Cosmos Early Wonder

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Life Cycle:Annual

Familiy, Origin:Asteraceae, Mexico

Sitelocation:Full sun - partial shade

Garden Height:100 cm,39,37 inch

Crop Time:Plug crop: 5-6 weeks; Flowering pots: 9-10 weeks; Cut flower production: 5-6 months

Sell Period:from May

Seed Form:Raw Seed

Seed Count:133 K/g

Sowing Time:Pot plant production: February-May; Outdoors forcing: April-May (frost free)

Sowing Method:2-3 seeds per plug, can be sown directly into field

Germination:5-8 days at 20 °C in media with low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.5-5.8. Cover seed with vermiculite, sand or substrate after sowing. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet.

Plug Culture:From Stage II reduce the soil moisture, but the plug should not dry out and reduce the temperature to 17-18 °C. 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 to 100-150 ppm.

Growing On:4-5 weeks after sowing transplant 1 plant per plug tray (3-4 cm) and 4 weeks later transplant 1 plant into a pot (8-10 cm), 2-4 plants into a bigger pot (10-15 cm) or a container (3-5 l). Two time transplantation for cut flower production is recommended. Plant cut flowers in 30x30 cm space.

Media:Use a well-drained, growing substrate with 20-30 % clay, 1-2 kg/m3 complete balanced fertilizer, iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.5-5.8. Field: loamy soils with good drainage and good nutrition levels. Standard fertilization: 50-60 g/m2 slow release fertilizer.

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

Fertilization:Moderate fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 100-150 ppm nitrogen, using a complete balanced fertilizer. Avoid high ammonium and high nitrogen levels. Field: If necessary according to analysis, improve the soil with 10-20 g/m2 fertilizer. N min soil value: approximately 60 g N/m2.

Cut Flowers:Cut flower stems can be harvested, when the first of the head flowers is open and the stem stability is good. Vase life: 7-10 days. Cold storage is possible to a limited. Cut the flowers not too deep, so that new shoots can be grown.