Doronicum Little Leo

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Life Cycle:Biennial

Sitelocation:pots, perennial beds

Garden Height:25 cm,9,84 inch

Flower Size:5 cm,1,97 inch

Natural flowertime:April - May

Crop Time:Plug crop: 6-8 weeks; Green pots: 12-14 weeks; Flowering pots: 10-12 months, including vernalization; Cut flower production: 2-3 years

Sell Period:June-October

Seed Form:regular

Seed Count:1429 K/g

Germination:14-21 days at 15-20 °C, in media with very low soluble salt levels and pH: 6.0-6.5. Cover seed lightly with vermiculite 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 15-16 °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 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). Two time transplantation will support the young plant quality. Plant cut flowers in 30x30 cm space.

Media:Use a well-drained, growing perennial substrate with 0-15 % clay, 0-15 % organic parts (e.g. bark, wood fibres),1-1,5 kg/m3 complete balanced fertilizer, 2-3 kg/m3 slow release fertilizer (3-9 months), iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 6.0-6.5. Field: sandy, loamy soils. Standard fertilization: 50-60 g/m2 slow release fertilizer.

Photoperiod / Light:Day length neutral plants. In winter and early spring additional assimilation light is required (10-12 h, 30-40 klx) combined with warm or cold cultivation temperatures. A cultivation in cold greenhouse or field at natural conditions is possible. In this case the flowering is in April-May.

Temperature:Grow at 10-12 °C or outdoors. In winter indoors frost free at 3-5 °C or outdoors. Outdoor fleece cover needed. Plants kept through the winter start to grow mid December for 6-8 weeks at 5 °C in greenhouse and later the temperature can be slowly to 8-10 °C. This treatment can hinder the stretching of the flower stems is inhibited. After a frost free wintering the plants can be cultivated at temperature of 8-10°C immediately. Warm temperatures of 15-18 °C will decrease the cultivation time (7-8 weeks in total).

Fertilization:Moderate-high fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 130-150 ppm nitrogen (at 3 kg/m3 slow release fertilizer in substrate), using alternate a calcium nitrate fertilizer and 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 130-150 ppm nitrogen of a complete balanced fertilizer. Prevent magnesium deficiency by applying magnesium sulphate (0,05 %) 1-2 times and in case of iron deficiency (above pH 6.0) 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. Field: If necessary according to analysis, improve the soil with 60-80 g/m2 of a slow release fertilizer, applied in March and July in several portions. Check the iron level in the soil.

Cut Flowers:Cut flower stems can be harvested, when the flowers are just open. Vase life: 4-8 days. Cold storage is possible. After harvest, cut plants back to the ground.