Aubrieta Hendersonii

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Life Cycle:Perennial

Familiy, Origin:Brassicaceae, South Europe

Sitelocation:Full sun - partial shade

Garden Height:15 cm，5,91 inch

Natural flowertime:April - May

Crop Time:Plug crop: 6-8 weeks; Green pots: 10-12 weeks; Flowering pots: 6-10 months, with vernalization

Sell Period:June-September

Seed Form:Raw Seed

Seed Count:5000 K/g

Sowing Method:4-5 seeds per plug

Germination:14-20 days at 18-21 °C, in media with very low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.5-7.0. Requires light for germination. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet. Avoid direct sunlight by shading seeds after sowing.

Plug Culture:From Stage II* reduce the soil moisture, but the plug should not dry out and reduce the temperature to 15-18 °C . 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 to 80-100 ppm.

Growing On:4-6 weeks after sowing transplant 3-5 plants into a pack or pot (8-10 cm).

Media:Use a well-drained, growing perennial substrate with 0-15 % clay, 0-15 % organic parts (e.g. wood fibres, bark), 1-1,5 kg/m3 complete balanced fertilizer, 1-2 kg/m3 slow release fertilizer (3-9 months), iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.5-7.0.

Photoperiod / Light:Day length neutral plants. Keep light levels high. Start in early spring with supplemental lighting when the temperature rises above 15 °C for good plant quality. Avoid light deficiency, because Aubrieta develop very long sprouts and the plants will fall open.

Temperature:Grow at 10-15 °C. In winter indoors frost free at 3-5 °C or outdoors. Outdoors fleece cover needed. Aubrieta needs for vernalization a chilling period (outdoors or refrigerator) of least 8-12 weeks at 3-5°C. In spring the plants start to grow (from week 51 possible) for 9-12 weeks at 10-18 °C. A cold start in poly-tunnel at 7-10°C for flowering of April-May is possible.

Fertilization:Moderate fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 60-80 ppm nitrogen (at 2 kg/m3 slow release fertilizer in substrate), using a complete balanced fertilizer. Avoid high ammonium and high nitrogen levels. Don't fertilize after mid September. In spring fertilize with 80-100 ppm nitrogen of a complete balanced fertilizer.