fertilizer.
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| Photoperiod / Light: | |
Long day plant. For flower initiation long day (14-16 h) is required. Flowering initiation is well timed 2 weeks after transplantation. Keep light level high, because high light levels improve the plant quality and the stems elongation. In winter and in early spring additional assimilation light is required for pot plant and cut flower production. Night interruption is possible. A short day period can be used to control the plant growth. 2-5 weeks after transplantation cultivate at short day (10 h) conditions for 7-10 days for a compact plant growth. Afterwards return to long day conditions (14-16 h) again.
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| Temperature: | |
Grow at 18-20 °C. R. hirta needs warm temperatures for the growth. Temperatures of 16 °C increase the cultivation time by 3 weeks. Temperatures below 16 °C can be a cause for red colouring of leaves. R. hirta does not tolerate frost.
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| Fertilization: | |
Moderate fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 100-150 ppm nitrogen (at 0 kg/m³ slow release fertilizer in substrate), using a potassium balanced fertilizer (N: K2O-ratio: 1:1,5). Avoid high ammonium and high nitrogen levels. Prevent magnesium deficiency by applying magnesium sulphate (0,05 %) 1-2 times and in case of iron deficiency (above pH 6.0) apply iron-chelate for 1-2 times. Field: Take care of possible iron deficiency and apply iron-chelate for 1-2 times. N min soil value: approximately 130 g N/m².
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| Cut Flowers: | |
Cut flower stems can be harvested, when the flowers are open and the stems are not soft. Vase life: 8-12 days. Cold storage is not recommended.
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| Cultural Hints: | |
Keep humidity low and provide good ventilation. Avoid over watering and drought stress. Drought stress can be a cause for necrosis of leaves edges. Avoid over head irrigation and avoid late day watering to reduce the risk of Botrytis especially at cooler growing conditions.
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