Echinacea Primadonna

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Life Cycle:Perennial

Familiy, Origin:Asteraceae, North America

Sitelocation:Full Sun

Garden Height:75 cm,29,53 inch

Flower Size:13,5 cm,5,31 inch

Natural flowertime:July - September

Crop Time:Plug crop: 6 weeks; Green pots (from sowing): 12-16 weeks; Flowering pots (from sowing to flower): 10-12 months, including vernalization and wintering; Cut flower use: 3-4 years

Sell Period:Green plants: September-October and March-May

Seed Form:Raw Seed

Seed Count:260 K/g

Sowing Method:2-3 seeds per plug

Germination:Stage I+II: 20-30 days at 20 °C; Stage III+IV: 16 °C, 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.

Growing On:6-8 weeks after germination transplant 1 plant into a pot (8-10 cm) for green pot production. For perennial production transplant 2 plants into a bigger pot (15-20 cm) or a container (3-5 l). Optimal transplantation time: when 2nd pair of true leaves appears. For flowering pot production ensure good pot size, to encourage roots growth, thus improving plant quality. Plant cut flowers in 30-35 cm x 30-35 cm space.

Media:Use a well-drained, growing perennial substrate, pH: 6.0-6.5. Field: loamy sandy to sandy humus soils with good drainage. Standard fertilization: 80-100 g/m2 slow release fertilizer.

Photoperiod / Light:Long day plants.

Temperature:Grow at 15-18 °C or outdoors. In winter indoors frost free at 3-5 °C or outdoors. At mid December the plants start to grow for 10-12 weeks at 15-18 °C.

Fertilization:High fertilization levels are required.

Cut Flowers:Cut flower stems can be harvested, when the flowers are just open and the outer flower leaves stand tightly. Vase life: 7-8 days. Cold storage is not recommended. Remove faded stems. Flower centre can be used in dried arrangements.