Astrantia Primadonna

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Life Cycle:Perennial

Familiy, Origin:Apiaceae, Mid and East Europe, Caucasus

Sitelocation:Full sun - partial shade

Garden Height:75 cm,29,53 inch

Flower Size:4 cm,1,57 inch

Natural flowertime:May - August

Crop Time:Plug crop: 14-16 weeks; Green pots: 24-32 weeks; Flowering pots: 12-14 months with vernalization; Cut flower production: 3-6 years

Sell Period:July-October

Seed Form:Raw Seed

Seed Count:435 K/g

Sowing Method:4-5 seeds per plug

Germination:1-2 weeks at 15-18 °C; 4-5 weeks at 0-4 °C 1 week at 10 °C; Following at 12-15 °C, in media with low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.5-7.0. Cold germinator. Cover seed with vermiculite, sand or substrate after sowing. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet. For the chilling period try to cool the seed in the cold store (4-6 weeks) or during winter outdoor.

Plug Culture:From Stage II* reduce the moisture, but 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 100-150 ppm.

Growing On:12-14 weeks after sowing transplant 1 plant per plug tray (3-4 cm) and 3-4 weeks later transplant into a pot (8-10 cm), 2-3 plants into a bigger pot (11-15 cm) or container (3-5 l). Plant cut flowers in 30x40 cm space and use nets to keep the stems upright.

Media:Use a well-drained, perennial substrate with 0-15 % clay, 0-15 % organic parts (e.g. wood fibres, bark, compost), 1-1,5 kg /m3, complete balanced fertilizer. 1-3 kg/m3 slow release fertilizer (3-9 months), iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.5-7.0. Field: good nuztition supply, loamy sandy humus soil. Standard fertilization: 50-80 g/m2 slow release fertilizer.

Photoperiod / Light:Long day plant. Keep light levels high. In winter and spring assimilation light is effective. A cultivation in cold greenhouse at natural conditions is possible. In this case the flowering is in early June. Field: Good nutrition supply, loamy sandy humus soil. Standard fertilization: 50-80 g/m2 slow release fertilizer.

Temperature:Grow at 10-15 °C. In winter indoors frost free at 3-5 °C or outdoors. In spring start to grow for 10-12 weeks at 15-18 °C. Cold temperatures at 7-12 °C will increase cultivation time.

Fertilization:High fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 130 -150 ppm nitrogen (at 3 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 130-150 ppm nitrogen of a complete balanced fertilizer. After 4-5 weeks apply magnesium sulphate (0,05 %) for 1-2 times and in case of iron deficiency apply iron-chelate for 1-2 times. Very high nitrogen levels in substrate inhibit intensive pigmentation of flowers. Field: If necessary according to analysis, improve the soil with 50-80 g/m2 fertilizer per year, applied in several portions.

Cut Flowers:Cut flower stems can be harvested, when first flowers are full open. Buds do not have long stability. Remove the bottom leafs and put the stems in water immediately. Vase life: 7-10 days. Cold storage is possible. After 4-6 weeks cut the flowers secondly.

Cultural Hints:Do not cultivate the plants too wet or too dry. For pot plants production remove the flower, as a beautiful foliage rosette is developed. After that remove the flowers no more and the plants can be sold at 3-4 week.