Aquilegia Alpina

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Life Cycle:Perennial

Familiy, Origin:Ranunculaceae, Alpine, Switzerland

Sitelocation:Full sun - partial shade - shade

Garden Height:60 cm,23,62 inch

Natural flowertime:May - June

Crop Time:Plug crop: 7-8 weeks; Green pots: 12 weeks; Flowering pots: 9-10 months, with vernalization.

Seed Form:Raw Seed

Seed Count:5988 K/g

Sowing Method:4-5 seeds per plug

Germination:20-35 days at 22-25 °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 the seeds do not germinate, treat the seeds with cooling for 4-6 weeks at 0-4 °C. Cultivate the following week at 10 °C and later at temperature of 12-15 °C.

Plug Culture:From Stage II* reduce the moisture but the plug should not dry out. Do not let soluble salt level rise above 0,50 EC. Start fertilization at 50 ppm nitrogen in a well balanced formula. During Stage III and Stage IV fertilization levels can be increased up to 100-150 ppm.

Growing On:5-6 weeks after sowing transplant 1 plant per plug tray 3-4 cm and 5-6 weeks later transplant 1 plant into a pot 9-15 cm or 3 plants into a basket.

Media:Use a well-drained, perennial substrate with 0-15 % clay, 0-15 % parts (e.g. wood fibres, bark, sand, perlite), 1-1,5 kg /m3, complete balanced fertilizer. 1-2 kg/m3 slow release fertilizer (3-9 months), iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.5-6.2.

Photoperiod / Light:Day length neutral plant. Flowerings pot production in winter and spring with additional assimilation light will improve the plant quality.

Temperature:Grow at 14-16 °C. After development of the roots decrease the temperature to 8-10 °C. The temperature change will support the plant quality. In winter indoors frost free at 3-5 °C or outdoors. In spring the plants start to grow for 6-7 weeks at 15-18°C. Cold temperatures at 10-12 °C will increase cultivation time.

Fertilization:Moderate fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 130 -150 ppm nitrogen (at 2 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. Don't fertilize after mid September. In spring fertilize with 100-150 ppm nitrogen of a complete balanced fertilizer.