Geum Cooky

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Life Cycle:Perennial / first year flowering

Familiy, Origin:Rosaceae, Balkans, Asia minor

Sitelocation:Full sun (North Europe) - partial shade

Garden Height:30 cm,11,81 inch

Flower Size:4 cm,1,57 inch

Natural flowertime:May - August

Crop Time:Plug crop: 5-6 weeks; Green pots: 8 weeks; Flowering pots: 12-16 weeks, annual production is possible, full flowering pots: 10-12 months, including wintering

Seed Form:ApeX-Seed (supplemental Film Coating) and Raw Seed

Seed Count:833 K/g

Sowing Method:2 seeds per plug

Germination:10-15 days at 18-21 °C, in media with low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.5-6.5. Before sowing treat substrate with fungicide. Requires light for germination. Cover seed lightly with vermiculite after sowing. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet. Avoid direct sunlight by shading seeds after sowing.

Plug Culture:From Stage II* reduce the soil moisture, but the plug should not dry out and reduce the temperature to 18 °C. Do not let soluble salt level rise above 0,75 EC. Start fertilization at 75 ppm nitrogen in a well balanced formula. During Stage III and Stage IV fertilization levels can be increased to 150 ppm.

Growing On:3-5 weeks after sowing transplant 1-2 plants into a pot (11-13 cm).

Media:Use a well-drained, growing substrate with 0-15 % clay, 0-15 % parts (e.g. bark, wood fibres), 1-1,5 kg/m3 complete balanced fertilizer, 0-3 kg/m3 slow release fertilizer (3-9 months), iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.5-6.5.

Photoperiod / Light:Day length neutral plants. Avoid high light intensity outdoors in summer by shading pots. In greenhouse protect the plants with shade against high temperatures in summer.

Temperature:Grow at 12-18 °C or outdoors. In winter indoors frost free at 3-5 °C or outdoors. In spring the plants start to grow at 12-15 °C. A chilling period (vernalization) for flower initiation is not required, but the flowering is more uniform and faster.

Fertilization:Moderate-high fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 100-150 ppm nitrogen (at 3 kg/m3 slow release fertilizer in substrate), using alternating a potassium balanced fertilizer (N: K2O-ratio: 1:1,5) and calcium nitrate fertilizer. Avoid high ammonium and high nitrogen levels. Very high nitrogen levels in substrate cause shoot stretching and the shoots fall apart. Don't fertilize after mid September. In spring fertilize 150-200 ppm nitrogen of a complete balanced fertilizer.