Helianthus Choco Sun Grower Fact

Helianthus annuus Choco Sun

Description
-Branching Sunflower for pot culture
-Golden Yellow flower with dark centre
-Compact habit with small deep green leaves
-Programmable short crop time > easy scheduling
-Highly uniform in habit and earliness > high % saleable
-Healthy foliage > easy to sell with top-quality appearance

General
-colour: golden-yellow ray florets and brown/black centre
-height: 25-30 cm /10-12"
-life cycle: annual
-seeds per gram: 20
-sowing - flowering: 9-11 weeks
-plug time: 3-4 weeks
-finish time: 6-7 weeks
-flowering time: yearround
-sales window: yearround
-garden environment: pot and patio use
-family: Asteraceae

Sowing instruction
-method: sow in plugs (eg 264), 1 seed per plug (direct sowing results in vigorous plants)
-germination time: 3-5 days at 17-20¡ãC(62-68¡ãF)
-crop schedule:
- sowing > potting: 3-4 weeks
- potting > spacing: 3-3,5 weeks
- spacing > selling: 3-4 weeks (depending on time of year and light situation) Growing on
-plants per m2: 10-16 pl/m2 in final stage (potsize 12-13 cm/5-6") depending on culture and time of the year
-soil: standard potting media
-irrigation: overhead watering or ebb/flood possible (not too wet, but avoid drying out as this may cause leaf-yellowing)
-growing temperature: 17-18¡ãC(62-64¡ãF) optimal (ventilate at 20¡ãC/68¡ãF)
-diseases/pests: spray preventively against leafminer, aphids, thrips, white fly, false mildew
-fertilization: pot-sunflower is a heavy feeder: min. EC1 in pot, up to 2,5 N:K= 1:2, keep phosphate low. and watch Calcium and spore-elements
-lighting: 3.000-3.500 w/m.(300-350 fe). Until week 11 supplemental light is recommended to increase daylength up to 16 hours
-black out: for shorter culture and more uniform flowering. SD 11,5 hours; night 12,5 hours, starting 5¨C6 weeks after sowing (6 true leaf pairs)

General advice
-PGR: Alar/B9 is recommended starting when cotyledons have fully expanded (flat) 1-2 applications in plug-stage and 1-2 times after potting
-extra prevention: use Rizolex (tolclofos-methyl) during potting and Ridomil (methalaxyl-m) after spacing
-spacing: advice to space once, 5-6 weeks after sowing.

Grow pot-to-pot until leaves touch. Space in time, because condensation and guttation will damage leaves. In 12-13 cm/5-6" pot :10 plant/m2 in summer and up to 16 plant/m2 in spring.