Alyssum Golf Cultural Information

Plug Production

Sowing/Media: Use a well-drained, disease-free, peat-based plug medium with pH 5.5 – 5.8 and EC <0.75 mmhos (saturated paste). Sow multiple seeds per cell (4 – 6 seeds) unless using multi-seed pellets. Cover lightly with coarse vermiculite if needed.

Germination (Stages 1 and 2): Keep soil uniformly moist, not saturated. Soil temperature should be 68 – 72°F. Light levels should be <1500 footcandles. Allow about 7 days to finish germination.

Stage 3: Soil temperature should be 65 – 68°F. Practice good wet/dry moisture cycle, but do not keep too wet (damping-off) or too dry (wilt). This crop is difficult to grow under double-poly roofs where drips create damping-off in the plug trays. Keep light levels <3000 footcandles, as lower leaves turn yellow with higher light and stress. Feed every other watering with 100 – 150 ppm N from 15-5-15, 17-5-17, or 20-10-20 (high light conditions only). Keep media pH 5.5 – 5.8 and EC 1.0 – 1.5 mmhos (saturated paste).

Stage 4: Soil temperatures can be lowered to 60 – 62°F. Dry down between waterings, but avoid wilt. Keep light levels 2500 – 3000 footcandles, no higher. Feed as needed with 15-5-15 or 17-5-17. Monitor lower leaves for feeding requirements.

Plant Growth Regulators: Spray with A-Rest (3 – 5 ppm) or Bonzi (1 – 3 ppm) as needed. Adjust sprays for differences in vigor between varieties, weather conditions, and cultural practices by conducting your own trials to avoid overdosing. Do not stress out with water, feed, and high light, or you will lose lower leaves.

Crop Time: 4 – 5 weeks for 512 plugs, 5 – 6 weeks for 288 plugs, depending on temperature and light levels.

Common Problems: Damping-off, Pythium, Botrytis, Downy Mildew, wilting from too dry, lower yellow leaves – too high light or too low feed.

Growing on to finish

Container Size: Cell packs

Media: Transplant into a well-drained, disease-free, peat-based growing mix with pH of 5.5 – 5.8 and EC <1.5. Can also be direct-sown into cell packs.

Temperatures: Keep soil temperatures 65 – 68°F for rooting out, then lower to 60 – 62°F for growing on.

Light: Maintain light levels around 3000 footcandles. Higher light levels may cause more lower leaf yellowing.

Irrigation and Fertilization: Practice a good wet/dry moisture cycle, but avoid keeping too wet (rot) or too dry (wilt). Feed 1 – 2x/week with 100 – 150 ppm N from 15-5-15 or 17-5-17. If growing under higher light levels, you may need to feed sometimes with 20-10-20 to keep lower leaves from yellowing. Keep media pH 5.5 – 5.8 and EC 1.0 – 1.5 mmhos (saturated paste).

Plant Growth Regulators: Use sprays of B-Nine (2500 – 5000 ppm), A-Rest (3 – 7 ppm), Bonzi (10 ppm), or Sumagic (2 ppm) as needed. Once buds show, avoid sprays of Bonzi or Sumagic, as buds will stay green too long. Use drenches of Bonzi (2 – 3 ppm) or Sumagic (1/2 – 1 ppm) instead. Adjust rates and frequency of application based on vigor of varieties, weather conditions, and cultural practices. Do your own trials, especially with drenches, to avoid overdosing.

Common Problems: Damping-off, Pythium, Botrytis, Downy Mildew, wilting, lower yellow leaves – too high light or too low feed.

Crop Time: 5 – 6 weeks, depending on plug and container size, light levels, and temperature.