Delphinium Exquisite

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Life Cycle:Annual

Familiy, Origin:Ranunculaceae, China, East Siberia

Sitelocation:Full sun - partial shade

Garden Height:120 cm,47,24 inch

Natural flowertime:July

Crop Time:Plug crop: 6 weeks; Cut flower production: 12-16 weeks, depending on season; Indoor forcing: 3-4 sets per season; Outdoor forcing: 2 sets per season

Seed Form:Raw Seed

Seed Count:385 K/g

Sowing Method:1 seed per plug, sowing directly into fields is recommended

Germination:18-25 days at 10 °C, in media with low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.8-6.5. Cover seed with vermiculite, sand or substrate after sowing. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet. In the field sowings need to be covered by fleece or foil to avoid a drying out. The temperature should be not above 15 °C during germination.

Plug Culture:From Stage II* reduce the soil moisture, but the plug / field 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 ppm.

Growing On:6-9 weeks after sowing transplant the cut flowers in 20x15 cm space.

Media:Field: well-drained, moderate nutrition supply, humus, loamy soils. Standard fertilization: 60-80 g/m2 slow release fertilizer, pH: 5.5-6.5.

Photoperiod / Light:Long day plant. For the flower initiation long day (16 h) are required. Cut flower production in winter and spring need additional assimilation light (40 klx) combined with long day (16 h).

Temperature:Grow at 14-16 °C or outdoors. For flowering time at 16 °C.

Fertilization:Moderate-high fertilization levels are required. If necessary according to analysis, fertilize to flowering with fertilize with 80-100 ppm nitrogen using a potassium balanced fertilizer (N: K2O-ratio: 1:1,5). Prevent magnesium deficiency by applying magnesium sulphate (0,05 %) 1-2 times and in case of Iron deficiency apply iron-chelate for 1-2 times. The fertilization with slow release fertilizer is preferred to fertilization with complete balanced fertilizer, because the roots are very sensitive to high salt levels in substrates. Take care of calcium level in soils, but calcium deficiency decrease the quality of the stems.

Cut Flowers:Cut flower stems can be harvested, when 50 % of the flowers on spikes are open. Remove the bottom leaves. Vase life: 8-12 days. Cold storage at 0-1 °C is possible. Flowers for dried flower production can be harvested, when 100 % are just open.

Cultural Hints:D. consolida are poisonous. The plants form a tape root, hence plant as early as possible and avoid root damage. The roots are sensitive to wet soils.