Gaillardia Mesa Grower Fact

Grower Facts
Gaillardia Mesa(Gaillardia x grandiflora)

Germination
Media
Use a well-drained, disease-free, soilless media with a pH of 5.8 to 6.2 and a medium initial nutrient charge (EC 0.75 mmhos/cm).
Sowing
Sow seed in 288 or larger plug tray. In Europe, 264- cell trays can be used. Covering seed with vermiculite is recommended.

Germination takes 4 to 5 days.
Soil temperature: 68 to 74¡ãF (20 to 23¡ãC)
Light: Optional.
Moisture: Keep soil wet (level 4) during Stage 1.
Humidity: Maintain 95%+ relative humidity (RH) until radicles emerge.

Plug Production
Media
Use a well-drained, disease-free, soilless media with a pH of 5.8 to 6.2 and a medium initial nutrient charge (EC 0.75 mmhos/cm).
Sowing
Sow seed in 288 or larger plug tray. In Europe, 264- cell trays can be used. Covering seed with vermiculite is recommended.

Stage 1 ¨C Germination takes 4 to 5 days.
Soil temperature: 68 to 74¡ãF (20 to 23¡ãC)
Light: Optional.
Moisture: Keep soil wet (level 4) during Stage 1.
Humidity: Maintain 95%+ relative humidity (RH) until radicles emerge.

Stage 2
Soil temperature: 68 to 72¡ãF (20 to 22¡ãC)
Light: Up to 2,500 f.c. (26,900 Lux)
Moisture: Reduce soil moisture slightly (level 3 to 4) to allow the roots to penetrate into the media.
Fertilizer: Apply fertilizer at rate 1 (less than 100 ppm N/less than 0.7 mS/cm EC) from nitrate-form fertilizers with low phosphorous.

Stage 3
Soil temperature: 65 to 68¡ãF (15 to 20¡ãC)
Light: Up to 2,500 f.c. (26,900 Lux)
Moisture: Allow media to dry further until the surface becomes light brown (level 2) before watering. Keep the moisture to wet-dry cycle (moisture level 4 to 2).
Fertilizer: Increase fertilizer to rate 2 (100 to 175 ppm N/0.7 to 1.2 mS/cm EC). If growth is slow, apply a balanced ammonium and nitrate-form fertilizer with every other fertilization. Maintain medium pH of 5.8 to 6.2 and EC between 1.0 and 1.5 mS/cm (1:2 extraction).
Growth Regulators: Generally not needed. If necessary, B-Nine/Alar (daminozide) 2,500 ppm (3.0 g/l 85% formulation or 4.0 g/l of 64% formulation) can be applied at Stage 3.
In northern European conditions: Use Alar/B-Nine 1,300 ppm (1.5 g/l 85% formulation or 2.0 g/l of 64% formulation).

Stage 4
Soil temperature: 60 to 65¡ãF (15 to 18¡ãC)
Light: Up to 5,000 f.c. (53,800 Lux) if temperature can be controlled.
Moisture: Same as Stage 3.
Fertilizer: Same as Stage 3.

Growing On to Finish
Container Size
4.5-in. (11-cm) square pots: 1 plant per pot
6-in. (15-cm) or gallon (18-cm) pots: 1 plant per pot
Media
Use a well-drained, disease-free, soilless media with a pH of 5.5 to 6.2 and a medium initial nutrient charge (EC 0.75 mmhos/cm).
Temperature
Nights: 50 to 60¡ãF (10 to 15¡ãC)
Days: 60 to 70¡ãF (15 to 21¡ãC)
Gaillardia Mesa Yellow can be grown at lower temperatures (frost-free cold frame/poly house in Spring), however crop times will increase.
Light
Maintain light levels as high as possible while maintain moderate temperature.
Photoperiod
Mesa Yellow is a facultative long-day plant and requires 14 hours or longer daylength for uniform and faster flowering. Plants grown under daylength 12 hours or shorter will delay flowering 2 to 3 weeks with less uniformity.
Irrigation
Maintain media moisture. Plants can dry out quickly when they are large. Water thoroughly when irrigation is needed.
Fertilizer
Apply fertilizer at rate 3 (175 to 225 ppm N/1.2 to 1.5 mS/cm) using predominately nitrate-form fertilizer with low phosphorus and high potassium. Maintain the media EC at 1.5 to 2.0 mS/cm and pH at 6.0 to 6.5. For constant fertilizer program, can apply fertilizer at rate 2 (100 to 175 ppm N or 0.7 to 1.2 mS/cm) while maintaining the above recommended EC and pH ranges.
Growth Regulators
PGRs are not necessary if grown under cooler temperatures. If necessary, B-Nine/Alar (daminozide) 5,000 ppm (6.0 g/l 85% formulation or 8.0 g/l of 64% formulation) is good for plant size control. In northern Europe conditions: 3,200 ppm Alar (3.8 g/l 85% formulation or 5.0 g/l of 64% formulation) works well.
Pinching
Pinching is not needed.
Spacing
Space plants when foliage is touching.

Crop Scheduling
Sow to transplant (288 cell plug): 5 to 6 weeks
Transplant to flower: 11 to 13 weeks
Total crop time: 16 to 18 weeks

Note: The total crop time of about 16 to 18 weeks is based on Spring production under night temperatures of about 50 to 60F (10 to 15C) and day temperatures of about 60 to 70F (15 to 21C) with natural daylength. Crop time will be shorter under warmer temperature and long day conditions, or longer under cooler and short day conditions.

Common Problems
Insect: Watch for fungus gnat larva and thrips.
Disease: INSV, white smut, powdery mildew.
Germination: Occasionally there are albino seedlings which will not develop into viable plants. Frequency can vary up to 9%

Garden and Landscape Information
- Mesa Yellow Gaillardia is first year-flowering perennial to USDA Hardiness Zone 5 (-20 to -10¡ã F/-29 to -23¡ãC minimum temperatures). No vernalization is required.
- Plant in full sun after all danger of frost is past.
- Space plants 12 to 18 in. (30 to 45 cm) apart in well-drained soil.
- After plants are established, Mesa Yellow is quite drought tolerant.
- Garden height is 16 to 18 in. (40 to 45 cm); spread is 20 to 22 in. (50 to 55 cm).

Note: Growers should use the information presented here as a starting point. Crop times will vary depending on the climate, location, time of year, and greenhouse environmental conditions. Chemical and PGR recommendations are only guidelines. It is the responsibility of the applicator to read and follow all the current label directions for the specific chemical being used in accordance with all regulations.