Dianthus Forerunner

Life Cycle:Perennial

Familiy, Origin:Caryophyllaceae, Mountains of Southern Europe

Sitelocation:Full sun - partial shade

Garden Height:50 cm,19,69 inch

Natural flowertime:May - August

Crop Time:Plug crop: 6 weeks; Green pots: 8-12 weeks; Flowering pots: 7 months, including vernalization for good quality

Sell Period:August-October for ball plants

Seed Form:Raw Seed

Seed Count:1250 K/g

Sowing Method:1 seed per plug

Germination: :7-14 days at 15 °C, in media with low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.8-6.5. Before sowing treat substrate with fungicide against Fusarium. Don't cover seeds. Requires light for germination. Consistent moisture of the substrate and high humidity (above 95 %) for fast, uniform germination. Avoid direct sunlight by shading seeds after sowing.

Plug Culture:From Stage II* reduce the soil 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 ppm.

Growing On:4-5 weeks after sowing transplant 1 plant into a pot (8-10 cm). Transplant the plant not too deep into substrate. Plant cut flowers in 20x20 to 25x20 cm space (frost free).

Media:Use a well-drained, growing substrate with 15-30 % clay, 0-15 % parts (e.g. perlite, sand) 1-2 kg/m3 complete balanced fertilizer, 1,5-2 kg/m3 slow release fertilizer (3-9 months), iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.8-6.5. Field: humus, sandy loamy soils with good drainage and good nutrition levels. Standard fertilization: 70-90 g/m2 slow release fertilizer.

Photoperiod / Light:Day length neutral plant. Flowerings pot production in winter and spring with additional assimilation light (14 h) will improve the plant quality, will decrease the cultivation time and will increase the quantity of flowers.

Temperature:Grow at 10-15 °C or outdoors. In winter indoors frost free at 3-5 °C or outdoors. In spring the plants start to grow for 7-9 weeks at 15-18 °C. Cold temperatures at 10-15 °C will increase the cultivation time. A chilling period (vernalization) for 6-9 weeks at 8th leaf stage at 5 °C is required for flower initiation. A quick flowering in field with foil cover or in poly tunnel is possible. D. barbatus need to be grown low temperatures for good quality.

Fertilization:Moderate-high fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 100-150 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. The roots are very sensitive to high ammonium levels. Don't fertilize after mid September. In spring fertilize with 100-150 ppm nitrogen using a potassium balanced fertilizer. Reduce the fertilization after the buds are visible and thereby avoid that the buds become overgrown. 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 roots are sensitive to high salt levels in substrates. Avoid high fertilizer concentrations, it is advisable to fertilize several times with low concentrations weekly.

Cut Flowers:Cut flower stems can be harvested, when the inflorescence spreads out and 30 % of the first flowers are open. Vase life: 10-15 days. Cold storage is possible.